War for Independence free essay sample

The War of Independence, also known as the American Revolution, was a monumental event in history. Many developments and implications during this time period changed the course of history and the lives of those who lived through it. During the American Revolution, 13 colonies fought for legal separation from the British government. In both large and small battles, American’s fought back in an attempt to claim independence from Britain. In the events leading up to the Revolution the British Parliament imposed taxes, rebellion organizations were formed, and dismay and helplessness washed over communities struggling to break free of unfair laws. The greatest impacting events that led to the American Revolution were the unfair taxation acts imposed on Americans. The course of events encompassing the American Revolution would determine the outcome of life in the United States entirely. As we examine the historic events that led to the American Revolution, we understand that people came to America in pursuit of independence from the harsh British government rule. We will write a custom essay sample on War for Independence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Once the colonists began to develop themselves in the new world, Britain thought it was necessary to control the trade markets. Parliament decided it would be wise to make some adjustments to the existing trade regulations. Aside from these revisions came new taxation and regulation against the 13 colonies including The Sugar, Currency, Quartering, Stamp, and Tea Acts. The sense of community from within the colonies and the ever-growing outrage of colonists dealing with newly established taxes would create a substantial defense against Britain and the Crown. The newly imposed Sugar Act was created as a modified version of The Sugar and Molasses Act. The Sugar Act would â€Å"reduce the rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon,† and â€Å"Grenville took measures that the duty was strictly enforced† (Johnson). As a result of The Sugar Act, â€Å"the enforced tax on molasses caused the almost immediate decline in the rum industry in the colonies† (Johnson). Britain’s attempted control over the Americans by way of taxation proved unsatisfactory because the colonists knew they could avoid those taxes entirely if production was halted. Instead of producing rum and complying with the new taxes, Americans chose to resign from rum production altogether to make a stand against the unfair taxes. Even though The Sugar Act was not a complete success, Britain put in place another act that would greatly affect the population of the 13 colonies. The Currency Act was deeply troubling for those who printed their own currency because this act would prohibit American colonies from doing so: â€Å"Parliament argued that colonial currency had caused devaluation harmful to British trade. This act â€Å"banned American assemblies from further issuing paper bills or bills of credit† and caused turmoil among the citizens (Kelly). The colonies vehemently protested against this law because they already suffered from British trade, and knew this would only add insult to injury. As if the first two laws forced upon the colonies were not agonizing enough, Parliament brought The Quartering Act to the table. Not only would colonists have to pay taxes determined by the British, they were also forced to â€Å"house and feed British soldiers if necessary† (Kelly). Considering many of the colonists came to America with the expectation of independence from Britain, now more than ever the reality of housing the enemy left them bitter and irate. Now they would have to open their homes and businesses during times of war to house British troops. British government wanted to keep more troops in the colonies after the French and Indian War to protect against future attacks. However, because American’s were profoundly against assisting the British in any way, they too rebelled against this act. Extreme animosity toward The Quartering Act led to the inclusion of the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution: No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law† (â€Å"Third†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Due to the notable levels of success from the use of stamp act as reasonable taxation in England, Britain sought to impose similar taxes on paper goods in America. Materials like newspapers, pamphlets, government documents, cards, and all other paper goods would require a stamp in which a small tax would be paid on each item. The colonists saw this as an attempt from England to control the court system in America. As with all of the unjust taxation laws inflicted upon the colonies, unsurprisingly there was much resistance to The Stamp Act as well. The term â€Å"No taxation without representation† began with the proposition of The Stamp Act. The colonies did not see eye-to-eye with Parliament about how they could pass such a law without colonial defense: â€Å"The American Stamp Act of 1765 was a watershed vent in the relations between Great Britain and her colonies, and was a major part of the dispute over taxes and representation that led to the American Revolution† (Mellen 74). Disliked by many colonists the Stamp Act’s â€Å"impact on printed material generated a universal opposition from colonial printers and they became a crucial influence on public opinion†¦newspaper opposition was unanimous and concluded that, in response to this tax, the press presented a rare united fr ont† (Mellen 76). Tarring and feathering of stamp holders were just a few demonstrations of rebellion against the new law. With strong opposition to the Stamp Act, colonists were eventually able to repeal the law a few years later; proof that fighting for what they believed in would eventually pay off. Another act passed by Parliament in May 1773; the Tea Act would be the straw to break the camel’s back. In Boston, the revolutionary movement was on the brink of erupting. The design of this act was to aid the East India Company in the sales and distribution of unsold tea. Unfortunately, the direct sale of tea to the colonies undercut local businesses and further enraged the merchants. American’s were beginning to resent Britain’s heavy-handed enforcement, which resulted in a boycott of tea, best known as the Boston Tea Party. In December 1773, local men joined forces in the Boston Port and â€Å"boarded three ships, broke open the tea chests, and threw them into the harbor† (â€Å"The Colonies†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). News of these rebellious acts began to reach other colonies and resulted in their attempt at fighting back as well. These acts came during the economic slump that followed the French and Indian War. Ultimately, the laws and demanded taxes imposed by the British only caused more problems for American’s. Instead of a productive and peaceful nation, turmoil between the colonies and British rule dominated the lives of everyone involved. The ever-constant unresolved battle between these two parties further pressed the need for war to terminate the conflicts, and for the colonies to make a name for themselves. It was clear that Americans