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Some thoughts on the American Revolution

Discussion in 'History Forum' started by Squire Robertsson, May 4, 2021.

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  1. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Over the years, I've read a lot of negative comments about the AmRev on this Board. They seem to treat the events of 1776 isolation from the previous 100 or so years of English and Colonial history.
    I view the AmRev as the result of the developments. So, here we go.
    • The execution of Charles I saw the ascendancy of Parliament over the Crown. It took until George 1 for the modern Prime Minister and his Cabinet to be formally in place. However, the principle of the supremacy of the legislative branch over the Crown was in place by 1776.
    • The Glorious Revolution and the ascension of William and Mary to the throne reinforced the power of Parliament. The Act of Settlement of 1701 further reinforces Parliament's supremacy.
    • From the founding of the earliest colonies, London exercised a light hand in the rule of the colonies. Most of their governance came through the various legislatures (e.g. the Virginia House of Burgesses).
    Regrettably, after the French and Indian War/Seven Years War, Westminster and Buckingham Palace decided to tighten up on the colonies to help pay for the war debt. They saw the colonies in the same light as Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. A place to be exploited for the sole benefit of London and its Home County cronies. London's short sightedness can be seen in a variety of measures it took.
     
    #1 Squire Robertsson, May 4, 2021
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  2. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    We often say that the cause of the AM Ref was "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny. Actually that was # 14 on the list.
    The first three were:
    1) He has refused to assent to Laws....
    2) He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance...
    3) He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people,...
    (read in entirety) Text of the Declaration of Independence

    So why was taxes spoken so much --- IMHO -that was the one that would get the masses fired up.
    there were some 30 individual items that concerned the Americans.
     
    #2 Salty, May 4, 2021
  3. RighteousnessTemperance&

    RighteousnessTemperance& Well-Known Member

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    "No taxation without representation" was the watchword well before the DOI.

    But as the OP states, the situation had been developing for some time. In fact, the DOI indicates that they endured for as long as they felt it better than taking the drastic step "to dissolve the political Bands."

    What Does "No Taxation Without Representation" Mean?

    On this day: “No taxation without representation!” - National Constitution Center

    Avalon Project - Resolutions of the Continental Congress October 19, 1765
     
    #3 RighteousnessTemperance&, May 5, 2021
  4. robycop3

    robycop3 Well-Known Member
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    The colonies were growing more & more-distant from London, & they had no say in Parliamentary actions, even if it affected them. Thus, they became more & more-defiant. The British, in response to that defiance, tightened down the screws, making war inevitable.

    I believe this came about as part of the "nation & company of nations" God promised Jacob. Since they were to be related, it's only natural that the colonists were mostly descended from British.

    The US repeated much the same policy with Japan from before WW1 onward, except Japan wasn't under our rule, with the biggest differences coming about over China. We tried to make Japan stop her aggression toward China, while Japan resented overseas interference in Asian affairs, & when we tried to force Japan's hand with the oil embargo, war became inevitable, even if the ETO hadn't occurred.
     
    #4 robycop3, May 8, 2021
  5. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    London might have done better if:
    • It had turned the 60th Foot (The Royal Americans) into a truly American unit instead of something like a foreign legion. Washington applied for a regular army commission but was turned down. However, Horse Guards (the Pentagon of its day) was more than happy to recruit European Protestant officers and men. If the 60th had been a truly American unit, the various colonial legislature might have been more willing to raise the taxes need to support it.
    King's Royal Rifle Corps - Wikipedia
    • It had treated Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, et al. on the same basis as London, Bristol, Devon, et al. Instead it looked at the colonies as cows to be milked or sheep to be sheared.
     
    #5 Squire Robertsson, May 30, 2021
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  6. robycop3

    robycop3 Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, most of the colonists were of British descent, & didn't really despise George III. And there were a decent number of Tories. Seems the main thing the colonists wanted was to be treated same as other British citizens, under the same laws, with Parliamentary representation.
     
    #6 robycop3, May 30, 2021
  7. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    The figure I heard years ago was the colonies were divided a third Loyalist, a third Continental, and a third neutral.
     
    #7 Squire Robertsson, May 30, 2021
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  8. robycop3

    robycop3 Well-Known Member
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    Probably close to correct. It was only by the HAND OF GOD that the colonists won, & they only won their independence, not the war. Britain had a much-bigger headache from France, The Colonial vivtory over an astute general of a fine army was the final straw for the British govt. which was also faced with war with Spain & Holland, which had joined France against her. They granted the Colonials independence & quickly withdrew their military forces for defense of the realm. (Also, they wished to resume trade with the Colonials, especially for cotton.)

    I believe God also prevented the US from acquiring Canada, causing the Colonials to fail in their attack, as well as US troops to fail in 1812. (More about why God caused the colonies to break free of Britain in another forum as I have time!)

    BTW, Cornwallis continued his career successfully in both the military and in politics, not being blamed for his defeat at Yorktown.
     
    #8 robycop3, May 30, 2021
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