Why The 13 Colonists Were Justified In Waging War

During the years 1740 to 1770 the tension between England and the 13 colonies grew into a full scale war. Suffering from unjust taxation and tyrannical rule, the colonists tried to change and influence the English policy through repeated petitioning and boycotts. After failing to influence England through peaceful measures, war was the colonists’ only option. The 13 colonies were therefore justified in starting a revolt against England. According to England however the colonists were not justified in waging war. England was the mother country and the colonists paid the lowest taxes in the world. Being that the colonists benefited from the French and Indian war, colonial help in paying back the debt was expected. The 13 colonies unnecessarily resorted to violence and propaganda in which a minority of Patriots influenced other colonists to believe in a “New England” problem. Despite England’s reasons as to why the 13 colonies were wrong to declare war, the colonists were justified in waging war. The colonists in the Declaration of Independence clearly stated their grievances and case against England, declaring to the world
Another excerpt says, “In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms, our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.” Although the colonies have tried many peaceful measures with England, such as boycotts they have denied all petitions and protests, and established more acts that caused more damage than good to the colonies. In an attempt to fight against these acts the colonists went to war. Hence, the 13 colonies had all the rights and were justified to declare war on