An Island Versus A Continent
An Island Versus A Continent
Review the material from Section 3 of this week’s Web text titled, “Becoming Independent: The Rebellion Against Britain” and the supplemental resource featured this week. Next, identify three (3) motivating factors for colonists that helped to ignite the American Revolution. If you were involved in the American Revolution which side would you choose? Justify your response.
Paper For Above instruction
The American Revolution was fueled by numerous motivating factors that galvanized the colonists to seek independence from Britain. Three key factors include taxation without representation, as colonists believed they should not be taxed without a voice in Parliament, exemplified by the Stamp Act and Tea Act. Another significant factor was the desire for greater political and economic autonomy; colonists wanted to control their own laws and trade policies rather than be subjected to British control. The enforcement of colonial laws and taxes was perceived as oppressive and unjust, fostering resentment and a desire for rebellion. Additionally, Enlightenment ideas about individual rights, liberty, and self-governance inspired colonists to challenge traditional authority and seek independence as a means to secure freedoms they believed were natural and inalienable.
If I were involved in the American Revolution, I would likely choose to side with the colonists. Their pursuit of liberty and self-determination resonates with fundamental principles of democracy and personal freedoms. The desire to break free from oppressive taxation and regulate their own economic and political affairs reflects a universal human aspiration for autonomy and justice. Supporting the colonists’ cause aligns with the belief that governments should serve the will of the people and uphold individual rights, making their quest for independence both morally justified and essential for establishing a fair and equitable society. The Revolution ultimately laid the groundwork for modern democratic values and demonstrated the importance of standing against tyranny to secure freedom and justice.
References
- Bailyn, Bernard. (1992). The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press.
- Wood, Gordon S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage.
- U.S. History.org. (n.d.). Causes of the American Revolution. National Archives.
- Middlekauff, Robert. (2005). The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. Oxford University Press.
- Ferling, John. (2010). Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence. Oxford University Press.
- Ellis, Joseph J. (2000). Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. Knopf.
- Maier, Pauline. (1997). American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. Alfred A. Knopf.
- Jefferson, Thomas. (1776). Declaration of Independence.
- Hackett, David G. (1992). The Contradictions of Liberty: Tocqueville and the Egyptian Revolution. Routledge.
- Morgan, Edmund S. (2003).革命之路：美国独立战争研究 (The Path to Revolution: A Study of the American Revolution). Harvard University Press.