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Economy during the american revolution
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Basics of the colonial time period
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In colonial times various American colonists started to realize some serious problems with their home country, England. Conflicts arose whenever the King would restrict multitudes of the colonists’ liberties, and also surfaced when the colonies began to see problems with English enemies that were not their own (Dudley 57). Colonists seeing those issues had started to aspire for their own independence and began developing ideas to leaving England all together. The American colonies would flourish without their association with England and for the future generations of the colonists to prosper, breaking away from England was key. Thomas Paine was the author of Common Sense, a pamphlet written in the 1700’s that stated several reasons why the …show more content…
colonies were no longer in need of their connection with England (Dudley 58). One quote taken from Common Sense was that, “Our corn will fetch its price in any market in Europe and our imported goods must be paid for by them where we will” (Dudley 58).
Even though the colonies were dependent on England before, since they were now exporting their own goods from their own lands, they no longer had to be reliant on selling products to England and could be financially stable on their own. Another quote from Thomas Paine said that, “...whenever a war breaks out between England and any foreign power, the trade of America goes to ruin, because of her connection with England” (Dudley 59). This quote further supports the idea that America had to seek independence from England since their trade would not have to go to waste or suffer if they did not have any ties to England. If the American colonies would break away, their trade profits would most likely increase and they would not have to worry about their markets constantly crashing from the result of a quarrel between the motherland and another country. Thomas Paine also acknowledged that, “The powers of governing still remain in the hands of the King, he will have a negative effect over the whole legislation of this Continent: and as he hath shewn himself...an inveterate enemy to liberty…” (Dudley 60). The King of England wanted to have complete power over the majority of the colonists’ rights and many other entitlements that they had. The colonists should separate from England, for England will never want to give enough rights to the
American colonists; so the only way to achieve the freedoms they desired was to completely cut all ties with England. A quote expressed by Charles Inglis, author of The True Interest of America Impartially Stated, in Certain Strictures on a Pamphlet Intitled Common Sense, stated that, “By a connection with England, our trade would still have the protection of the greatest naval power in the world” (Dudley 61). This quote acknowledges that the American colonies did not have the same enemies as the English, and the only reason that other countries were going after the American trade ships was because of their relations with England. This quote just simply reiterates that if the colonies were not connected to England, that they would have a substantially less amount of enemies and their trade ships would stop being attacked so frequently. Works Cited Dudley, William and Chalberg, John C. “Opposing Viewpoints in American History.” Gale Cengage Learning, Greenhaven Press.
In the 17th century, the British colonies still identified themselves as European, but as the colonies expanded and grew more populous, they developed differing geographic, social, and economic systems. This difference between New England, and Chesapeake, is caused by the motivations for settlement between the two regions. While the New England colonies were mainly settled for religious motivations, most notably by the Puritans, the Chesapeake colonies were settled for economic prosperity. Also, while the Chesapeake colonies were mainly settled by individual young men seeking a profit, the New England colonies were settled by families hoping to settle and expand.
Thomas Paine wrote the Common Sense and in this pamphlet he wrote about America’s separation and independence from Great Britain. His argument stated that America is a large continent and we are in charge of our own fate and direction (Paine 107). Paine further explained that people migrated to America to escape the control of the King and his laws. Paine introduced a theory when comparing America to a small island, that it is possible if separated we can come together and make our own laws and run the country as we see fit (Paine 109). Paine believes that we are no longer in need of Britain’s help and that we can eventually form alliances with other countries as we stand alone outside of Britain’s control.
When all things are considered, one can see the colonies didn't always agree with the way England handled things, in the area of religion, economics, politics, and social structure. Through their determination to obtain a better life for themselves, they ventured away from England and created their own nation over time.
Despite their staggering differences economically, politically, and culturally, the British colonies of North America managed to pull together to resist the British policies that were threatening their ways of life. Each of the colonies struggled to inhabit and thrive in a new land; disease, Native American raids, and lack of knowledge about growing crops were a few things that stood in their way. After powering through years of hardship and labor, losing loved ones, colonies failing, and struggling to survive, the colonies finally got on their feet and began to grow from the foundations they had established.
