Analysis Of Edmund Burke's Speech To British Parliament
analytical Essay
775 words
Analysis of Edmund Burke’s Speech This essay compares and contrasts Edmund Burke’s speech given to British Parliament. The essay utilizes two different perspectives to see the speech through individuals living in 1775. The speech, itself, took place on March 22, 1775. Edmund Burke delivered the speech to Parliament in the House of Commons, England as a form of resolution to halt American-British conflict. Burke’s speech conveyed the ideas of possible nonviolent, perhaps diplomatic resolutions. The perspectives applied to the speech are that of a colonial farmer and British Parliament member.
Colonial Farmer’s Perspective In order to understand a colonial farmer’s perspective, one must look at how the farmer lived from 1700’s until the beginning of the American Revolution in April of 1776. Colonists lived for over 100 years with British rule, albeit, minor laws and became comfortable, prosperous and extremely independent. According to Brown & Carp (2000), “In all save the newest colonies of Georgia and Nova Scotia, they possessed by 1750 virtually all of the conditions necessary for self-governing states” (pp. 47-48). Colonial patriots existed as an almost independent country prior to Burke’s speech. The British in turn imposed a series of acts and taxes that irritated
…show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the essay compares and contrasts edmund burke's speech given to british parliament. the essay utilizes two different perspectives to see the speech through individuals living in 1775.
- Analyzes how the colonial farmer lived from 1700s until the beginning of the american revolution in april of 1776. colonial patriots existed as an almost independent country prior to burke's speech.
- Explains that before burke's speech, british parliament and king george iii executed and enforced a series of acts and taxes that outraged farmers, patriots, and most early americans.
- Explains that the british government enacted the intolerable acts due to colonial uprisings. early farmers and patriots saw the acts as a violation of their liberty and independence.
- Explains the british parliament viewpoint existed as that of a parent scolding an unruly child (colonial america). the british empire recently completed the successful french-indian war with the aid of colonists.
- Explains that the sugar and currency acts were paid by colonists as duties as part of the british empire. george grenville, parliamentary member, enacted the sugar act to help support the troops provided for their defense.
- Explains that the british empire needed to bring colonial america under control. in a parliamentary debate of the intolerable acts, the majority of politicians agreed the colonies remained british subjects.
- Analyzes how the essay identified, compared, and contrasted both the colonial farmer and the parliamentary perspectives of edmund burke’s speech.
England provided goods, soldiers for defense, and government to Colonial America. The Sugar and Currency Acts, paid by colonists, happened as duties as part of the British Empire. Originally, George Grenville, Parliamentary Member, enacted the Sugar Act so “that they (Americans) should help support the troops provided for their defense; he did not propose that they should bear all of the charges for troops stationed in America, however” (Middlekauff, 2005, p. 62). The ever-upstart colonist remained thoroughly defiant to a providing British Empire and led to the Intolerable
Related
- argumentative
- analytical
- explanatory
- American Revolution vs. Brazilian Revolutionargumentative essayIn concern to the American Revolution, there are two sides debating its primary cause. One set of historians believe the cause to be ideals and principles. The other set of historians and scholars credit economic and social interests as the primary cause of the Revolutionary War. Historians Jesse Lemisch and Dirk Hoerder used the mobs in colonial cities as evidence of the social concerns of Americans at that time. Another Historian, Arthur M. Schlesinger argued in a 1917 study “that it was the colonial merchants who were chiefly responsible for arousing American resistance to the British; and that although they spoke of principles and ideals, their real motives were economic self-interest: freedom from the restrictive policies of British mercantilism.” This argument is very concrete and is supported by the different legislation that the British Parliament passed after the Seven Years’ War. In fact, an act was passed in 1764 by the Parliament that was instrumental in specifically angering the merchants that played a major role in leading the Americans to independence. That piece of legislation was the Sugar Act which placed a tax on sugar being brought into the colonies. This tax was a significantly less than the one that was logged in the book previously; however, that tax had been ignored for years. The initial response of the merchants to this piece of legislation was anger because this new law cut off their highly profitable smuggling organizations which greatly affected their earnings. Soon after tha...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that while the brazilian revolution emerged largely from the influence of the american revolution, some variation remains in how those two revolutions were executed and what the reasons for them were.
- Analyzes how the two sides debating the american revolution's primary cause are ideals and principles, and economic and social interests.
- Explains that the brazilian revolution was caused less by economic interests than by ideas. they were influenced by the ideas of the enlightenment taking ideas from john locke.
