The American Revolution gave the colonies the freedom and independence that they were desperately craving after mistreatment from Great Britain. Some may argue that the colonist had no right to break themselves away from England as they did, but under the circumstances it seemed necessary. Therefore, the American Revolutionaries weren’t guilty of disloyalty to the government of england because the many taxation issues and the lack of representative within the britain government. This means that there was an ethical duty to rebel against a government rather than peacefully protesting. There were many forceful actions that the England imposed onto the colonist, which included The Quartering Act and The Stamp Act. Each Act irritated …show more content…
In 1766 Parliament repealed The Stamp Act because British merchants became concerned about the business they were losing. Not long after they passed the Declaratory Act, which stated that the “British Parliament had the right to make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever” (Declaratory Act) whether approved by the colonist’s representatives or not. The American colonist had no voice within the British government which then created a disloyal connection between the two lands. Thus , the American colonist weren’t guilty of disloyalty because by the British enforcing these overcontrolling Acts made the loyalty between them …show more content…
Three years later the Boston Tea Party happened. The Sons of Liberty, a group of colonist protesters, attacked merchant ships in Boston Harbor by taking the tea on the ship and spilling them into the ocean. “Almost immediately, the british responded… Parliament also placed the entire state of Massachusetts under a military governor and limited the power if the government” (Burgan, 2000) The King was infuriated, Parliament passed new laws known as the Coercive Act to punish Boston. This angered the colonist and brought them together ready to fight for their independence from Great Britain. As written in John Adams’s Diary “ This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm, intrepid, and inflexible, that I can’t help considering it a turning point in history…” (John Adams,
The colonists felt as if they were being strangled by Britain’s rule, the British passing a series of policies that the common man, as well as the elite, didn’t agree with. This ranged from the Stamp Act to the Sugar Act to even
Many people believe that the Boston Tea Party arose just because of the Tea Act that came into play in 1773, but in-fact, this major statement arose from two issues surrounding the British Empire in 1765. The first of the issues was that the British East India Company was at risk of going under and the Parliament was finding ways to bring it back. The second issue was that there was a continuing dispute about the extent of the Parliament’s authority. Many colonists believe that the Parliament went overboard with their power and the people were concerned about the future. Attempting to resolve these two major issues, the North Ministry only worsened the problem and produced a showdown that would eventually result in revolution.
The colonist boycotted British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed but quickly replaced by the Declaratory Act in 1766. The British still held onto the conviction that they had the right to tax the Americans in any way they deemed necessary. The Declaratory Act was followed by the Townshend Acts of 1767. This imposed taxes on all imported goods from Britain, which caused the colonies to refuse trading with Britain. Six years passed before another upsetting act was passed.
Patrick Henry once said, “give me liberty or give me death!” During the revolutionary war. The American revolution had begun in Lexington on April 9, 1775. This was where the first battle of the American revolution occurred. Through all the battles and acts the British had placed on the colonists, they had suffered greatly and decided to break away from Britain. But, were the colonists valid in disuniting from Britain and conducting war? The American colonists were justified in waging war and splitting from Britain because the British were unjust to the colonists , they imposed unnecessary acts against the colonists and the British ignored all requests for change.
(140) It was during this time period that “the government in London concerned itself with the colonies in unprecedented ways…to help raise funds to pay for the war and finance the empire.” (Forner 141) The British government was heavily in debt after fighting the Seven Years War on several fronts. The need to raise funds was paramount and the colonies were a ready source. The British government started imposing taxes on the colonies as a means of income. This was a change in the relationship between America and the mother country. Many Americans opposed these taxes. (Forner 142- 143) According to Forner, “Opposition to the Stamp Act was the first great Drama of the revolutionary era and the first major split between the colonist and Great Britain over the meaning of freedom.” (142) This act was eventually repealed by Parliament in 1766 after great opposition by Americans. (Forner 144) The Stamp Act was just the beginning of several events and taxes on the colonist leading up the Boston Tea
Without 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.
