Why Liberty Matters

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Recommended: The political relationship between Britain and its American Colonies

George Washington once said, “Only virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” England took advantage of its colonies and tried to enforce unfair policies. In 1775, the political mistreatment needed to end and the United States needed to separate from Britain to develop successfully as a country. The American Revolution changed the history of the world. To understand it’s the importance of the American Revolution it necessary to understand pre-war America, the cause of war, Britain’s mindset, United States’ mindset, the economy, significant events, and how the war ended. The French and Indian War devastated the American land. The war was expensive thus putting England in major debt. The Board of Trade at the instance of the British Merchants planned to assist in the matter. Americans experienced a harsh life in the colonies. The colonists would experience savage, hate-driven mobs, bad harvests and sudden deaths. Americans colonists believed England was feudal, tyrannical, and reactionary. However, Europeans believe England to be a wild, upstart race, notable for their revolutions and their pathological adherence for liberty. Compared to Britain, most of the Americans were poor and scrapped to survive. The Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Coercive Acts, and Townshend Act were different ways the British tried to push the colonists into submission and pay off the debts (Lancaster). The Writs of Assistance gave the British the opportunity to invade a colonial home with a virtually blank search warrant (Lancaster). All fiscal control of local government and courts was passed out to nepotistic friends of the British government. The colonies eventually ran by a few influentia... ... middle of paper ... ...fred A. Knopf. Colonies Move Toward Open Rebellion, The 1773-1774. (n.d.). Retrieved from Library of Congress database. Cook, F. (1959). The American Revolution. New York, NY: Golden Press. Ferguson, E. J. (1974). The American Revolution. A General History, 1763-1790. Homewood, IL: The Dorsey Press. Ferling, J. (2010, January). Myths of the American Revolution. Smithsonian Magazine. First Shots of War, 1775. (n.d.). Retrieved from Library of Congress database. George Washington to Robert Stewart, 1763-1766. (n.d.). Retrieved from Library of Congress database. Lancaster, B., & Plumb, J.H. (n.d.). Book of the Revolution (6th ed.). New York, N.Y.: American Heritage Publishing. Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved from Library of Congress database. Surrender of Lord Cornwallis. (n.d.). Retrieved from Library of Congress database.

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