Hi guys, been absent otherwise I’d have chimed in earlier.
These are very good questions, and I’ve spent a fare share of time considering them myself. Unfortunately motives to age long questions are very hard to answer but I’ll have a go. Discussion being what we are all about here.
Q1
Britain wasn’t expecting trouble so soon after the 7 years war.
Britain had a powerful army, that had been successful in colonial campaigns in the past, though with a sketchy record in Europe.
Britain had a large and powerful navy, though as yet still rivalled by France.
Britian did not consider the Americans to be Americans, they were British subjects, therefore they felt no military threat from them.
King George and his ministers were utterly out of touch with colonial issues, and consistently failed to grasp the increasing seriousness
The British were complacent about American uproar about taxation because the British payed higher taxes at home
They did not think the Americans had the military capability, economy or organisation to confront them without allies.
Distance alienated them from the realities of dealing with the problem, and we’re out of step with royal governors and vice versa.
Britain didn’t actually think revolution was in the air, they thought it was general unrest/rioting which was common at home.
Britain reacted to an American problem in a British way, they deployed the army which was the police, highlighting the gulf that had grown.
Britian it is true sadly thought the Americans second class British citizens, but ones that nonetheless had it good, didn’t take them seriously in Parliament.
The issues of a colony demanding parliamentary representation was unheard of, there was no reference point in dealing with this issue.
Britian was reeling under the strain of paying for the 7 years war and therefore money minded, and not interested in reforming colonial policy.
America was a colony and therefore an asset to be used.
The idea that subjects proclaiming loyalty to the King would rebel like in 1642 didn’t seem real, though it was to those on the ground.
Josh.