What were some of the restrictions of civil liberties placed on the colonists by Parliament?

Question

What were some of the restrictions of civil liberties placed on the colonists by Parliament after the French and Indian War through 1776?

Answer 1

Here is one writer's suggested list of the "Top 10 Civil Liberties Violations That Helped Cause the American Revolution"

1) Taxation Without Representation
2) No Free Trade
3) Unlimited Search and Seizure
4) Destruction of Colonial Government
5) Oppression of Political Protesters
6) Immunity for Corrupt and Abusive British Officers
7) Direct Control of the Criminal Justice System
8) Guilty by Parliament - no guarantee of trial by jury
9) Forced Quartering of Soldiers
10) Closure of the Boston Port
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/historyprofiles/tp/independence.htm
(the page includes an explanation of each point)

Specific enumerations of the liberties the colonists believed had been violated are found in the various written complaints by individual colonies and by the Second Continental Congress at the beginning of the Revolution. The best know of these is, of course, the list found in the Declaration of Independence (as THE reasons for which they were declaring independence).
http://www.law.indiana.edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html

For some perspective on these complaints, and the history behind the ideas of the people's rights, note the observations about the "Declaration of Rights on 1689" and the declarations of the states (colonies) here:
http://www.saumag.edu/edavis/AmLit/2004/DeclarationofIndependenceMaierNotes.html


Another excellent place to go for perspective on which "civil liberties" the American colonists felt had been threatened or violated is the"Bill of Rights" (the first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution), The first EIGHT of these enumerate and guarantee what we would recognize as civil liberties. And many if not all of these were specifically in response to the sorts of rights the colonists believed they were supposed to have as Englishmen, but which the King and Parliament had not been honoring.


I - no national establishment of religion, or prohibition of free exercise, freedom of speech and of the press; the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

II -right to keep and bear arms

III - no quartering of soldiers without owner's consent and by law

IV - no unreasonable searches (warrants required)

V - cannot be held for crime without indictment, nor put in double jeopardy; cannot be compelled to testify vs. oneself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

VI -right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury. . . must know charges, be confronted by witnesses. . . able to defend self

VII - right of trial by jury in larger civil cases

VIII - no excessive bail or fines imposed, no cruel and unusual punishments
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

The link with the Revolution is clearer when you read the similar concerns of "The Virginia Declaration of Rights", written in June 1776.
http://theamericanrevolution.org/hdocs/vdecofrights.asp

Note that serveral of these are related to judicial protection -- to be fairly tried, etc. and by one's peers. This all brings to mind some of the "Intolerable Acts" passed by Parliament as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. These included the "Quartering Act" and the "Administration of Justice Act" which took away the local administration of justice in Massachusetts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intolerable_Acts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administration_of_Justice_Act_1774

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What were some of the restrictions of civil liberties placed on the colonists by Parliament?
What were some of the restrictions of civil liberties placed on the colonists by Parliament after the French and Indian War through 1776?

Answer 3

A main event leading up to the American Revolution was the 7 Years' War (French and Indian War). Britain had funded the war and felt that the colonists should help cover the costs. There was also the loss of salutary neglect, the colonists did well when not under the direct gaze of Britain.

Answer 4

They could not move past the Appalachian Mountains after 1763. The Quartering Act required them to house British soldiers in their homes, without any sort of monetary reimbursement. Boston Harbor was closed after the Tea Party. Also after the Boston Tea Party, colonists could not be tried in local courts, they were sent to a British admiralty court, I believe in Nova Scotia. I think that's what you're looking for . . .