Causes of the Revolutionary War
Causes of the Revolutionary WarDuring the late seventeen hundreds, many tumultuous events
resulted in Colonial opposition to Great Britain. The conditions of
rights of the colonists will slowly be changed as the constriction of
the parliament becomes more and more intolerable. During the Seven
Years' War England was not only alarmed by the colonists' insistence
on trading with the enemy, but also with Boston merchants hiring James
Otis inorder to protest the legality of the writs of assistance
(general search warrants) used to hunt out smuggled goods. "let the
parliament lay what burthens they please on us, we must, it is our
duty to submit and patiently bear them, till they will be pleased to
relieve us....". This is a very strong dictum, that in 1764, the
colonists were of a submissive nature, and were weakly pleading for
self-autonomy. This small fire of anger will become a huge
conflagration as the rights are slowly rescinded.
On October 19, 1765 the Stamp Act Congress and Parliamentary
Taxation committee's passed some laws that attempted to strengthen the
grip of the English crown. "I.That his Majesty's subjects in these
colonies, owe the same allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain that
is owing from his subjects born within the realm, and all due
subordination to that august body, the Parliament of Great Britain."
This statement can be used as a summation of the entire document that
the Stamp Act Congress had initiated. The statement depicts the
colonists has having to be submissive and servile in the view of Great
Britain, this policy angered the colonists very much, and was another
component of the transition of the colonists' rights and liberties.
When the Declatory Act was passed in March of 1766, many
colonies were attempting to claim that they were "seceding" from
England. "Whereas several of the houses of representatives in his
Majesty's colonies and plantations in America, have of late, against
law, or to the general assemblies of the same, the sole and exclusive
right of imposing duties and taxes upon his Majesty's subjects in the
said colonies....be it declared ...., that the said colonies and
plantations in America, have been, are, and of right ought to be,
subordinate unto, and dependent upon the imperial Crown and Parliament
of Great Britain;". The Parliament of course denounced the attempt at
independance and still dogmatilcally passed the following law to show
that the colonists were still british subjects. Again, the colonists
were infuriated and later will resist the british imperialism on the
colonies.
"All before, are calculated to regulate trade, and preserve
prpromote a mutually beneficial intercourse between the several
constituent parts of the empite"", yet those duties were always
imposed with design to restrain the commerce of one part". This
statement by the colonist (John Dickinson), shows that th sole rason
for new taxes is just for the British gov't...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.