Elizabeth's Opinion of the Townshend Acts
Elizabeth is a milliner. She works in a shop that makes and sells fine fashion
accessories.
"The rebellious Patriots are making all colonists suffer. The Crown has every
right to assert its authority with the Townshend Acts. By collecting a small
tax on paper, lead, glass and tea, the King's officials can be assured of their
salaries. The governors, judges and custom officers should not have to worry
that provincial assemblies
will try to control them. The extra money helps pay for the troops that have
been sent to protect us.
The Patriots seem to forget that everyone has a right to earn a living. My
business suffers now because the merchants have decided to protest the duties
by boycotting goods from England. People are unwilling
to purchase the fine English items in my shop lest they anger the Patriots.
In the meantime, illegal smuggling has become an epidemic!
We must have law and order or I fear the situation will only get worse."