How The Colonists Reacted To The Declaratory Act?
| Answer In Short: Most of the colonists were happy with the Declaratory act thinking that they successfully brought the English authority to their knees.
But at the same time, some leaders of the colonies were in doubt that the British Parliament could again bring more taxation laws in near future. Read the following paragraphs to learn better… |
So, how did the colonists react to the Declaratory Act?
At first, the colonists thought that this new law was the result of their victory over the Stamp Act (1765) and the Sugar Act (1764).
Because the British Parliament had to abolish the old laws, which was why they brought the new law as the Declaratory Act.
Most of the colonists believed it was their major victory. They react like they brought the British Parliament on keens to change their decision.
However, many leaders of the colonies were still in doubt that the British Government could bring many different laws once again to impose taxes.
Because in the new act, they clearly mentioned that the Parliament will be able to pass any laws near future to tax the colonies, without any obstacles.
Via the Declaratory Act, they ensured that they would be able to use similar power in the 13 colonies, as they do in the other parts of the British Empire.
| Read More Articles: |
Did The Colonists Really Succeed Via The Declaratory Act?
No, colonists never succeeded or achieved victory over the British via this act.
At the same time, we can say their happiness lasted for a short time.
The following year in 1767, the English parliament passed a series of laws named ‘The Townshend Acts‘.
The series of acts were more vicious for the colonists’ interests.
In 1773, they again passed an act called the Tea Act.
As a result, in the following years, it causes many significant incidents.
Two of them were the Boston Massacre (1770), and the Boston Tea Party (1773).
Finally, these events led all 13 colonies to the revolutionary war against their mother country, Great Britain.
What Was The Purpose of The Declaratory Act?
The main purpose of this law was to show that the authority of the British government over the 13 colonies was the same as it was before.
Through this law, Parliament wanted to say that whenever they need, they will be able to introduce new laws in the 13 colonies; because the colonies were the property of the British Empire.
But the question is why they had to pass an act to justify the fact.
The answer is, in the years 1764 and 1765, their Parliament passed two acts, named the Sugar Act (1764) and the Stamp Act (1765).
These two acts were fully against the interests of American colonists.
As a result, they caused heavy protest, violence, and boycott of English economic goods.
The English government was afraid that the incidents would lead them to an economic crisis.
Hence, as a solution to not fall into that situation, they repealed the Sugar Act (replaced with Revenue Act) and the Stamp Act in 1766.
But at the same time, to protect their interest, they also passed the Declaratory Act so that the colonists would not wonder that the British government relinquished its rights from the 13 colonies.
