the declaration of independence by the United States
During the thirty years from 1740 to 1776, which formed the declaration of independence by the United States, tensions between them and England had reached the boiling point. The reasons for the existing tensions were because the colonies were suffering from the extreme taxation levied upon them by England. Further, the colonies had also grown frustrated by the tyrannical rules imposed upon them by the English monarchy, which they were felt was too much (Keown 277). The colonies had petitioned England and even used boycotts, but that did not quite bring the desired changes. The colonies felt that England had reneged from their previous agreements and therefore treated them as outsiders. The failure of petitions and boycotts to get England to listen to the colonies forced them to resort to violence and war to pass their message across. In starting the revolt and war against England, the colonies were justified as it was the only way they would gain their independence and self-rule.
First, the implementation of two laws, Townshend and Stamp act by England on the colonies, was not received well. The colonies believed that the statutes existed so that Great Britain could control the trade within the territories. However, the acts also meant that England would collect revenue from the trades conducted in the colonies contrary to what they thought. The Stamp Act was implemented and enforced to collect revenue from wills, paper, and newspapers. On the other hand, the Townshend Act was used to collect revenue from tea, glass, paints, and lead (Keown 280). The colonies realized that the statutes did not exist to regulate trade; rather, they were put in place for taxation. Colonies saw this as an abuse of their rights as Englishmen and were therefore justified to revolt against unjust laws imposed upon them by their mother country. The laws of England at the time did not require anyone not directly involved in running the government to pay taxes, which was the case of the colonies. These taxation acts justified waging of war against England because they were infuriating.
In addition, the colonies were absolutely under the control of England, and there was no way out. The reason for this was that Britain made laws making all colonies subject to the country, and the motherland controlled every activity in the colonies (Lange 1412). England, therefore, used its massive force to exert its control on the colonies, which were dying to have their freedom to govern themselves. The laws of England which were supposed to apply to the colonies sometimes did not make sense due to the differences in both social and economic activities in the colonies and England. However, colonies being the subject of England were required to follow all rules to the latter. Subsequently, the war was the only option remaining for the colonies to gain their freedom, and it was thus justified.
Further, the revolt against England was, in essence, a revolt against the king who the colonies believed was an enemy to them. The king had refused to listen to the petitions presented to him by the colonies. He instead ordered for implementation of more punitive rules that were used to control the colonies and keep them in check (Lange 1412). The cruelty from the king gave the colonies an urge to fight back so that their voices could be heard. The further refusals by the king to heed to the boycotts of the colonies also added to the growing resentments against the king by colonies. In order to fight what they believed were injustices by the king, the colonies were justified to revolt through any means necessary.
Additionally, the British military commenced war against the colonies by several attacks to their leaders. Thomas Paine stoked the fires inside the colonies that it was time to revolt. Paine said all these in reference to the British killing nine members of the colonists. He wrote, “Tell me then whether you can hereafter love, honor, and faithfully serve that power that hath carried fire and sword into your land?” (Bernstein 873). He believed that there was no need to stay loyal to a power that was no longer concerned by the welfare of the colonists. Paine thought that the colonies were on the back foot, and there was no better time to revolt after the occurrences of Concord and Lexington, where the British forces attacked defenseless colonists. Paine felt that it was an invitation to war, and such would keep on continuing if the colonists failed to react (Bernstein 873). Further, England failed to redress the injuries that their forces were causing the colonists despite petitions to the king detailing the deaths of some of them on the hands of British forces. The colonists were facing a stronger opponent who did not wish to back down and would continue assaulting them and their territories. There was, therefore, a need to take a stand against the injustices being meted out to them. As a result of such provocation, it was justified by the Colonists to revolt against England.
Colonial America during the 17th and 18th centuries were under the rule of England. As such, a lot of aspects in terms of politics, culture, and economics were borrowed from England. However, with England dealing with its own sets of civil war in the 17th century, America was left unattended, therefore leading to diversities in terms of politics, economics, and culture. Apart from the colonists, America had a diverse population of the Spanish, the indigenous people, and the African-Americans who were working in the plantations. As such, society and cultures were diverse. The colonists mostly brought with them middle-class citizens of Europe from England, Wales, and Ireland, therefore, setting modest living standards for the free whites who were living in America. For most of the indigenous people and the servants, the economic standards were meager. America was thus a diverse socio-economic, political, and cultural hub during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The economy of America consisted mainly of subsistence farming due to the regulations imposed by England. There were also some economic activities such as handcrafts but only for domestic consumption. The agricultural products produced were mainly grains such as wheat, barley, rice, corn, and flour. Tobacco also formed a significant agrarian products from America. These products were primarily in raw form, as most of America was pre-industrialized (Mancall 616). Most of the agricultural products were therefore shipped to England to get the finished products. On the side of the market economy, most Americans were involved in mining and sawmill, which were also mainly used for local consumption and sales domestically. Americans were further involved in shipbuilding, which formed the bulk of their economic activities and employed a significant number of people.
In terms of politics, most of the procedures were drawn from England, given that they were the dominant force in society. America had colonial legislatures who acted as the members of parliament of England. The colonial legislatures had the mandate of initiating legislation and also voting on crucial aspects such as taxes and expenditures (Mancall 616). America also had royal governors who would often clash with colonial legislatures on essential legislation such as those of taxes and expenditures. The constant friction between the colonial authorities and the royal governors set American politics for an exciting future. Further, American political institutions developed, and there were elections that were held to elect the leaders of the colonies. Such exercise of civic rights ensured that Americans had a role to play in choosing whoever would lead their territories. As such, America had properly working political institutions in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Socially, America mirrored the English society with a lot borrowed from the patriarchal system. Men controlled the society and women were reduced to minor roles in the family. The same was similar among the colonists as it was among the indigenous people staying in America. Further, the society was divided into landowners who also became slave-owners, and there was the working class who were the peasants (Bernhard 141). The wealthy in society were the ones chosen to be leaders. There was also segregation based on race and economic standards. However, the social norms allowed men to own property of women after marrying them, thereby denying women any inheritance of the property of their own. American society was diverse, with different groups practicing their social rules accordingly.