Thesis on "War of Independence"

Thesis 8 pages (2516 words) Sources: 7 Style: Chicago

[EXCERPT] . . . .

War of Independence

There are many reasons sited by countless historians and even the primary sources of the American War for Independence, that presume to encompass the causes of America's relatively early insurrection from the colonial rule of England. Among those are political, philosophical and even economically practical reasons. Many of these independent causal reasons are likely to ring true as partial factors associated with the phenomena known as the American Revolution, yet in reality the most encompassing reasons given include the lack of English policies and enforcement to keep the colonists in check. As years passed Americans who were fundamentally loyal to the crown still developed an unflagging sense of autonomy from it which eventually culminated into a revolution. The physical and political presence of the Crown was limited from the beginning, and as generations passed and more and more "loyal" subjects were born without ties to anywhere but America and fewer first generation sources of English representation were sent to America, the loyalty took on a life of its own. England did not respond effectively to the fundamental divergence of ideals that were present between colonists in the Americas and the ideals of the Crown for the colonial purpose.

From relatively early in the colonial period, of America, the limitations of distance showed its ugly head toward England. The time it took to travel to the Americas was so great in fact that early rebellions, such as that of Bacon, in the Virginia colony (1676) resulted in proof to the crown that the only way to retain ultimate control over the land, the peoples and the resources the two collectively presented the crown yearly was to establish standing armies in the colonies.

The crown was already reeling from its many other national and international conflicts and this often resulted in shortcomings with regard to enforcement and other practical issues of military support for standing long distance troops. To support their limited enforcement abilities, and in part to help pay for the debts of many other conflicts England was left with little choice but to create a substantial tax and trade burden upon the American colonies. Commerce was tightly controlled and taxation, as well as the burden and conflict created by a privately billeted and under-funded military created the seeds of later insurrections, which culminated into an eventual war for independence from England, almost despite a relatively common feeling of loyalty on the part of the majority of colonists.

England at the close of the war -- at the close, in fact, of four wars within seventy years -- found herself burdened with a debt of one hundred and forty million pounds; and as it was necessary now to keep a standing army in her colonies, to defend and maintain her late conquests, the scheme of colonial taxation to provide a regular and certain revenue began again to be agitated. Already England feared the growing power and independence of her colonies, and even at one moment hesitated as to whether it were not wiser to restore Canada to France, in order that the proximity of a powerful rival might keep them in check and secure their dependence on the mother-country. As far as the colonists themselves were concerned, we are assured by their earlier historians that the majority had no idea of or wish to separate themselves from England, and that the utmost which they contemplated by the conquest of Canada was the freedom from French and Indian wars, and that state of tranquil prosperity which would leave them at liberty to cultivate and avail themselves of the productions and resources of an affluent land. The true causes which slowly alienated the colonies from the parent state may be traced back to the early encroachments on their civil rights and the restrictive enactments against their commerce.

Fear within the English crown had set in, concluding the frequent and expensive conflicts associated with maintaining an empire, the size of that of England. Many would argue that the crown had spread itself far to thin to maintain policies and enact and respond to all the needs of its vast holdings. The 1175, Declaration of Causes of Taking up Arms, created by a congress of representatives of the colonies in Philadelphia lays out the many attempts, just in the previous 10 years that the colonists had made to attempt reconciliation with the Crown, through the proper channels of request and even an attempt at a boycott of commerce with the Crown.

DECLARATION of CAUSES of TAKING UP ARMS 16 July 1775A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America, now met in Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms

BUT why should we enumerate our injuries in detail? By one statute it is declared that Parliament can 'of right make laws to bind us in all cases whatsoever'. What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited a power? Not a single man of those who assume it, is chosen by us; or is subject to our controul or influence; but, on the contrary, they are all of them exempt from the operation of such laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted from the ostensible purposes for which it is raised, would actually lighten their own burdens in proportion as they increase ours. We saw the misery to which such despotism would reduce us. We for ten years incessantly and ineffectually besieged the throne as supplicants; we reasoned, we remonstrated with Parliament, in the most mild and decent language.

Administration, sensible that we should regard these oppressive measures as freemen ought to do, sent over fleets and armies to enforce them. The indignation of the Americans was roused, it is true, but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people. A Congress of delegates from the United Colonies was assembled at Philadelphia on the fifth day of last September. We resolved again to offer an humble and dutiful petition to the king, and also addressed our fellow-subjects of Great Britain. We have pursued every temperate, every respectful measure: we have even proceeded to break off our commercial intercourse with our fellow subjects, as the last peaceable admonition that our attachment to no nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty. This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step of the controversy; but subsequent events have shewn how vain was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies." (Morison 1923, 142)

Though the group was entrenched with the desire to receive an equitable resolution to its requests from the Crown and was to the last, professed to believe that such a situation would resolve itself diplomatically a statement by the group in the following stanza is a tell tale sign of the overburdened bureaucratic state of the crown and the parliament to resolve colonial issues in a timely manner and therefore avoid rather than invite conflict. Though the group had in good faith proposed parliamentary change, through what they likely believed a last effort the "petition" on the part of the Philadelphia group was set aside like so many other documents waiting to be dealt with;

our petition, though we were told it was a decent one, and that His Majesty had been pleased to receive it graciously, and to promise laying it before his Parliament, was huddled into both Houses among a bundle of American papers, and there neglected."

The dominant feeling of most colonists, in 1775 as well as 1764, when the next primary document was penned is an essential loyalty to the crown and a position of citizen and subject to the crown. Jams Otis of Boston, describes in his the Rights of the British Colonies asserted and proved, the unflagging ideal of remaining loyal to the Crown and all her pronouncements, regardless of how difficult they are to bear.

FROM JAMES OTIS'S 'RIGHTS of the COLONIES 'The Rights of the British Colonies asserted and proved. By James Otis, Esq., Boston, 1764."

The power of Parliament is uncontroulable, but by themselves, and we must obey. They only can repeal their own Acts. There would be an end of all government, if one or a number of subjects or subordinate provinces should take upon them so far to judge of the justice of an Act of Parliament, as to refuse obedience to it. If there was nothing else to restrain such a step, prudence ought to do it, for forceably resisting the Parliament and the King's laws, is high treason. Therefore 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. And 'tis to be presumed the wisdom and justice of that august assembly, always will afford us relief by repealing such Acts, as through mistake, or other human infirmities, have been suffered to pass, if they can be convinced that their proceedings are not… READ MORE

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