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Were The American Colonists Justified In The Revolutionary War

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During the Colonial Era (1492-1763), colonists were justified in waging war against Great Britain; due to the inequitable Stamp Act, the insufferable British oppression, and the perceived tyranny of King George III, the king of Great Britain, however, the colonists were unjustified in some of their actions. In Colonial America, colonists were justified in waging war against Great Britain, because the Stamp Act was unfair and viewed as punishment. Because of the war, Britain had no other choice but to tax the colonists to pay for the debt. For example, according to document 2, the author states that the act was not only for trade but for “the single purpose of levying money.” The stamp act taxed even the littlest of things such as newspapers, documents, licenses, molasses and even playing cards. It angered the colonists, so they responded with violence. …show more content…

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

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156 Words | 1 Pages

The Stamp Act, which was issued in 1765, taxed all paper documents in the colonies. The Stamp Act was the first Act that was directed towards the colonies alone and was issued because they had an abundance of debt after the Seven Years War. You had to pay taxes for printing legal documents, diplomas, almanacs, broadsides, newspapers, and playing cards. In October nine of the colonies sent someone to the Stamp Act Congress where the colonies drafted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances which was a document that went against the British empire. The colonists also rebelled by not selling any British products.

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767 Words | 4 Pages

There was a tax on every piece of printed paper used like licences, newspapers, marriage license, and playing cards . The stamp act was made to help get the British out of debt after the French and Indian war. Another turning point was the Tea act Dec 15,1773 a big cause was the Boston massacre where "a taunting mob threw sticks, stones, and snowballs at a frightened group of soldiers guarding the customs-house on king street in Boston" (DOC C). A rule of the tea act was "whoever shall aid,or abet, or in any manner assist in the induction of introduction of tea, from any whatsoever, into this colony, while it is subject, by British act of parliament, to the payment of duty, for the purpose of raising a revenue in American, he shall be deemed

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1248 Words | 5 Pages

In the Declaration of Rights and Grievances issued by the Stamp Act Congress, they claimed that Parliament lacked the power to tax the colonies because they had no representation. While the Stamp Act was repealed, the colonists were never given representation in Parliament. In the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms”, issued by the Second Continental Congress, this same issue was cited as a justification for fighting. “[The British declare] that parliament can ‘of right make laws to bind us in all cases whatsoever.’ What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited power?”

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230 Words | 1 Pages

The stamp act was a very unfair law put in place by British parliament as cited in Document one. For the boston tea party they taxed all the

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476 Words | 2 Pages

The Stamp Act was the coal, which fueled the fires inside the colonists. Including Benjamin Franklin who wanted these taxes repealed as soon as possible. The colonists began to boycott as a way of protesting the taxation. The boycotts cut at the very thing string, which were the economic relations between America and Great Britain greatly damaging them once

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1236 Words | 5 Pages

The final reason the colonists were unjustified was that they were the only reason Britain had treated them so poorly. As a result of the French and Indian War - which was fought for the colonists - the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Act of 1767 were used to pay for war efforts. Also, the Proclamation of 1763, which forced colonists to live east of the Application Mountains, protected the colonists from the Indians and prevented future conflicts between them. The Intolerable Acts of 1774 would not have existed if not for the Boston Tea Party - in which the colonists dumped about 1 million dollars worth of tea into the Boston Harbor: it only existed to demonstrate Britain’s power over the colonists. Finally, the Boston Massacre would have

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908 Words | 4 Pages

The colonists were justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain. This is because Britain taxed them unfairly and without their representation. Britain also was cruel and tyrannical, and did not treat them fairly. The unfair taxes that had to be paid by colonists were a good reason for them to declare their independence from Britain.

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735 Words | 3 Pages

Imagine of your friend used you to copy off of your homework, and you feel like you are not getting anything in return. How would you feel? That is exactly how the colonists felt with Britain. The angry colonists wanted to start a revolution against Britain because their unalienable rights were being intruded in their own country. They were used to salutary neglect, but the tight control the British had over them angered the colonists.

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900 Words | 4 Pages

Because of all the war debt inherited by King George, both the Sugar and Stamp Acts were enforced to bring in extra income in an effort for the crown to be able to satiate their debt. Even in the efforts of the colonist to suggest alternatives to the taxes, the crown remained obstinate in their crusade for American monies. After claiming that they were lacking actual representation in England, The Monarchy continued to work off the existing system of virtual representation to represent the colonists. Much of the animosity towards the topic of fair and honest representation stems from the British’s own wording of their agreements with the settlers. Verbiage in official acts, like the Navigation Act, only further confirmed that the British viewed Americans as non-English citizens under the protection of the

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939 Words | 4 Pages

The American Revolutionary War was an important moment in our history as it stood for our freedom from the English monarchy. Many conflicts and battles happened all throughout the country, making it seem as if the Englishmen had the upper hand with their advanced military an naval forces. It apparently did not help them because the colonists and the Native Americans used their weaknesses against them and eventually won their independence from the English. With their independence at hand and the British troops sent back, how exactly did this war get to this conclusion? How did the colonists win this war an outsmart the more advanced troops in battle?

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1153 Words | 5 Pages

According to Benjamin Franklin, “Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.” In relation to this, many of the colonists believed that the natural freedom that belonged to them under God, was stripped away from them under British rule. Years after years of unfair actions opposed upon the colonists by the British eventually led the colonists to take action against them in an attempt to gain freedom and independence. After the French and Indian war, Britain was left in debt and looked to the colonists for revenue. They exercised certain acts such as the Sugar Act 1764, Stamp Act 1765, and Townshend Revenue Acts of 1767, that unfairly taxed and restricted the colonists.

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539 Words | 3 Pages

The British government was not looking for the best of the people. They were only thinking about what they wanted; the government was not interested in what the people wanted so they decided to make decisions on their own, which resulted in changes that form the United States today. Because of this, they were justified in rebelling and declaring independence. One reason why the colonists decided to rebel and declare independence was because of taxation.

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580 Words | 3 Pages

After the French and Indian War the British were had a gargantuan debt! In order to pay off such a huge debt they imposed new taxes and enforced old ones. Great Britain thought that it was allowed to pass laws like these, because Britain had protected the colonists therefore the colonists have to give obedience. Laws like the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Tea Act, and along with the British being oblivious to colonists’ pleas to change the harsh laws (Document 2) allowed

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638 Words | 3 Pages

In 1765 March 22, The Stamp Act began. It was when American colonists were taxed on any kind of paper product. Such as ship’s paper, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. All of the money that was taxed was used to pay the costs of defending and protecting the American frontier near the Appalachians Mountains. Although this act was unpopular among the colonists.

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580 Words | 3 Pages

The American Revolution was, to date, the best event to happen on American soil, providing freedom and representation in government to the individuals who fought so hard for it. France and Spain aided our cause, helping this group of brave colonists to defeat the strongest army in the world. But, there is a question still not answered; were the colonists justified in breaking away from Britain? The American colonists were justified in breaking away from the British because there was taxation without representation, they had no freedom, and the British government violated their individual British rights. I believe the American colonists were justified for breaking away from Britain because there was taxation without representation.

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