- Explains that the portuguese controlled brazil since the 16th century. they regulated the trade in brazil and gave money to tax farmers to get a payment from the crown.
- Concludes that the american revolution played a role in influencing the brazilian revolution.
1052 wordsRead More - How Revolutionary Was The Revolutionary War?analytical essayAs proclaimed in the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms,” we agreed that the British government had left the people with only two options, “unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers or resistance by force.” Thus, in the early months of the dreadfully long year of 1775, we began our resistance. As the war progressed, the Americans, the underdogs, shockingly began winning battles against the greatly superior mother country of England. Actually, as seen in the battle of Bunker Hill, not only were they winning, they were annihilating hundreds of their resilient opponents. Countless questions arose before and during the War of Independence. Problems like: social equality, slavery, women’s rights, and the struggle of land claims against Native Americans were suddenly being presented in new and influencing ways to our pristine leaders. Some historians believe that while the Revolutionary War was crucial for our independence, these causes were not affected; thus, the war was not truly a revolution. Still, being specified in the Background Essay, several see the war as more radical, claiming it produced major changes above and beyond our independence.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the british government had left the people with only two options: unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers or resistance by force.
- Explains that the revolution helped the americans conquer the problem of "home rule", but now faced the question of who should rule at home.
- Explains that the social boundary lines were erased, obliterated by the circumstances of war. poor workers fought alongside wealthy landowners, directly and indirectly, finding common ground in the strive for liberty.
- Analyzes how the war had a limited but profound significance. liberty and slavery, being contradictory to each other, were understandably incompatible. slavery became abolished in states where there had never been many slaves.
- Explains that the long revolutionary war had a significant effect on american women. many women became impoverished and poor due to the loss of their men.
- Opines that the native americans gained the least from the revolution. while the tribes at first remained neutral in the conflict, both sides greatly desired their support.
- Analyzes how the revolutionary war influenced the ideals of slavery being unmoral, but it did not abolish it. it brought about great changes for our developing nation, such as liberty, indispensable allies, and the creation of new governments.
910 wordsRead More - Burke, Edmund. “Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event: in a Letter Intended to Have Been Sent to a Gentleman in Paris 1790.” Edmund Burke: Selected Writings and Speeches. Ed. Peter J. Stanlis. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc., 1963. 511-608.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the industrial revolution and the french revolution chipped away at the established social order in britain during the late 18th century.
- Analyzes burke's impassioned plea in "reflections on the revolution in france" to avoid letting radical changes cause british citizens to give up their traditional values.
- Analyzes how a gentleman's sense of honor included the higher moral quality of helping others beyond the letter of the law if required.
- Analyzes how the name ‘george knightley’ combines the patron saint of england with the chivalrous knight.
- Analyzes how the eltons attack those worse off than them and reveal themselves as unfeeling social climbers. mr. knightley's virtuous feelings and actions continue a tradition of gentlemanly conduct.
- Analyzes how mrs. elton's background and her family’s lack of refinement are examples of destabilization of the aristocracy.
- Analyzes how burke's lack of personal values affects many people. from austen, society will not remain stable, but communities are flexible. change can lead to welcome progress and by paying attention to people like george knightley, we may save the best parts.
- Analyzes how frank churchill's conduct is an example of the eroding aristocratic ideal of duty.
- Describes jane austen's writings and speeches, including 'not at all what a man should be!', and "equivocal beings."
2140 wordsRead More - Britain Vs the Colonies: The American Revolutionanalytical essayWithout colonial consent, the British started their bid to raise revenue with the Sugar Act of 1764 which increased duties colonists would have to pay on imports into America. When the Sugar Act failed, the Stamp Act of 1765 which required a stamp to be purchased with colonial products was enacted. This act angered the colonists to no limit and with these acts, the British Empire poked at the up to now very civil colonists. The passing of the oppressive Intolerable Acts that took away the colonists’ right to elected officials and Townshend Acts which taxed imports and allowed British troops without warrants to search colonist ships received a more aggravated response from the colonist that would end in a Revolution.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that an oppressed people will eventually rise against the oppressor regardless of their loyalties. the british empire failed to realize when they took oppressive actions on their colonies that would cause conflict and culminate into the american revolution.
- Analyzes how the british empire poked at the up to now very civil colonists with the intolerable acts, townshend act, and the stamp act of 1765.
- Explains how the american colonists reacted peacefully to resolve their conflict with the british. they organized protests and boycotted purchases of goods imported from britain.
- Explains how the boston massacre and the coercive acts unify and anger the colonies. they established the first continental congress for military and colony rights defense.
