Cause #3 - New Taxes

After the French-Indian War, Great Britain passed a series of taxes meant to raise money to pay for the war debt. At first, it began small. England first passed the Sugar Act, which provided a minor tax on sugar. When the colonists began protesting, the British were stunned. How could the loyal colonists have such an issue with a small thing like sugar being taxed. The colonists argued that, since they did not have representatives in the English Parliament, they should not have to pay English taxes. Next came a Stamp Act, where colonists had to pay taxes on all paper products (from newspapers and books to playing cards). A few years later, Great Britain passed the Townshend Acts (which taxed items such as glass, paper and tea) and later the Tea Act.

Although the taxes felt high at the time, colonists back then did not pay an income tax, social security tax or sales tax the way we currently do. Even the percentages were not considered high. The bigger issue seemed to be whether Great Britain had a right to create taxes for America.

1. What was the cause of this conflict?
2. How did the colonists feel about paying the taxes?
3. Why would this lead to a revolution?