Was British control over American colonies more by economic measures or political measures? any evidence?

Question

thank you =)

Answer 1

~Parliament and the Crown had little, if any, control over the British in North America, as evidenced by a small rhubarb which took place between 1775 and 1783. The Canadian British, being a little more loyal and in much closer proximity to the French, and being far fewer in number, remained British a bit longer.

British taxes were enacted by British representatives and government officials for the good of the British Empire. The repugnant Townshend Acts were specifically designed to defray a small portion of the cost of the protection accorded the colonies during, before and after the French and Indian War. The taxes were not an attempt to 'control' anyone, they were intended to ease the depression caused by the war at home but making those who reaped the greatest advantage pay a token share of the cost. Higher taxes had been in place before. The colonials didn't pay them and their cheating had been overlooked and ignored. Likewise, the rampant smuggling that had created so many colonial fortunes had been largely ignored.

The was no question of "control". The North Americans were every bit as British as were their brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and cousins at home. When it became obvious that a minority (never numbering much more than 1/3 of the colonial population) of terrorists and traitorous rebels were fomenting treason and inciting civil war (not revolution), and attempt at control was made via sending troops. Too little, too late when the duplicitous colonials forged an alliance with the French, the foe the war against whom had caused most of the problems in the first place.

Answer 2

Both. The British, in order to finance their empire and the wars they were waging around the world enacted legislation (political ties) that enacted tariffs on the colonies (economic ties) Things like the Stamp Act.

Answer 3

Both, with things like the Stamp Act, the Sugar act and other taxes meant to show the political might they flexed