Instead they passed new acts which were worse than the ones passed before. As a result of the Tea Act, all the taxes except the tax on tea was repealed in order to keep Parliament’s right to tax the colonies, and the colonists did not like this act. As a result of their anger towards the British, the Boston Tea Party occurred: Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty boarded three ships in the Boston Harbor and empty 342 chests of tea to the Boston. Still, the British kept on trying to control the Americans, but this time, they passed 4 acts, the Intolerable Acts, in order to punish and control people; The Boston Harbor would be closed, the people of Boston would have a curfew, Massachusetts would lose its self-government/town meetings, royal officers would be allowed to be tried in Britain, and the British troops would use empty buildings. Instead of giving Americans the freedom they wanted, the British punished them. Yet, this did not stop Americans. Instead, they were even angrier to the British for the strict rules the British was passing in order to control the colonists. They knew they had to do something, which resulted in continental congresses, the Articles of Confederation, and the American Revolution. The British was not going to stop trying to hold power over the colonies, and as Patrick Henry started off by saying “Caesar had his Brutus — Charles the first, his Cromwell — and George the third — ” and finished “may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it”(Wolverton, Joe, II). This was no longer of a fight against the British, but a fight to be
They were in desperate need of money. He created many acts including, The Stamp Act, The Quartering Act, and also The Proclamation of 1763. The Quartering Act forced the colonists to quarter the soldiers. The colonists were compelled to provide a living space and supplies for the British soldiers.
The American revolution was a reaction to unfavorable tax policies from the King of England. When the King of England began to infringe on the colonists’ liberties, leaders inspired by the enlightenment grouped together to defend the rights of the American colonies. As Thomas Jefferson writes in the Declaration of Independence, “History of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries ad usurpations,
A new era was dawning on the American colonies and its mother country Britain, an era of revolution. The American colonists were subjected to many cruel acts of the British Parliament in order to benefit England itself. These British policies were forcing the Americans to rebellious feelings as their rights were constantly being violated by the British Crown. The colonies wanted to have an independent government and economy so they could create their own laws and stipulations. The British imperial policies affected the colonies economic, political, and geographic situation which intensified colonists’ resistance to British rule and intensified commitment to their republican values.
The American Revolution was sparked by a myriad of causes. These causes in themselves could not have sparked such a massive rebellion in the nation, but as the problems of the colonies cumulated, their collective impact spilt over and the American Revolution ensued. Many say that this war could have been easily avoided and was poorly handled by both sides, British and American; but as one will see, the frame of thought of the colonists was poorly suited to accept British measures which sought to “overstep” it’s power in the Americas. Because of this mindset, colonists developed a deep resentment of British rule and policies; and as events culminated, there was no means to avoid revolution and no way to turn back.
Beginning in 1764 Great Britain started establishing acts on colonies, which would raise the British revenue, ban the colonies from issuing their own paper money or require them to house British troops in their homes. Consequently, it was not long before the colonists started the revolution; the injustices of their mother country finally led them to declare independence and wage war against Great Britain. In my view it is apparent that the colonists were in every right and aspect justified to break away from Britain; moreover, it was just about the time that they stood up and took control over their own fate and life.
“Great Britain protected America, rightly making the colonists contribute in taxes to pay for the debt of their protection. The colonist should not have rebelled in violence against the authority and the law.” This is the view that a citizen might have held who remained loyal to the king of Britain. Many respectable arguments stand against the revolution, including accusations against the violence of the colonists. True, both parties ought to have dealt with some situations in a more gentle manner, but the colonists handled Britain in the right way, considering the immoral acts passed without their consent. Because of the evidence from the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Stamp Act, violating the rights of life, liberty, and property, the citizens revolted was justified.
The American Revolution should never have happened. The British were not tyrannical, oppressive rulers although the American colonies perceived them to be so. The American colonists misperceptions led to revolution and independence.
Life was prosperous in America. Great Britain, who had a tremendous amount of war debt, needed to find new sources of revenue in the colonies. This was something that sparked the colonies reason for independence. They no longer needed to be obedient to Britain. The British government began to rely on the colonies and their money. The new revenue raising acts that Britain was enforcing hurt the colonies. This gave them more of a reason to rebel. The Stamp Act single handedly hurt the colonies thoughts on Great Britain. William Smith Jr said, “This single stroke has lost Great Britain the affection of all her Colonies.” I like this quote, and agree that at this point, the colonies were completely done caring for Britain. It was obvious they were not going to let their anger go, they wanted to stand up to Britain. Something I really got out of Gordon S. Wood’s writing was how quickly life was changing. His paragraphs went back and forth about the excitement of the emigrants to create a new nation, then the hardships they had to overcome. At first it seemed as if the lives of the emigrants were simple. Like they were taking a vacation to somewhere great. He made sure to prove his