- Explains that the battle of lexington and concord was the straw that broke the camel's back for colonists.
- Explains that the colonies still held allegiance to the british empires, so instead of a full revolt against the taxes and policies they employed peaceful resolution tactics.
- Explains that oppression is the birth of revolution no matter one's loyalty to their oppressor. the american revolution proved this by killing innocent people at the battle of lexington and conquered.
788 wordsRead More - The American Revolution, A Fight for Colonial Independenceanalytical essay“Is there a single trait of resemblance between those few towns and a great and growing people spread over a vast quarter of the globe, separated by a mighty ocean?” This question posed by Edmund Burke was in the hearts of nearly every colonist before the colonies gained their independence from Britain. The colonists’ heritage was largely British, as was their outlook on a great array of subjects; however, the position and prejudices they held concerning their independence were comprised entirely from American ingenuity. This identity crisis of these “British Americans” played an enormous role in the colonists’ battle for independence, and paved the road to revolution.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes hector st. john crèvecoeur's letters from an american farmer, composed in the 1770s, published in 1781.
- Narrates how mather byles, cotton's grandson, was a boston tory preacher, poet, and wit.
- Analyzes hector st. john crèvecoeur's letters from an american farmer, composed in the 1770s, published in 1781.
- Introduces mather byles, cotton's grandson, to nathaniel emmons and arthur wentworth hamilton eaton.
- Explains that the colonists' identity crisis was comprised entirely from american ingenuity. they were accustomed to a level of independence that they had never possessed before.
1040 wordsRead More - The Start of US Revolutionanalytical essayThe origin of England's dependence on the colonies began during the French and Indian war, in the 1750s-1760s. In this war, the British were quite inexperienced; their European style of fighting did not work against the guerilla-warfare fighting style of the French. The British wore bright red coats, marched in long lines, often lugging cannons around with them, while the French hid behind trees and picked them off one by one. General Braddock relied on his force of ill-disciplined American militiamen, who used behind-the-tree methods of fighting in order to fight the Indians. After many years of fighting, the British finally came out victorious. Although England emerged from this war as one of the biggest empires in the world, it also possessed the biggest debt. They had poured much money and resources into these colonies in order to keep them as their own, and it was time for the colonies to give something back to the British for protecting them from the Indians. They finally realized what a precious gift the colonies were, and how useful they would be. In this war, the British realized that the colonies were their pawns in a global game of chess. At any time, the British felt that they had the right to impose taxes on the colonies, in order to make up for money that was lost in the French and Indian War to defend them. They had the view that because they had done so much to help the colonies, that the colonies had to repay them.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the demand for no taxation without representation was the primary force motivating the american revolutionary movement.
- Explains that england's dependence on the colonies began during the french and indian war, in the 1750s-1760s.
- Explains how the british controlled the colonies by imposing trade regulations on them. they were forced to trade only with them, as dictated by the navigation acts and the mercantile system.
- Describes the grenville acts, which were imposed by the colonists to raise tax revenue in the colonies for the crown.
- Explains that after the grenville acts were nullified, "champagne charley" townshend, who in turn persuaded parliament to pass the town-shend acts of 1767, replaced them with a light import duty on glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea.
- Explains that the townshend acts failed to produce revenue, and only succeeded in aggravating the colonists.
- Explains that the colonists were not happy about paying a 3-pence tax on tea, even though the english tea was cheaper than the smuggled tea. the continental congress was summoned in 1774 to solve colonial grievances.
- Analyzes how the colonists realized that they were fighting for less taxation and more representation in parliament, and for their basic rights as british citizens.
- Analyzes how the colonists forgot the needs of free negroes who were taxed, but did not have the right to vote. they were over-reacting to the taxes that the british imposed on them.
- Analyzes how the idea of an american revolution started based on the "no taxation without representation" concept, but soon realized that the colonists' basic rights were at stake.
1902 wordsRead More - Proclamation of 1763explanatory essayAfter the Seven Year War, Britain now needed to find ways to generate money, and felt that since the war was fought on American land that they should help pay for its cost, and they decided to issue new taxes on the colonies trying to offset some of the cost of the war. One of the first acts they presented was the Sugar act in 1764, lowering the duties on molasses but taxed sugar and other items that could be exported to Britain. It also enforced stronger laws for smuggling, where if prosecuted, it would be a British type trial without a jury of their peers. Some Americans were upset about the Sugar Act because it violated two strong American feelings, first that they couldn't be tried without a jury of their peers, and the second that they couldn't be taxed without their consent.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the stamp act, which placed taxes on legal documents, was aimed at the most listened to groups of people, such as lawyers and printers. the declaration of rights and grievances was repealed in 1766.
