Lecture Notes: British Colonial Policies Post-French and Indian War

Sugar Act

Lowered the tax on sugar (molasses) but strictly enforced it for the first time.
Previously, there was "benign neglect" (lax enforcement).
Colonists perceived this as a tax increase despite the lower rate because it was now being enforced.

Colonies required to use British currency only.
Some colonies had been printing and using their own currency.
British currency was inflated: reducing available currency makes existing currency worth more.
Example: Borrowing $20 and repaying with currency of greater value due to reduced circulation.
Impact on debt repayments: Paying loans back in British currency cost more than it did in colonial currency.
Creditors could demand payment in specie (gold or silver), which has higher value than paper currency.
This led to concerns about an unfavorable balance of trade for the colonies.

British left 10,000 troops in North America for enforcement and control.
Colonists distrusted a standing army in peacetime.
Quartering Act: Colonial legislatures required to supply and provide lodgings for British troops in public buildings.

Despite troops, Britain couldn't enforce the Proclamation Line of 1763 (boundary to control colonial expansion and interactions with Native Americans).
Boundary had to be adjusted after a few years due to vast length and difficulty in enforcement.
Supervision of native trade was returned to individual colonies.

Causes and results of the French and Indian War.
Reasons for the British government issuing the Proclamation Line of 1763 and reasons colonists didn't obey it.
Understanding of how the Sugar Act was both a decrease in tax and perceived as an increase.