Was the American Revolution Avoidable?

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The American Revolution was an unnecessary war and could have been avoided, had the British taken proper action between the years of 1763-1775.  The major remembrance of the war was ‘taxation without representation’.  The English monarch was uncompressing in their regard of the colonies.  For this, and due to the huge debt incurred by French and Indian War, the British had to tax heavily to recoup the money.  What policies helped to push the British and American colonists toward war?

Britain was feeling the pressure from the Dutch and due to this they began strictly enforcing the Navigation Laws.  The first policy was a misguided tax called the Sugar act.  It by passed in 1764 by Prime Minister George Greenville.  It was the first tax passed on the American colonies.  The Sugar act imposed a duty on all sugar imported from the Dutch West Indies.  Next, the Quartering Act of 1765 decreed that certain colonies should give food and quarters to British troops.  Later that same year, George Grenville imposed a stamp tax on the colonies to raise revenues to support the new military force. This stamp tax, known as the Stamp Act, mandated the use of stamped paper or the affixing of stamps, certifying payment of tax.

To respond, the American colonies called together the Stamp Act Congress. Called together in 1765m it brought together in New York City 27 delegates from 9 colonies to discuss the Stamp law. The members drew up a statement of their rights and grievances and requested the king and Parliament to repeal the legislation.  At the meeting, the delegates agreed to a non-importation agreement.  This meant that the colonies would not import British goods.  The Sons and Daughters of Liberty took matters into their own hands when they enforced the non-import agreement.  These reactions lead to the British Parliament repealing the Stamp Act in 1766 but only if they could pass a new set of laws. Approving, they passed the Declaratory Acts.

The Declaratory Acts allowed Britain to make rules for the colonies in all matters, no matter how mundane or trivial.  The wording of the act was intentionally trivial as to leave open the imposition of a tax at Britain’s discretion.  This act was the first in the long line of taxes and laws that would lead to the American Revolution.