Opposing ideas were being expressed in the parliament in England, some supporting others against the war. The portraits of the Georges on both sides of the Atlantic were provided. King George III, so often portrayed as awkward, arrogant, is given a more thoughtful treatment, he considered the colonists to be petulant subjects without legitimate complaint. His attitude led him to underestimate the will and capabilities of the Americans, “the war with ‘our brethren’ in America was unjust… fatal and ruinous to our country.” At that point in the revolution, George Washington was chosen as the commander-in-chief and he was making wise decision on choosing his
British Pigs in Powdered Wigs The disorganized and disconnected British rule on the thirteen American colonies created situations that led to the Revolutionary War. Through unwarranted taxes, unwanted wars, and an overall mismanagement of the colonies lead the colonies to view Britain as an incompetent government. These complicated times brought thoughts of a revolution which was critically evaluated by leaders in the colonies. Leading up to the revolution men voiced their opinion through writings and speeches similar to Patrick Henry, John Adams, and Samuel Seabury. Small disagreements between the English Empire and the colonies continuously went unresolved until thoughts of rebellion started to become a serious topic in the colonies.
Root Causes of the American Revolution There are many different reasons as to why the American Revolution took place. One might argue that the British oppression upon the colonists triggered the Revolution itself through unjust tax laws, land restrictions, trade regulations and political and economic differences. However, one might also argue that the differences between the upper and lower aroused conflict and social unrest, which called for revolution in order for a strong unification between the rich and the poor. Schweikart and Allen’s A Patriot’s History of the United States and Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States discusses these two viewpoints as the root causes of the American Revolution. Although Zinn argues that the conflicts caused by the differentiating social classes in order to dissolve the class divisions was the main cause of the American Revolution, the “other side of the story” is told by Schweikart and Allen, as they reason that it was actually the British who unknowingly burdened the colonies with oppression, which brought about the revolution itself.
The Stamp Act, which placed a tax on all printed items, angered colonists the most because it was passed with a blatant intention of raising revenue. These acts all served to antagonize the colonists. Soon, protests formed with one complaint in mind: taxation without representation was unjust and unreasonable. With Britain’s continual taxation on American colonies, the desire for independence was beginning to surface in American society. As displeasure began to rise
The heavy weighing cost of the war being charged to the 13 colonies brought a feeling of enmity toward Great Britain. Thus unifying the colonies and cutting ties in what was inevitable with England. The 13 colonies declare independence from Great Britain. Although England’s right to regulate trade and tax the colonies was just it was received by the colonies of the America’s as unjust and to gain revenue. The Townshend Acts, a profit gaining tax was written about by an American colonist named John Dickinson in a book Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania.
Americans felt that since they had no representation in Parliament, and that there were decisions being made for them without proper representation, that they were slaves to the forceful word of the British crown. Even some countrymen in Great Britain felt that the Americans were being treated unfairly. Lord Camden believed that Americans were not being given their natural born rights as men. “My position is this – I repeat it – I will maintain it to my last hour, - taxation and representation are inseparable: - this position is founded on the laws of nature,” (pg.95, Major Problems in the Era of the American Revolution, Brown). It seems there was a miscommunication, because Britain was treating the Americans different from other British and also wanted to keep major control in anyway, like restricting trade from any other country (like France and Spain).
In their drive for power the ministers upset the balance of the British constitution. Royal officials in the colonies of America aided in this English conspiracy as they attempted to seize as much power as they could. Bailyn argued that the American Revolution was actually a radical "ideological" revolution that took place in men's minds. Before the Revolution, colonials saw the divergences from the European norms--lack of a titled aristocracy, an
By the time it was 1763 most of the white colonies would say that they are loyal British subjects. However after 1763, mostly between the time periods 1775-76, these years saw the send of the relationship with Britain. The British should take some of this blame as they did introduce some rigorous polices after 1763. This was an unwanted change for the American Colonies, As Britain left them alone for so long but now are starting to change things. But there are other courses of the break out of the armed conflict not just polices of the British Government that are the colonies as not all of the polices where unreasonable.
The American Revolution Shawn Power September 8, 2008 There were many causes of the Revolutionary War. Some of them are the French and Indian War, Taxation, and England’s neglect to the colonies. All of these events caused the colonist to get together and talk about what England was doing to the colonies. England’s neglect to the colonies was a big cause of the American Revolutionary War. This neglect involved the development of triangular trade, trade laws, trials without juries.
History 109 Juli A. Jones 10/10/12 The American Revolution The American Revolution was one of the most significant events in American history, and also what determined the success of the United States today. It resulted on the end of British rule for most of the North American colonies, a time of progress for some, and dislocation for others. Events such as ratification of the Constitution of the United States, and the proclamation of independence marked this historical event. I believe that the American Revolution was primary an economic rebellion, due to the conflicts over taxation and representation in Parliament. Colonists believed that the English government was unfair and tyrannical.