ipl-logo

What Is Dr Samuel Johnson's Objections To The Revolutionary War

1807 Words8 Pages

In the course of millennia, history presents us with facts of civilizations declaring war in an attempt for conquering new lands, expanding empires and the fate of the defeated. Peoples of defeated lands often found themselves subjugated by the victorious, and, at times, their culture, beliefs and traditions were repressed or destroyed through assimilation. However, in the case of the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years’ War), Great Britain was successful in its efforts to better France, a centuries long adversary, and greatly diminish the French presence in the America. Unfortunately, the victory resulted in a great financial burden for Great Britain. Not only were the coiffeurs of the country emptied, but Great Britain had outstanding debts to other countries. To remedy this situation, Great Britain determined that the American Colonies should be taxed as an instrument in dissolving the country’s debt. The American colonists, especially in the North, took great exception with this decision. This arbitrary, and ultimately Draconian, course of action would result in punitive …show more content…

Samuel Johnson, “Taxation No Tyranny”, portrayed the objections of the American Colonies as belligerent “zealots of anarchy, who have denied, to the parliament of Britain the right of taxing the American colonies…” (Johnson par 1). Johnson’s arguments verged on debasement of the people dwelling in the colonies. Furthermore, Johnson presents a definition of what a tax is, much in the manner of explaining an idea or concept to a perceived audience of people with lower intellect. Johnson argues that America was more than able to pay taxes. He acknowledges that the Americans have not denied that they fall under the liability of taxes to the mother country. However, he goes admonishes the very questioning and petitions for relief of taxation. Johnson declares that any such actions deny all powers of “sovereignty” (Johnson par

Show More
Related
507 Words | 3 Pages

During the early 1700’s, Great Britain’s government wanted to reassure that all of the colonies the possessed in American remained under government control and followed any laws and rules applied to the land. One of the ways Great Britain maintained economical order of their colonies was thru a series of British taxes that the citizens of their colonies were forced to pay off. These colonists weren’t trilled to pay off the debts of the British government. The British faced a disagreement with the payment of the taxes from the colonies. Making them concerned of losing their land in America.

Read More
283 Words | 2 Pages

After America’s Declaration of Independence asserted in 1776, were radical notions for those who had grown up in a society that was ruled but a king and that enthusiastically embraced the idea of aristocracy. “The first step in Grenville’s new program was the Revenue Act (1764), popularly known as the Sugar Act” (Keene, Page 98). But, this Act violated two longheld beliefs. Also, required colonists to purchase special stamps for everything from newspapers to playing cards.

Read More
683 Words | 3 Pages

During the time period of 1750 to 1776, the colonists, to a moderate extent, identified as American. In determining why a vast majority identified as American and why some didn’t, one must look into detail the social, political and economic standpoints that led to such divide. Throughout all 3 points, Thus, the identification of being “American” and its usage depended on the view the person had of Great Britain. In the economic standpoint, due to the “No taxation without representation” slogan being violated by the British, most of the colonists weren’t against the anti-British sentiment boiling up due to the conflict. The ensuing increase in tax acts later led to the practice of tar and feathering tax collectors, and, to a bigger scale, the Boston tea party.

Read More
1491 Words | 6 Pages

At the dawn of the 1770s, American colonial resentment of the British Parliament in London had been steadily increasing for some time. Retaliating in 1766, Parliament issued the Declaratory Act which repealed most taxes except issued a reinforcement of Parliament’s supremacy. In a fascinating exchange, we see that the Parliament identifies and responds to the colonists main claim; Parliament had no right to directly tax colonists who had no representation in Parliament itself. By asserting Parliamentary supremacy while simultaneously repealing the Stamp Act and scaling back the Sugar Act, Parliament essentially established the hill it would die on, that being its legitimacy. With the stage set for colonial conflict in the 1770s, all but one

Read More
1558 Words | 7 Pages

Between 1763 and 1775, there were three ‘Imperial Crises’ which occurred between the British and the American colonists. The conflict that was produced during this period arose through an undefined balance of political and economic power between the two parties. In 1763, Britain had just concluded the French and Indian war and was left with an immense and almost crippling debt of around 140 million pounds sterling (“Turning Point In American History”). In Britain’s eyes, the most effective way to reduce this debt was increased taxes. Unfortunately, the people of England were already massively overtaxed, which meant the last option for the British was to tax the American colonists.

