Pretty good write up. The only major point that I might disagree with is that the Revolution was a war of the middle class. I think the middle class was "conned" into supporting the war. It was a war to protect the interests of the wealthy and the upper middle class.
Direct taxation was virtually non-existent. The first direct taxation on the colony was the Stamp Act [1765] which England sent to the American Colonies one year prior to enactment for comment. The Colonies received the benefits of a national defense provided by the taxation in England. It was the Stamp Act [and the Quartering Act] that proposed a mechanism for the Colonies to contribute partially to their own defense. At that, the Stamp Act only applied to the upper class in the colonies, primarily lawyers and the press. The major objections arose after the Stamp Act was enacted. And King George rescinded it after 4 months. Yet the colonists were still bitching about the Stamp Act in 1774 [Declaration of Rights] They hadn't seen the tax in nearly 9 years and they were still bitching.
publicbookshelf.com
Additional note from the above link. The only other direct tax was that of "postage" for mail, which was for services rendered and was of all things voluntary. [It would be nice if the USPS postage was voluntary] Ruthless oppressors were those British imposing voluntary postage.
The Boston Tea Party is another illustration. The East India Tea Company was exempt from English tariffs and were able to sell tea to merchants [subsequently to consumers] as rock bottom prices. It was a subsidy, and of benefit to the colonists at large. Who in their right mind would be protesting against cheap tea?
One of the more fascinating of the Intolerable Acts was the Quebec Act. It set the boundries of the province of Quebec and horror of horrors.... It is hereby declared, That His Majesty's Subjects professing the Religion of the Church of Rome, of, and in the said Province of Quebec, may have, hold, and enjoy, the free Exercise of the Religion of the Church of Rome, subject to the King's Supremacy, declared and established by an Act made in the First Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, over all the Dominions and Countries which then did, or thereafter should, belong to the Imperial Crown of this Realm; and that the Clergy of the said Church may hold, receive, and enjoy their accustomed Dues and Rights, with respect to such Persons only as shall profess the said Religion.
historywiz.com
Religious freedom for Catholics! What is this world coming to? The British must be stopped before they allow the Catholicism to be practiced throughout the colonies! This oppression cannot be tolerated.
I recall reading somewhere that one reason that the Bill of Rights were not proposed with the original Constitution was that one of the New England States was afraid that Jews might think they had rights as well. That was a show stopper for the Convention.
Another one of the Intolerable Acts was the Quartering Act...it's intention was truly abhorent to colonists.
The Quartering Act of 1765 (part of The Intolerable Acts)
March 24, 1765
AN ACT to amend and render more effectual, in his Majesty's dominions in America, an act passed in this present session of parliament, intituled, An act for punishing mutiny and desertion, and for the better payment of the army and their quarters.....
historywiz.com
It doesn't sound all that bad to me, but what the hell. It's another British tactic we adopted. Make the title and introductory paragraph sound good and nail them in the details.
I recall reading that Georgia originally refused to comply with the act and the British General indicated that British troops would be withdrawn from the entire colony. Georgia reconsidered and agreed to comply with the Quartering Act.
It's worthy to note that as recent as this past year the USSC has referred to the Magna Carta as a basis for the rights of the accused/imprisoned. As you so indicated, the American Revolution wasn't a revolution of government is was an evolution largely copied from Britain.
jttmab |
