What were the characteristics of oppression before the American Revolution?

Answer 1

Hello,

A comment on the oppression of taxation. Many history books and Hollywood show the Brits to say yawn, time to beat up that colonial riff raff, shut down the printing press, and tax them again!

In reality it seems to be forgotten in history books as in so many other countries that the British forces and crown had spent 40 years plus fighting the French - Indian wars to protect the colonies, colonists and drive the French from North America (save Quebec. Louisiana) That what had pretty well drained the British coffers to the point of bankruptcy or whatever it was called at that time. Theu needed some way to get some money back . An analogy would be incometax put on us in WWI in Canada and the US.

I know tax without reprsentation was one legitimate gripe but I could never see things as bad as many books and programs portray.

Regards,

Michael Kelly

Answer 2

The only thing that would qualify as oppression in my book would be the treatment of slaves, which of course continued during and after the revolution.

Answer 3

They say taxation without representation. But I suspect it was a simple power struggle.