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Difficulty: MediumThe Seven Years' War and Imperial Reorganization

Thomas Hutchinson, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, letter to a correspondent in London, 1764:

"Our assembly is much alarmed by the late acts of Parliament. They see the trade of the colonies so restricted that they fear it will be impossible to find the means of making remittances to England. They complain that their natural rights as British subjects are infringed upon by taxes laid without their consent. Yet, it must be acknowledged that the late war was undertaken for the defense of the colonies, and the treasury of Great Britain is heavily burdened. How this issue will be resolved without causing a general alienation of affection remains a matter of great concern."

Which of the following historical developments during the period 1763 to 1775 best explains the colonial concerns described in the excerpt?

  1. A
    The enactment of the Coercive Acts in direct response to the Boston Tea Party, which united the colonies in an immediate demand for independence.
  2. The British shift from a policy of relative indifference, or salutary neglect, to stricter administrative control and taxation to address war debts.Answer
  3. C
    The British government's attempt to dismantle the mercantilist system in favor of reciprocal free trade agreements with other European empires.
  4. D
    The decision by Parliament to grant the colonies full economic self-sufficiency to reduce administrative costs in London.

Answer

The British shift from a policy of relative indifference, or salutary neglect, to stricter administrative control and taxation to address war debts.
The correct answer is correct because the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763 left Great Britain with immense national debt. In response, British policymakers abandoned the long-standing policy of salutary neglect, asserting more direct authority and imposing taxes (such as the Sugar Act of 1764 and Stamp Act of 1765) to raise revenue and offset military expenditures. This transition directly caused the colonial alarms over taxation without representation and trade restrictions described by Thomas Hutchinson.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify the date and the core concerns of the colonists.
The letter was written in 1764. The author notes that colonists are alarmed by trade restrictions, taxation without consent, and the financial burden of the late war (the Seven Years' War).
This establishes the historical timeline and the main causal factors cited by the author.
2
Evaluate the option choices based on the timeline and the goals of British policy after the Seven Years' War.
The correct response must explain the shift from the pre-1763 period of relative autonomy (salutary neglect) to the post-1763 period of direct taxation and imperial enforcement.
This matches the transition described in the excerpt, where the British government sought to recover war debts by taxing the colonies.

Key Concept

The transition of British colonial policy from salutary neglect to imperial reorganization and direct taxation following the Seven Years' War.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Seven Years' War and Imperial Reorganization

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