Read More
358 Words | 2 Pages

Beginning in 1765, one principle the Americans believed was, “No taxation without representation.” The American colonial society rejected the right of the British Parliament to tax them without colonial representatives in the government. It did not matter what the motive of the tax was, it could not be enforced without the agreement of the colonists themselves. This argument about representation was not of huge significance to the English because according to their constitutional theory, members of Parliament did not represent individuals or particular geographical areas. Instead, each member represents the interests of the whole nation and empire.

Read More
676 Words | 3 Pages

The Britain felt that it was only natural that the American colony would pay the mother country more for their protection after the Seven Years War with France. England was trying to relieve some tax burdens by increasing the tax on the colonies (xix). “that the main purpose of country’s overseas possessions were to serve the business interest of British merchants and manufacturers and to provide the mother country with raw materials” (xvii). However, such increase in demand, and pressure seemed unfair to the American colony despite the fact that they had been paying less tax compared to an English

Read More
540 Words | 3 Pages

Britain was cutting of and taxing the colonists an improper amount. The intolerable acts are what sparked the colonist’s resentment towards Britain, with biased taxes and unfair regulations. Patrick Henry’s empowering rhetoric in his “Speech to the Virginia Convention” uses an abundance of pathos to persuade and emotionally charge the colonists

Read More
426 Words | 2 Pages

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.”

Read More
848 Words | 4 Pages

They submitted willingly to the government of the Crown, and paid, in all their courts, obedience to acts Parliament” (Brinkley 94). Up until the time of the Stamp act they held the Crown in high regards. Once again Franklin was asked, “What is your opinion of a future tax, imposed on the same principal with that of the Stamp Act? How would the Americans receive it?”

Read More
729 Words | 3 Pages

Before the Seven Years’ War, the French had landed on the Indians’ land (which was owned by Great Britain) and hoped for peace and collaboration. France lived a good lifestyle and their Protestant religion was a success. Great Britain and its colonies closer than ever and their American Militia did most of the safety procedures that took care of Great Britain’s colonies. Great Britain’s colonies had to pay taxes for their future empire near the seas.

Read More
149 Words | 1 Pages

Britain had built up a great debt and the colonies were a financial burden to run, to try and resolve their problems the British instituted various measures

Read More
809 Words | 4 Pages

The French and Indian War, or the Seven Years War, began in 1754, as a result of conflict over territory and trade in North America. As both countries conquered the new land, letting their civilians settle there as colonists with the sole purpose of providing money for their homeland, they encountered the Ohio Valley; land that was assured to contribute to each of their imperialist motives. During the war where French troops allied with the native Americans against Britain, the laws given to the British colonies were left unmonitored, and the colonists evaded the strict taxation and rules against trading with other countries. However, when the war ended in 1763, resulting in a British victory, Britain was left a multitude of problems. This included the great national debt of approximately 122 million British pounds.

Read More
163 Words | 1 Pages

The American colonies represent the ideals of the mother country through their devotion to their own liberty and justice, and to monetary gain. Colonists use English arguments to justify their aversion to the increases in taxes and regulations after the French and Indian War, using the British argument that it is a nation’s autonomy that determines its freedom. Because the colonists are not represented in the English government and do not have a substantial voice, they have reason to believe that they are not equal to the British, as citizens. Because they are not true citizens, they are unaffected by increases in taxation and denounce the stifling acts. Also, the colonies, like their mother country, are attracted by the profits generated by

Read More
580 Words | 3 Pages

“The history of present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations [unlawful seizures], all having in direct object the establishments of an absolute Tyranny over these States. ”(Document E). The British taxed just about anything they could; like tea, paper, legal documents, and stamps “Committees are appointed into the characters and conduct of every tradesman, to prevent them selling tea or buying British manufactures. ”(Document I) The British were taxing the American colonists to pay what Britain lost in the French and Indian war.

Read More

More about What Is Dr Samuel Johnson's Objections To The Revolutionary War

Open Document