Sec.6.  Hence we see that the colonists had no security for the passage of such laws as they wanted.  And the consequence was, that they were often denied good and wholesome laws, by the refusal of the king to sanction them.  Not only so; many laws enacted by parliament were very unjust and oppressive.  The object of these laws was to secure to Great Britain alone the trade of the colonies.  One law declared that no goods should be imported by the colonists but in English vessels; if brought in other vessels, both the goods and vessels were to be forfeited to the British government.

Sec.7.  Another law required such articles as England wanted, to be transported to that country and other countries belonging to Great Britain.  The colonists were permitted to ship to foreign markets such products only as English merchants did not want.  They were prohibited from selling abroad any wool, yarn, or woolen manufactured goods.  This was done to keep the markets open for British wool and manufactures.  Another law declared that no iron wares of any kind should be manufactured here.  Thus was it attempted to suppress manufactures in the colonies.

Sec.8.  Hence we see that it was the policy of the British government to compel the colonists to buy of England all the goods they wanted which they did not themselves produce, and to sell to England the surplus productions of the colonies.  For this purpose, heavy duties were laid upon goods imported into the colonies from other countries than Great Britain and her possessions.  These duties were taxes levied upon goods brought into the colonies from abroad, and were collected by officers here from the persons importing the goods.

Sec.9.  The following facts will explain to the young reader more clearly the nature and effects of these duties:  The colonists traded with the West India islands, some of which belonged to Great Britain, some to France, and some to Spain.  To secure the whole trade, the British government imposed high duties upon the molasses, sugar and other articles imported into the colonies from the French and Spanish islands.  The people of the colonies could therefore avoid the payment of these duties only by importing the above mentioned goods from the British islands.

Sec.10.  Not satisfied with these acts, parliament claimed the right to tax the colonies, “in all cases whatsoever;” and an act was passed accordingly, laying duties upon all tea, glass, paper, &c., imported into the colonies; and the money thus collected was put into the British treasury.  The colonists petitioned the king and parliament to repeal these obnoxious laws; but their petitions were denied.  Having given up all hope of relief, congress, which was a body of delegates from the several colonies, declared the colonies to be free and independent states, no longer subject to the government of Great Britain.  This declaration was maintained by a war which lasted about seven years, when Great Britain gave up the contest, and acknowledged the independence of the states; and the revolution was accomplished.