Was the American Revolution About Freedom and Political Liberty, or Just About Paying Less Taxes? or Are the Two the Same Thing? Explain.
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson The Declaration of Independence.
The British Parliament’s decisions to control the colonies after the French and Indian war, generated waves of dissatisfaction in America. When Britain chose to adopt the policy of ordering the colonies to pay an increased percentage of the costs associated with keeping them in the Empire it caused the colonists to question their political liberties and freedom. When Britain decreed a series of direct taxes on the colonists such as the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Etc., then placed trade restrictions, followed by other laws intended to demonstrate Britains authority, the colonists demonstrated exactly how unhappy they were with the “mother country”. Many of the colonists considered the laws to be unlawful and an infringement of their rights as Englishmen. They complained about their lack of elected representation in the British Parliament. They expected Britain to hear their cries and fix the problems but instead they quickly saw that their cries were falling on deaf ears. In light of these events a committee was set up in Massachusetts to publicize colonial complaints against the British and within a short period of time other colonies established similar organizations to spread the spirit of opposition and to exchange information and ideas about the latest British policies. These groups began too quickly shape the opinion of the public, which ultimately created a unified front that strengthened the patriotic cause. The colonists began to not only believe but they began to vocalize that they were being
The British Parliament’s decisions to control the colonies after the French and Indian war, generated waves of dissatisfaction in America. When Britain chose to adopt the policy of ordering the colonies to pay an increased percentage of the costs associated with keeping them in the Empire it caused the colonists to question their political liberties and freedom. When Britain decreed a series of direct taxes on the colonists such as the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Etc., then placed trade restrictions, followed by other laws intended to demonstrate Britains authority, the colonists demonstrated exactly how unhappy they were with the “mother country”. Many of the colonists considered the laws to be unlawful and an infringement of their rights as Englishmen. They complained about their lack of elected representation in the British Parliament. They expected Britain to hear their cries and fix the problems but instead they quickly saw that their cries were falling on deaf ears. In light of these events a committee was set up in Massachusetts to publicize colonial complaints against the British and within a short period of time other colonies established similar organizations to spread the spirit of opposition and to exchange information and ideas about the latest British policies. These groups began too quickly shape the opinion of the public, which ultimately created a unified front that strengthened the patriotic cause. The colonists began to not only believe but they began to vocalize that they were being