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Settling in the New World provided both the American settlers and the British government with many opportunities. For the colonists, North America provided an opportunity to improve their lives and escape religious persecution. For the British, settlers in North America provided access to raw materials and new markets in which to sell finished goods. This mercantilist relationship continued for several years, until the colonists began to question Parliament’s right to treat them differently than other British citizens. Taxes were imposed on the colonists as a means of helping to pay the debt Britain had incurred fighting the French.
Even in the Continental Congress, support for independence was limited to only one third of the delegates. John Adams, a Patriot, complained that the Loyalists used the prospect of independence as a way to frighten people into giving up the struggle. But in January 1776, a pamphlet titled Common Sense was published. The pamphlet supported the idea of independence. The author, Thomas Paine, had strong logic and powerful words written into Common Sense, which then inspired the colonies to support independence.
Finally the colonists had won their independence. The war was truly over. It had lasted well over eight years. In September 1782 after the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin, along with John Adams and John Jay, began official peace negotiations with the British. Benjamin Franklin was one of the people to sign the Treaty of Paris.
The colonies also called for a continental congress, in the first meeting they made decisions basically defending themselves from anything Britain could possibly throw at them: military preparations in case the British in Boston chose to attack, boycotting in hopes of abolishing trade with Great Britain, rejecting a colonial union under British control, the basically wanted nothing to do with Great Britain because Britain abused their power over the colonists to begin with. The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the official turning point for the colonists, they had colonists prepared with guns, minutemen, that were ready to fight at a seconds notice and they kept close eyes on Boston just in case the British chose to attack. William Dawes and Paul Revere were keeping watch for any British movement. When the British came the colonists were ready and by the end of the battle the British had lost many of their troops in this revolutionary war. This war was definitely the beginning of the fight for independence for the colonists, thy showed the British that they could stand up for themselves and that they deserved better treatment.
In The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, reflecting off of the Social Contract theory they discuss the details of life, liberty, and property. They also state that although society is being governed, they still have the abilities to make amendments, speak their mind as well as argue their point of view at the same or at anytime. The Declaration of Independence is a persuasive argument throughout the written document. In the month of August in 1775 the Britain’s declared the colonies to be in state of rebellion, the Battles of Lexington and Concord was what began the war between America and Britain. In the winter pamphlet, Thomas Paine’s common sense turned people in colonial and there opinions toward the
Loyalist were the group of Americans that were most likely to remain loyal to England. The loyalist were about 20% of the colonies population and even though they believed King George III wasn’t doing anything wrong some of them even fought in the war against England. Loyalist believed in John Locke’s theory about natural rights and limited government. The loyalist just wanted peace between America and King George III. Loyalist lived all over the colonies.
Before the pamphlet was published, nobody was brave enough to denounce loyalism and publicly announce that colonists should be engaged in revolutionary battles. Not even John Adams spoke a word that proclaimed independence until “Common Sense” was published. The “Declaration of Independence” that’s written by Thomas Jefferson was highly influenced by “Common Sense” that Thomas Paine wrote. The second continental congress voted and agreed on signing the declaration of independence on July 2, 1776, and was officially recognized on July 4, 1776. If Thomas Paine didn’t propose “Common Sense”, most likely the declaration of independence wouldn’t be signed, which may lead to America not having their own freedom.
The American Revolution was characterized by many sides inspired by the different motivation, perceptions and interests. The characters involved were mainly patriots, loyalists and moderates. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the loyalists were the North American colonists who remained loyal to the crown of the British; often they were refereed as royals or kings men.
Due to his many experiences while living in Great Britain, he grew a desire to fight for the oppressed and often questioned the authority the British Monarchy had over the American colony. Thomas Paine wrote an influential Pamphlet “Common Sense” a scathing attack on the monarchial tyranny over the American colony and the significance of American independence. Thomas Paine’s ideas in this pamphlet were not original, however were more accessible to the masses due to the clear and direct way he wrote. His pamphlet helped to inspire The Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence contains a list of grievances against King George III and justifications for the assertion of the right for independence.
Because of the great amount of power Britain possessed, the colonists were under oppression, ultimately taking action to defend themselves. Namely, according to document 5, the author states, “what is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited power?”. As the taxes began to mound on top of one over the other, the colonists began to feel overwhelmed. In response, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and three others, created the Declaration of Independence as a call to war, to offset British rule. Like the Stamp Act, the colonists answered with violence, and the violence only increased as the British made sure to oppress the
Loyalists- Were colonists in the new world who remained loyal to the British king during the American Revolutionary War. This was a significant factor because it gave the British key advantages in increasing their soldier count, provided housing and supplies, and strategic territorial advantages in loyalist areas such as new York City that offered a vast harbor for the British navy. 4. Benedict Arnold- A man who gave great service to his country in the early stages of the Revolutionary War.
At the time of the American Revolution between the years of 1781 and 1784, thirteen New England colonies fought for their freedom from the British government. During this time, many refugees of mainly black descent were forced to flee. Thousands of men and women of mainly African descent joined British forces and came to be known as the Black Loyalists. The term Loyalist in this circumstance pertained to the loyalty of an individual to an established ruler in a face of a revolt or war.
Declaration of Independence Precis Thomas Jefferson in his historical document, The Declaration of Independence (1776), asserts that the colonies should break free from Britain’s tyranny. Jefferson supports his assertion through the use of anaphora, parallel structure, imagery, emotional appeal to patriotism, and logical appeal to the colonist’s basic rights. Jefferson’s purpose is to advocate for the separation of Britain and the colonies in order to escape the British tyranny that King George imposes on the American colonists. Jefferson writes in a measured tone for the British parliament, King George, and for colonists who have been a victim of Britain’s oppression.
The American Revolution or also known as The War of Independence was brought on by American colonists. The colonists felt the taxations and limitations oppressed onto the Americans by British was worth fighting for their rights. The Americans had George Washington as their general, and Washington had an itch to keep the moral of the colonists alive during the hard times. In the times of The American Revolution, the Second Continental Congress emerged and voted for freedom from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin came together and formed a document stating the colonists’ intent to gain independence from Great Britain.
There were two choices that the colonists had to make, stay at peace with not much freedom or decide to declare their freedom of Great Britain. Patrick Henry had many things to say. He gave short speech about how the war has already started, and in his speech he says what he is known for the words “give me liberty or give me death”. During the second continental congress on May 10, 1775 the New
