LORD NORTH

A number of the British Parliament were opposed to using force to get America to accept British taxation and other rules. They thought the trade with America was excellent for both, and the military advantage of the combination was superior to any force on earth. To upset that over who had the right to tax and under what conditions seemed foolish. They counseled negotiations. It was thought at the time that Lord North, the Prime Minister, was perceived to be a hard liner who would not back down regarding America. This quotation describes papers that the professor found that proved that Lord North was not one of the hawks and did not want to send troops to America. However, the King was insistent as he and his hawkish advisors felt that England and the king would be weakened if the world could see America flouting the king. It was a “domino theory” of the effect on all the colonies. North wanted to resign but the king thought him the only competent man in the kingdom who could manage the government and would not allow North’s resignation. The Prime Minister, as a loyal servant of the King, executed the policy he thought unwise and used his political skill to marshal and maintain a majority for a hard line in Parliament. Apparently, he tried to resign over America on several occasions. The world would be very different place had he successfully resigned.

2nd Earl of Guilford

2nd Earl of Guilford. This bill cut off all trade with the American Colonies. It was meant as pressure to cease the rebellion. It did not work.

2nd Earl of Guilford. Britain had a double standard of how they would fight wars and battles. If the contention was a rebellion, more mild military means would be used. But if a foreign war, they would use all means. For example, the use of mercenaries would not be used in most rebellions. With this letter, Lord North was escalating the American Revolution into a “foreign war”. As a result, not only would mercenaries be used, but so would Indian allies whose mode of war was not as restrained as the British troops. It also allowed for emancipating slaves and inviting them to take up arms. With this quotation, the American Revolution was raised to a new and more serious military level. See {634115} for the instructions to implement this policy.

2nd Earl of Guilford. Britain had a double standard of how they would fight wars and battles. If the contention was a rebellion, more mild military means would be used. But if a foreign war, they would use all means. For example, the use of mercenaries would not be used in most rebellions. With this letter, Lord North was escalating the American Revolution into a “foreign war”. As a result, not only would mercenaries be used, but so would Indian allies whose mode of war was not as restrained as the British troops. It also allowed for emancipating slaves and inviting them to take up arms. With this quotation, the American Revolution was raised to a new and more serious military level. See {634115} for the instructions to implement this policy.

2nd Earl of Guilford. This bill cut off all trade with the American Colonies. It was meant as pressure to cease the rebellion. It did not work.

2nd Earl of Guilford