In 1763, French power in America ended.Grenville Taxes the Colonies
Although Britain's victory in the French War and Pontiac's Rebellion expanded its empire and ?strengthened its control, it proved costly.The colonial assemblies gave colonists direct representation, because the colonists themselves elected ?the delegates who levied taxes.Collectors were encouraged to use warrants, called writs of assistance, to search buildings that ?might contain illegal goods.After few months settlers ?began flowing into Indian lands, the lands of the Seneca, Delaware, Ottawa and others.In October 1763, the king proclaimed that all lands beyond the Appalachians be closed to ?any purchases and settlements.?Britain had levied customs duties to regulate colonial ?trade.The British customs service levied lower duties on goods brought in from Britain than on goods ?imported from other nations.As ?a result, it passed the Quartering Act which required colonial assemblies to provide the royal troops with ?barracks and provisions.During the same year, it passed the Stamp Act under which written material such ?as newspapers, contracts, diplomas, birth certificates, and advertisement would have to be printed on a ?special stamped paper.?Previous acts of Parliament had infuriated colonists; most colonists realized that they were not being ?taxed more than people in Britain, who also paid a stamp tax.?France ceded Louisiana to Spain in compensation for Spain's loss of the Floridas.Moreover, accused smugglers would no longer be tried in courts with juries of ?their fellow colonists.Furthermore, Grenville imposed new duties on the colonists as a way to raise money.The rebellion convinced King George III ?and Parliament that the fighting should not be repeated.Britain's new minister of finance, George Grenville, thought ?that the colonies should bear some of these costs.Grenville found that the customs ?service in America cost more to operate than it collected in duties.In 1764, for ?instance, Parliament passed the Sugar Act which added or increased duties on foreign imports such as ?sugar, cloth, wine, and coffee.The colonists, however, did not elect representatives to the British ?Parliament.?First North Carolina, then Virginia, advised their delegates in Congress to ?vote for independence.?He had studied the ?political theory of John Locke, a philosopher of the previous century.Jefferson applied Locke's theory to the preamble of the Declaration.The last section of the Declaration ?pointed out that Americans had tried, and failed, to convince Britain to set right these wrongs.Britain took all of its possessions east of the Mississippi River.Indian resentment ?of settlers led to bloodshed.In 1765, it found a way to reduce Britain's costs for its troops in America.But colonists objected to the way they were ?taxed.These Patriots formed groups called the Sons ?of Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty.Patriotic merchants refused to trade with Britain.The atmosphere ?of protest also generated the boycott of the British goods.In response, representatives from nine colonies ?met in New York in October 1765.The committee members ?were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.The war, called Pontiac's Rebellion.The British decided to keep the settlers and the ?angry tribes apart.Britain's national debt had doubled.However, colonists smuggled many goods.To stop the smuggling, he strengthened ?the service.A small but determined minority of colonists set to work.America to itself." He also attacked King George, ?calling him a "royal brute" who menaced American freedom.The Declaration of Independence
After debate, Congress formed a committee to write a declaration of independence.Thomas ?Jefferson, a Virginia legislator, was chosen, to do the actual writing of the document.Locke had written that ?government
 
was a contract, or compact, between the government and the people.If the government violated the people's ?natural rights, they could rebel and set up another government.?The empire had to be ?protected and governed, and that cost money.Instead, they would be tried in British admiralty.?Within a few months, 150,000 copies of ?Common Sense had been sold.England (belongs) to Europe.