英国的殖民地政策与北美独立运动的兴起

Britain's Colonial Policy and the Emergence of Independence Movement in North America

北美 1 3个殖民地是英国人建立和统治的海外领地 ,北美独立运动首先是一场政治分离运动。英国对北美殖民地的政策比较宽松 ,使北美获得了稳步而迅速的发展。正是这种发展使之具备了谋取政治独立的经济和社会基础。所谓“高压政策”并不是反英运动的导因 ,而是其不断升级的结果。因此 ,独立运动并不是殖民地居民对英国统治的被动反抗 ,而是他们主动寻求更大利益的行动。

The thirteen American colonies were British overseas territories set up and ruled by the English colonialists. The independence movement of North America was, first of all, a political separatist uprising. Britains lenient policy towards these colonies allowed their steady and rapid development in North America; this, in turn, laid the economic and social foundation for political independence. The so called “high handed policy” was a measure taken by the British as the struggle escalated, rather than the fuse which ignited the anti British movement. The independence movement was, therefore, not a passive resistance of the people in these colonies against the British rule but an act to seek great interests.