In our current state, the colonies are divided into two major opinions: to separate with England and became our own country, or to remain colonies of England. Those who advocate for the separation, referring themselves as “patriots” or “revolutionaries”, often speak about the evils of the crown and complain about the unjust restrictions and taxations while proclaiming they will build an alleged “free” land which will provide the people liberations and prosperities unseen by any other society in history! However, they often neglect to address the consequences the colonies would face if we were to separate. I could write volumes on the problems we would face as a new county, but almost all of them can be categorized into four major concerns: …show more content…
Many proudly describe liberties and luxuries the public will receive with this new government, but have yet to inform us on the functionalities of this new government. What kind of government will it be? How will it operate? Who will be placed as authorities and who will determine who becomes those authorities? And most importantly, how do we know this government will work? As the patriots proudly explain themselves, this new form of government has never been tried before, or at the very least it hasn’t been successful enough to warrant any great recognition. It is too great of a risk and too great a sacrifice the people will be forced to make. Whereas if we remain with Britain, the people will be overseen by a form of government that has proven and continues to be stable. Therefore, we must reconcile with the Crown, as God reconciled with His people by sacrificing His only son for the forgiveness of our sins. Additionally, many claim that the Crown is implementing too many harsh regulations on the colonies. Could this be, perhaps, to maintain order and prevent further violence and destruction instigated by the likes of
The relations between England and the British North American colonies could always be considered precarious. Prior to 1750 British essentially followed a policy of benign neglect and political autonomy in the American colonies. (Davidson p.97) The colonies were for the most part content with benign neglect policy, relishing in a “greater equality and representative government”(Davidson p.95) within the colonies. Competition among European Imperial nations began to effect British policy toward North America colonies causing rapid shifts from 1750 to 1776. During this period, the British Empire made a series of policy decision that sealed the fate of the British North American colonies and lead to the American Revolution.
Between the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most important change that occurred in the colonies was the emergence of a society quite different from that in England. Changes in religion, economics, politics and social structure illustrate this Americanization of the transplanted Europeans.
How were the seeds for self-government sown in the early colonies? Why was this important when England started to enforce rules (such as the Intolerable Acts)? Please give specific examples.
Being tied to Great Britain will do many things to the colonies. First, they will not be able to make any laws but what Great Britain sees fit for their laws to be. Laws are better followed; however, when you are the one who has created the laws you must follow. Second, people are afraid to have independence because they don’t know how to go about gaining their
American Colonies: Contrasting the New England and Southern Colonists The New England and Southern Colonies were both settled largely by the English. By 1700, the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. The southern colonies have characteristics that are the antithesis of the New England colonies attributes. New England was colonized for Freedom of Worship and freedom of political thought.
Thesis: Despite bearing some superficial similarities, the differences between the Virginia Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony are prominent.
Between the settlement of Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most important change that occurred in the colonies was the emergence of society quite different from that in England. Changes in religion, economics, politics and social structure illustrate this Americanization of the transplanted Europeans.
In England, the Puritans were a group of Protestants, who during the 1600 wanted to continue to purify the Church of England of the practices that were not found in scripture . They wanted to leave from being persecuted for not being protestants. The Separatists were people who advocated complete separation from the Church of England and make their own churches. Both the Puritans and the Separatists wanted to and did leave Europe in hope to be able to have religious freedom in North America. While they were in North America the Puritans were in charge. They kept a very controlled and disciplined lifestyle. They slept in tents and dug out then later learned how to make huts from the Swedish.
The thirteen colonies are extremely important to America’s history. Many of the colonists came for similar reasons such as new opportunities, wealth, and religious freedom. Despite these similarities, there are a few distinct differences between each colony. These differences are the factors that make it or break it when deciding which colony I would have chosen to live in back then.
During the 1600’s, people living in England wanted to make a better life for themselves so they left to explore a new land. Upon arrival, they formed colonies. Two of the three colonies formed were New England colony and the Southern colony. Though these people wanted to change their way of living from England, these colonies had different viewpoints on how they wanted to live their lives once they arrived in the new world. Things like climate, education and religion played a major part in their economic growth.
The pilgrims who settled in New England were in search of religious freedoms which was a major reason for them to leave England. These people believed that no one should be persecuted because of their religious beliefs. Some Protestants wanted to break away from the Anglican church while others wanted to be completely separate. Since there were many reasons for leaving England, there were many reason to go to America and set up the New England colonies. Another main reason for people such as farmers, craftsmen and traders to travel to America was to establish an all around better life. The colonies of Massachusetts and Rhode Island were settled by people in search of religious freedoms or a better overall way of life. They wanted a better
During the late eighteenth century the colonies were in a fight for independence; a fight for a revolution from a government that had oppressed them, taxed them, and basically enslaved them. So why did the new government they were struggling to construct so closely resemble the government they detested to be under? Thirteen colonies all fighting against one common foe, however governing themselves would cause many obstacles within. The new government was being pieced together from the only political system they have even been a part of, a monarchy. As a result there was a severance between the people on how the government was to be run. Some felt it was too democratic while others opposed claiming it was not enough. Colonists really didn't have a choice in the matter. It was going to be a trial and error situation until they could agree how to govern the new world. Even with the Articles of Confederation established, many things were still unethical and people felt that the new government was no better then the government they condemned. In time the fight for independence would change many things however the "Revolution" of the new government was a slow process. Some aspects of Parliament remained leaving speculation to whether or not this was a revolution at all.
One of the reasons that the colonists wanted to separate from Britain was that people in the colonies had begun to see themselves as small separate nations such as North Carolinians, Virginians, Pennsylvanians, and on goes the list. This started to give them an identity separate of Britain, but in many ways the colonists still considered themselves to be British. Since the colonists continued to see themselves as British, it made little impact that the people in each colony were developing new identities. Another factor that contributed to the American Revolution would be tax collectors. Many people fled to the colonies because of debt, and tax collectors followed to collect on debts that these people owed them. This reason is given a little more weight than it should because the majority of the population was not first or second generation colonists by the mid eighteenth century. Tax collectors would not be able to collect on individuals if surnames changed or the surname died. Royal governors are another small reason that people would want to be free of British rule as they were a constant reminder of British rule over the colonies. However, this reason...
The final step in the preparation for a new government was separation from the old government. This was declared twice in the Declaration of Independence. In the beginning, “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, driving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” and in the end, “that these united colonies are, and ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence was able to motivate people, give them ambition, and make it simple for Americans to take action.
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.