- Cites dickinson's letters from a farmer in pennsylvania (1768) and voices of america past & present.
- Explains that the proclamation of 1763 is just the beginning of the rebellion towards the british and their control over the colonists.
- Explains how the townsend act was a dangerous innovation. the colonists boycotted the purchase of imported british goods and the boston massacre.
1002 wordsRead More - Steps To The Revolution Starting At 1763 -1775analytical essayThe Prime Minister George Grenville, creates the Sugar Act of 1764. This act, in short, taxed sugar. American colonists still had power because of the royal veto. The colonists were outraged, Grenville was taxing the prime ingredient in bread and alcohol, two of America's favorites. Also the colonists may have seen that this tax was paying for the British's problems.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the revolution was one of the most significant events in american history. before 1763, america and britain were on good terms.
- Analyzes how the prime minister george grenville created the sugar act of 1764, which taxed sugar. american colonists were outraged by the tax.
- Analyzes how george grenville created a stamp act to have american colonists "support" the british military force.
- Explains that the stamp act congress did not do much in america, but it was a significant step toward intercolonial unity.
- Describes the boston massacre, wherein americans attacked british troops on march 5, 1770, and in defense the troops fired away. the townshend act failed to make any profit and was repealed.
- Describes the boston tea party and the continental congress of 1774.
1141 wordsRead More - The American Revolution Was NOT Justifiedanalytical essayThe British also implemented new taxes. The Sugar act of 1764 sought to reduce smuggling, which occurred partly as a result of the earlier Molasses Act. This gave British possessions in the Caribbean the upper hand in sugar trade, which in the British view helped the empire as a whole, but to Americans, and especially the merchants, this put limits on their opportunities. The Currency Act, passed about this time forbade the printing of colonial currency. British merchants benefited because they didn't have to deal with inflated American currencies. The Americans felt they were at an economic disadvantage as very little sterli...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the tea act of 1773 gave the british east india company the monopoly on tea in america, but local american merchants feared that if they could control the tea trade, they would soon control other industries.
- Explains that the colonies viewed the british government as a mission to oppress them. the quartering act was passed to save money, while the stamp act provoked opposition throughout america.
- Argues that the american revolution should never have happened, since the british were not tyrannical, oppressive rulers.
- Cites bobrick, benson, and brennan, linda crotta. fight for freedom: the american revolutionary war.
1035 wordsRead More - Theory of Modern Revolution: Edmund Burkeanalytical essayIn 1959, Singapore gained its independence from British colonial rule with help from the People’s Action Party (PAP). The PAP started a rebellion against British colonial rule and ultimately led to the union with Malaya to create the federation of Malaysia. This federation did not last long due to cultural and political issues, and in 1965, Singapore officially became an independent nation. According to Edmund Burke’s Theory of Modern Revolution, after a country gains its independence, the country usually goes through four stages of modern revolution. These stages are: widespread support of the Uprising; change occurs, society becomes divided by the change, Civil War breaks out and a dictatorial power emerges, thus creating even more opposition and the new government takes more drastic measures (counter-revolution), and someone (group) comes along who takes matters into his own hands who will restore law and order and society ends up in a dictatorship. The country should go through these stages in chronological order, but at times, the country will not go through all the stages, skip stages, or repeat stages. There were racial, political, and cultural differences between the two groups of people and governments in Malaysia that could not be overcome and their federation ended two years after it started. The now independent nation of Singapore went through stage one and then circles back to repeat stage one and stage two of Edmund Burke’s Theory of Modern Revolution at the same time in 1959 through 1965.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that singapore gained independence from british colonial rule in 1959 with the help of the people's action party (pap), which led to the union with malaya to create the federation of malaysia.
- Explains that singapore's main political party, the people’s action party, went through stage one first by becoming independent from british colonial rule and separating itself from the communist section of the pap.
- Describes the second stage of edmund burke's theory of modern revolution, wherein the pap and the umno agreed that lee kuan yew would not enter the party in the first malaysian election.
- Analyzes how the pap's disloyalty to the central government caused much unrest in the newly formed federation.
- Explains that singapore went through stage one of edmund burke's theory, widespread support of the uprising; change occurs. the unrest and tension between the chinese and the malays caused the separation of malaysia.
- Explains that singapore did not go through stages three and four of the theory of modern revolution because it continued as a republic after becoming independent.
1310 wordsRead More