Download 1. Loyalists: King George III and his friend, Frederick

#1. Loyalists: King George III and his friend, Frederick
You are King George III, ruler of the British Empire, 1738-1820
You are proud to be the ruler of such a great empire, and you take an active
role in governing it. You feel your colonies are subject to the laws of
England and that Parliament can enact laws that the colonists must obey.
The British empire has provided the colonies with protection from the
French and hostile Indians; and has been a profitable trading partner for over
100 years.
Your empire was faced with a large debt in 1763-several million dollars
must be collected to pay for the French and Indian War and other various
debts. Faced with this problem, you look for new ways to raise revenues. So,
among other things, you decided to tax the colonies in America.
The reaction by the colonists to the taxes and other restrictions the empire
enacted has angered you. You view the acts of rebellion as treasonous and
criminal and ungrateful. After all, the colonists are profiting from the
protection and additional land obtained from the war. British soldiers risk
their lives and have died to obtain these benefits for the colonists. You
expect loyalty from colonists to the empire, and you are prepared to take the
measures necessary to ensure it.
Lord Frederick North, Prime Minister of Great Britain.
You believe that extremists live among loyal colonists. These violent rebels
need to be removed and punished….Here is your list of complaints against
the colonists:
• Some colonists have become violent rebels.
• Because they refused to pay taxes, they have tarred and feathered tax
collectors, who are government officials just doing their job.
• British goods have been stolen or dumped in the harbor.
• British ships have been burnt.
• Colonists have refused to obey laws and respect authority.
• British troops are needed to maintain law and order.