Up until the American colonies had become established, the colonists were highly dependent upon the military and economic support of Great Britain. Though the colonies Britain’s only concern was profit and not the wellbeing of the colonies, especially in Boston, the desire for this support, as well as the necessity, dissipated. As this happened, two groups were formed; the Tories, who supported staying with England and loyal to the king, and there were the Whigs, who supported liberty and patriotism and wanted the right to self-government. The colonists did not want to secede from England until they felt it absolutely necessary, by which point news of the British military occupation in Boston was spreading throughout the colonies, and with
Most colonists shared these ideas and felt there was a need to separate from the parent country because of how Britain had wronged the colonists. The Declaration of Independence outlines four major themes, equality, consent, duty, and the listing of the 26 charges against the monarchy of England. The theme of equality explains how every American citizen should have the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The British monarchy was not allowing the colonists to have these rights. They had controlled the colonist’s and their property similar to a dictatorship would. The pursuit of happiness meant the rights to property, and religion. For the British government to control them in such a manner would be contradicting what the colonists believed to be a fair and just government. The theme of consent heavily focused on the saying “majority rules”. If the government had unfairly taxed the colonists, they would then have the right to refuse them if the majority had ruled against the act of unfair taxation. Duty is barely mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, but is very important to the well-being of our nation. This theme explains that all citizens have a duty to protect the unalienable rights that
Throughout Common Sense, Paine advocated for a republic that was built on equality and property. Thomas Paine was a British colonist who believed it was time to truly be independent from Britain, in his writing Common Sense he spoke bluntly and plainly to win over more colonists for freedom. He takes no time to say that his beliefs are logic and reason based. He begins chapter 3 by writing, ‘In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense; and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader, than that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession.” Paine tells his audience that there is no hidden agenda in what they are about and they can make their decision through their own common sense.
When settlers from England came to America, they envisioned a Utopia, where they would have a say in what the government can and cannot do. Before they could live in such a society they would have to take many small steps to break the hold England had on them. The settlers of America had to end a monarchy and start their own, unique, form of government. They also had to find a way that they would have some kind of decision making power. The most important change that the colonies in America had to make was to become a society quite different from that in England.
A-1: The pursuit of it's own imperial interests meant for a stronger England. Initially, the two main motives for colonizing were religious and economic. The colonization meant that England could exploit the natural resources in North America, which turned out to be a rather lucrative move. Additionally, the colonies would be able to spread Christianity. Although the production of crops required laborers, what was found was that the native peoples of America could either be conquered, or enslaved with little ease. In turn, the enslaved natives could produce crops that could be exported to Europe. Items like horses, sugar, and tobacco also had an impact on trade. In 1493, Christopher Columbus transported sugar canes to Hispaniola. Roughly 20
What major problems did the young republic face after its victory over Great Britain? How did these problems motivate members of the elite to call for a federal constitution?
It seems that from the moment colonists began to settle in America they stopped viewing themselves as English. The distance alone required them to start their own government, though officially they were under the rule of England. Their lifestyles separated them even further with religious views and values causing major differences in culture. Though the colonists attempted to be involved in the English government the English did not see a plausible way or reason to do so.
American colonists were faced with a decision: continue to be a part of Great Britain or secede and become an individual country. The latter was what the majority of colonists favored, and thus making it no surprise that they managed to accomplish this – justified in doing so - and venture out on their own, as their own. Great Britain owned the colonies and the American colonists were proud to be in unity with this colony known as the mother country, until conflicts climaxed and Americans felt there were no other options than to rule their own. The British taxed Americans unconstitutionally, violated their rights, and forced them to rely on Britain to convert their natural resources into usable goods to raise the influx
Before the American Revolution, the colonists had many different ideas about how to settle the arguments with the king. Many wanted to break away and become an independent country. Others believed the colonists could not survive without the king, and there was a more peaceful approach. The colonists were justified in declaring their independence from England because there is “no taxation without representation” and the king broke the social contract.
The main reason for the severance of the colonies from Britain was the lack of equality in parliament and the disregard for colonial needs. Whether it be forcing someone to pay for a war they did not fight or want, limiting one’s need for land, or piling on the taxes, all of these factors played a part in the dissolving of British-colonial ties. The colonists were only human and had the human reaction of defiance to injustice. If the colonists had not of had the audacity that they did, today’s America would be a very different place. Breaking away from Britain was the greatest thing the colonists could have possible done.
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.” In the beginning the colonists didn’t want to leave Britain, but the unfair treatment towards them grew and stayed. Pushing them to want to separate. With three main causes that made the colonists want to leave being: having stationed armies in the colonies, unfair representation for the colonists, and fighting had already begun between both sides.