Historical Look: Taxation without Representation

This has been long overdue; an in-depth historical study of my nation's foundation. It's a topic I've always been interested in, yet haven't had a chance to study since high school. It's not because I don't think it's important, but because my mind has been elsewhere; (WWII, Movies, Music, The Russian Revolution, Cosmology, Art, the History of Christianity, and so forth.) One thing I love about my blog is that I write about whatever captivates me at the time. I write about topics of interest, that consume my mind for days and weeks, in a natural phase of inspiration.

At this time, I have recently been inspired by the American Revolution and the foundation of the United States of America. It is most likely because of our upcoming family vacation to New England, the historical roots of our liberty. I would like to be somewhat fresh on my patriotic history and culture, and find this to be a conveniently timed lesson. I will thus make three separate posts on the subject; the revolution, the war, and the foundation of a government.

Seven Years War

The Thirteen Colonies were established by the British Empire, in the early 1600s, as a new territory to conduct mercantilism and global trade. This eastern coast quickly became a thriving economic society for both the colonists and the British. However it also grabbed the attention of enemies such as the French and Dutch. As a result, the Seven Years War began in 1754, between Britain and the French/Spanish Bourbons, disputing trade territories.

The war became a world-wide conflict, on numerous theaters within the colonies. One of the most significant of these theaters was the French and Indian War, an alliance of French and Native Americans against the British. The final result of the Seven Years War, was a British victory that strengthen their territory and grip on the colonies.

British Revenue Acts

However following the costs of this global conflict, Great Britain fell into debt and King George III began a new campaign of taxes on the colonists. This would of course outrage colonists and inspire talk of an American Revolution. The British parliament began passing a variety of legislation, such as the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townsend Act, and so forth to tax the colonists and increase revenue for the British empire. This idea of taxation without representation infuriated the local colonists, and the fever of revolution began to spread throughout the land. On March 5, 1770 five civilians were killed by British officers, in the Boston Massacre, which intensified the growing sentiment of anti-British rule.

Boston Tea Party

The first most significant rebellious act, came during the Boston Tea Party of 1773. The action was a response to the newly imposed Tea Act, by the British parliament, that gave British tea merchants superiority over local merchants. This was the final straw for many colonists, and the Boston Sons of Liberty began a political protest, that caught everyone's attention. The protesters boarded the British merchant ships, disguised as Indians, and threw all their tea supplies into the harbor.

This was a major act of resistance that infuriated the British monarchy, and resulted in stricter laws such as the Intolerable Acts, yet also stronger patriotism amongst the colonists. The First Continental Congress was formed shortly after this patriotic action, as a means of organizing leadership for the growing movement. Many of America's founding fathers were a part of this early group, such as John Adams, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Samuel Adams. Their creed was best summarized by Patrick Henry's famous quote; "Give me Liberty or Give me Death".

Continental Congress

With the Continental Congress, patriots of all kind were able to establish a political and united voice against their British suppressors. The committee essentially called for a pardon from these economic taxes, yet received no British acknowledgement. This then led to a Second Continental Congress, in 1775, which began to organize militias and an army to oppose the British. This became a de facto government, of military, political, and diplomatic strategizing. The congress appointed George Washington, a Virginian general with experience from the French and Indian War, to command the newly established Continental Army. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress produced a Declaration of Independence from the British Empire, written by Thomas Jefferson. This was the ultimate act of independence and war against the British.