British Perspective
Great Britain’s relationship with its colonies was characterized by several collaborations, as well as disagreements. As stipulated by The Declaratory Act of March 18, 1766, the British parliament was given the power to legislate for the colonies without seeking their approval ( Pickering, 1766) . Besides, this relationship was amiable in the sense that the colonies relied heavily on trade by the British to facilitate economic growth and economic success.
In his article titled ‘ The Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress , ' Cruger (1765) argued that t he legislative power and authority of the Great Britain parliament were consistent in demonstrating its relationship with its colonies. To some extent, the relationship was demonstrated by a considerable level of dependency of the colonies upon Great Britain. All the colonies solely depended on the British trade for protectionism and economic success ( Cruger, 1765) . Great Britain also provided the necessary protection to the colonies whenever they were faced with threats or attacks from their adversaries.
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When war broke out between France and Britain, Britain fought hard and managed to drive the French out of America successfully. The Paris Treaty of 1763 ceded all the French land to Britain and gave all colonial powers to the great power. According to Otis (1764), the British government felt that the colonies owed its allegiance and therefore decided to draft documents that asserted and proved its rights. Shortly after ceding the land from the French, the British government felt entitled to drop its Salutary Neglect policy, which would establish stronger control over the colonies. Because they had fought hard to drive the French out, The Britsih felt that colonies were entitled to share in the responsibility of the massive debt that had accumulated during the war. Great Britain, therefore, decided to impose high taxes on the colonies to assist in paying the debt. However, the colonies rebelled against this taxation, which resulted in antagonistic relationships between them and Britain. The British government felt that this was an unjust decision to rebel.
American Perspective
The rights that belonged to the colonists comprised of natural entitlements. These included the right to life, the right of liberty and freedom, and the right to ownership of property. Besides, the colonies felt entitled to be defended and supported by the authorities that were ruling over them in the best possible way. The explanation provided by Simmons and Thomas (1983) supports the perspective that they were entitled to enjoy certain rights as subjects, which include private property, personal liberty, and personal security, as recognized by the initial fundamental legislation of all states.
According to Adams (1772), the Americans held the view that representative assemblies ought to mirror their constituents. If the Great Britain parliament could not afford a more effective representation, then they had no right, authority, or entitlement to tax the colonies. Adams (1772) also indicates the Americans observed that British rulers appeared to be lacking basic morals that would enhance the leadership and rulership of their territories ( Adams, 1772) . Besides, they believed that more attention needs to be paid to the observation of human rights as well as several other rights to which the colonies were entitled.
Jenyns (1765) agrees that the British government planned to force the colonies to participate in paying the debt that accumulated during the Indian and French War (Jenyns, 1765). The colonies rejected this plan, which contributed to a decline in the strong foundations of interactions that were previously formulated. During the seventeenth century, the relationship between the British Parliament and the colonies became largely antagonistic.
To retaliate against this unjust taxation, Cruger (1765) states that the Pan-colonial political leaders passed the 1773 Stamp Act, which aimed at developing efficient communication and political unity among colonies necessary for winning the Revolutionary War. One of the most notable ideologies indicated that taxation should not be allowed without effective representation ( Cruger, 1765) . Later on, another principle was introduced, which suggested that legislation cannot be possible without legislation. Therefore, the policies formulated by the colonists played a critical role in defining the basis of the disagreement with the Great Britain government.
References
Adams, S. (1772). The Rights of the Colonists: The Report of the Committee of Correspondence to the Boston Town Meeting. Old South Leaflets no. 173 (Boston: Directors of the Old South Work, 1906) 7, 417-428 . https://history.hanover.edu/texts/adamss.html
Cruger, J. (1765). The Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress October 19, 1765. http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/the-resolutions-of-the-stamp-act-congress-October-19-1765.php
Jenyns, S. (1765). The Objections to the Taxation of Our American Colonies by the The legislature of Great Britain, briefly considered.
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/soame-jenyns-the-objections-to-the-taxation considered-1765.php
Otis, J. (1764). The American Republic: The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved. http://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/1763-otis-rights-of-british-colonies-asserted-pamphlet
Pickering, D. (1766). Great Britain: Parliament - The Declaratory Act; March 18, 1766. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declaratory_act_1766.asp
Simmons, P. D. G. & Thomas (1983). Making the Revolution: America, 1763-1791. Parliament Debates the Stamp Act, February 1765. London; Millwood, NY: Kraus International Publications .