struggled to find independence from Britain regardless of how often they may have tried to support the Crown. Each individual found the courage to sail across a vast ocean in hopes of establishing a prosperous and favorable life with no guarantees. While the British held the majority of government control, American’s often rebelled against the demands placed upon them. The rights of American’s were not protected and because they had no representation in Parliament, they were often left without a voice to defend themselves. In dire need of representation, a group of discontent colonists formed to create the â€Å"Sons of Liberty. † These men would take a chance in defending themselves and their colonies against the harsh British government. With the organization of this newly founded group of citizens, the colonists finally would have an opportunity to make decisions for themselves. Anger controlled a preponderance of men and because of this, they would defy British authority completely. The emotional devastation of the colonies proved one thing: First irritated by the Sugar Act, seriously angered by the Stamp Act, and simmering by the Declaratory Act, American colonists developed extensive inter-colonial networks of organized resistance, linked together by independent and autonomous organizations—such as the Sons of Liberty—and independent newspapers, which were widely read locally and delivered by horseback along the east coast (Andrlik 50). These men combined with militia groups would fight wars against the British Red Coats. It can be said that the strongest resistance to Britain and the Crown was in Boston. The call for independence was the loudest, and most successful. The Sons of Liberty participated in the development of militias all around Massachusetts and neighboring colonies. This assembly of men would fight against large numbers of British soldiers. When British forces tried to disarm the militia, Paul Revere spread word of a possible defeat and collected a larger force against them. The Sons of Liberty’s intention was to spread the word of unconstitutional laws placed upon them, and pledge to uphold the United States Constitution. From the first rebellious acts against the Crown, to the first battles fought for the Revolution, the Sons of Liberty were a constant force to be reckoned with. At the commencement of The Intolerable Acts, a consequence in direct result of the actions involved during the Boston Tea Party, outrage over colonies grew to a record high. Many colonists viewed this new law a violation of their basic rights and because of that they formed the group known as the First Continental Congress. Unlike the Sons of Liberty, these men fought for the government from a legal standpoint. They wanted to create their own laws, and remove any power currently in place by Britain and the Crown. In order to do so the men called among delegates from neighboring colonies to discuss how they could organize resistance to British rule. This meeting gave success to the formation and training of militia, and a better understanding of what had to be done to surpass the Parliament and put and end to the unfair laws. As a result of the Coercive Acts, even more colonists were willing to take a stand against Britain. The effects of the First Continental Congress were immeasurable. In 1776, The Second Continental Congress met once more to write The Declaration of Independence. This declaration would announce that the 13 colonies now considered themselves independent states, and from this point forward would be free from British government powers. These men and women felt they deserved the same rights that all citizens of Britain currently held: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that  all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are  Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (â€Å"Declaration†). By the time the declaration was written, the colonies and Britain had been at war for over a year; but that didn’t impact the desire for freedom. If anything, the success of the militia and the families siding against Britain were growing with popularity and a genuine ambition for change erupted. Over the course of events leading up to the American Revolution, each one had a significant impact on the lives of Americans. The reason for coming to the New World was to escape from the harsh government system in Britain, and to begin a life with higher expectations, greater promise, and a sense of self worth. When Americans became familiar with their surroundings, and they began to find precious materials and goods that impacted the trade markets, Britain wanted to control every source. Because Americans had become successful without the help of British government, the King wanted to control how much money each individual had, what was traded, and the basic rights of each person. With the regulation and development of new laws and taxation, the colonies began to fear their independence was being taken away. In turn, this resulted in public outrage and distrust toward the Crown. A combination of anger, resentment, and frustration as a result of the unfair laws and taxes in place, allowed the colonies to devise boycotts and rebel against Britain. Where Britain hoped to overcome many battles, Americans proved that they shared a passion to defeat the King. The strong sense of community and knowledge of the unjustifiable laws only weakened the stance for Britain during this time. The increase in longing for independence only fueled the fire, and with the writing of the Declaration of Independence, each American would now know what true freedom represented. Work Cited: Andrlik, Todd. The Sons Of Liberty Rise Up.   Patriots Of The American Revolution  5. 3 (2012): 50. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. Ernst, Joseph Albert. The Currency Act Repeal Movement: A Study Of Imperial Politics And Revolutionary Crisis, 1764-1767. The William And Mary Quarterly  2 (1968): 177. JSTOR Arts amp; Sciences I. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. The Declaration Of Independence Of The United States Of America. Project Gutenberg. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 21 Nov. 2012. Johnson, Allen S. The Passage Of The Sugar Act.   The William And Mary Qua rterly  4 (1959): 507. JSTOR Arts amp; Sciences I. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. Kelly, Martin. Causes of the American  Revolution.   About. com: American History. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. lt;http://americanhistory. about. om/od/revolutionarywar/a/amer_revolution. htmgt;. Mellen, Roger P. The Colonial Virginia Press And The Stamp Act.   Journalism History  38. 2 (2012): 74-85. Communication amp; Mass Media Complete. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. The Colonies Move Toward Open Rebellion, 1773-1774.   The American Revolution, 1763-1783. Library of Congress, Web. 20 Nov. 2012. lt;http://www. loc. gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/amrev/rebelln/gt;. Third Amendment.   Wests Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. 2008. The Gale Group 19 Nov. 2012  lt;http://legal-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/Third+Amendmentgt;