George Louis Beer (1872–1920) was an American historian, businessman and civil servant. After achieving success in the tobacco industry, Beer studied at Columbia University, and between 1893 and 1897 lectured on European history. After retiring, he studied British colonial policy, and was part of the American delegation to the Paris peace conference after the First World War; he later worked for the League of Nations. This volume, first published in 1907, contains Beer's detailed study of British policy in the American colonies between 1754 and 1765. Drawing on a variety of contemporary sources, including official State Papers and political pamphlets, Beer uses the statutes passed during this period to examine the main concerns of the British government regarding the American colonies. He discusses the changing features of British colonial policy in response to contemporary political situations, providing a comprehensive account of British policy during this period of imperial expansion.