Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Concord Hymn'

Following the climactic events of the French Indian War and the Lexington and Concord skirmishes, tensions bubbled between the colonies and the mother country, Britain. This friction stemmed from debate over whether the parliament had the right to legislate over the colonies. Britain felt they should have full jurisdiction over the colonies, while the colonies wanted true representation from within the colonial legislatures. The French and Indian war garnered a large amount of debt and in attempt to repossess some of the money lost, the British Parliament imposed taxes upon colonists. Britain originally  implemented the Stamp Act of 1765, but appealed the law after the obstinate reactions of colonists. However, they then issued the Declaratory Act of 1766 which only reiterated the

The American Revolution was a critical turning point in American history. Following the French and Indian War, Britain ignored its previous policy of salutary neglect and began intervening in the colonies affairs through taxes, occupation of soldiers, violation of civil liberties, all the while ignoring colonial pleas for representation in Parliament. These events led to the “shot heard ‘round the world” at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. America was now at war with Britain. Nevertheless, the impact of

These stamps were required on bills of sale for trade items, and on various types of commercial and legal documents, anything from playing cards to diplomas to marriage licenses. Grenville claimed that the Stamp act was needed in order to help defray the cost of keeping British troops stationed in the colonies in order to protect them. To the colonists this was an invalid answer, because the French were out of North America, and they no longer needed protection. Instead, this Act was viewed as a tax solely to make money for England: "A right to impose an internal tax on the colonies, without their consent for the single purpose of revenue, is denied..." (Document B). Also, anyone that disobeyed these laws was tried in the admiralty courts, were juries were not allows, and you were guilty until proven innocent. In response, the colonists formed the Stamp Act Congress, in which the members drew up a statement of the rights and grievances of the colonists to send to the king, however it was ignored by England. Instead, they started a steady boycott of British goods. It is after this that the colonists realized that they were being used by England, and began their cry of "no taxation without representation!" Parliament had thought that it was making easy money off of the colonies; instead it had started the fire of rebellion burning, and the Stamp Act was soon repealed.

Beginning in 1764, Great Britain began passing acts to exert greater control over the American colonies. The Sugar Act was passed to increase duties on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies. A Currency Act was also passed to ban the colonies from issuing paper bills or bills of credit because of the belief that the colonial currency had devalued the British money. Further, in order to continue to support the British soldiers left in America after the war, Great Britain passed the Quartering Act in 1765. This ordered colonists to house and feed British soldiers if there was not enough room for them in the colonist’s homes. An important piece of legislation that really upset the colonists was the Stamp Act passed in 1765. This required stamps to be purchased or included on many different items and documents such as playing cards, legal papers, newspapers, and more. This was the first direct tax that Britain had imposed on the colonists. Events began to escalate with passage of the Townshend Acts in 1767. These taxes were created to help colonial officials become independent of the colonists by providing them with a source of income. This act led to clashes between British troops and colonists, causing the infamous Boston Massacre. These unjust requests and increasing tensions all led up to the colonist’s declaration as well as the Revolutionary War.

Britain was beginning to notice that they were not receiving as much money as they needed to pay off the costs of the French and Indian War henceforth, Britain authorized the colonists to pay a new tax. Everyone had to buy a tax stamp to put on their important papers. Newspapers had to be printed on special stamp paper that cost extra money. This act was called the Stamp Act. Many of the colonists were Furious about the new taxes.The American colonists were arguing that they had to contribute money and supplies in their own defense during the war by providing for the British soldiers. Not surprisingly, the 1991.Americans acted negatively to the Stamp Act. Because of thi,s men formed groups called “The Sons of Liberty”. These groups met in secret and they vowed to fight for what they believed was right. One night, The Sons of Liberty and some of the colonists decided to run Tax Collectors out of town, so they refuse to pay the tax or buy stamps.In the end, British decided to end the Stamp Act. After all, no one could collect the duties if no tea, glass, or paint was imported. After that, the people reacted to the Townshend Acts and the selfishness of the Customs Commissioners by organizing yet another boycott (Garrity,

The Lexington and Concord was the first battle between the British and Colonists. This battle started with a single shot called the “shot heard round the world”, but what led to this battle? Many things led up to this battle. After America was found the British wanted to settle there, and some people went because they did not like the king and his rules, so some of this anger we see in the Revolutionary War was already there. Another thing that angered the colonists was when Britain forced them to stop their expansion west, but the thing that angered them the most were the taxes that were placed on the colonists. There were also laws that the colonists that violated their

The Stamp Act was an important act introduced by the British Prime Minister George Grenville that was then passed in March 1765 by the British Parliament. The purpose was to raise money for national debt of Britain after the Seven Years War and Parliament needed means to help fund expensive costs of keeping troops inside the colonies. The act levied a tax on legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, and nearly every other form of paper used in the colonies. The British Government felt that the colonies were the primary reason of the military presence and should pay a portion of the expense. The American colonies did not take kindly to this matter.

On an “unremarkably clear and pleasant” day in April 19, 1775, the shot that was said to had been able to be heard around the world was fired. (A Guide to Battles) This began the battles in which we know as Lexington and Concord, and the war we know as the Glorious/American revolution. It was fought between the British whom had feared American retaliation for some time, and the American Colonies whom were tired of feeling oppressed by the British. General Thomas Gage advised his British superiors to prepare for war, but this advice was refused and when the time finally came, they were not prepared for the fight at hand. (History of AM Rev) Many events, rules, and regulations helped to lead up to the retaliation of the Americans.

The political views of the British colonies in America were different from Britain’s views. Britain emerged from the French and Indian War with a huge amount of debt. Britain wanted to maintain its control over the British colonies in America and also wanted the colonies to help pay the debt from the War. Parliament passed several acts, one being the Stamp Act, levying taxes on the colonies. The colonists felt they had no representation in Britain and should not be taxed without representation. The colonists did not want the Stamp Act to be a precedence for future tax acts. The Virginia legislature passed resolutions against the act. Riots broke out throughout the colonies, including Virginia. Effigies of George Mercer, the stamp distributor in Virginia, were hanged and burned. In Williamsburg, Mercer was greeted by an angry mob. The Virginia legislature in Williamsburg passed resolutions against the Stamp Act. Eventually, Parliament repealed the act. Actions by both the colonists and the British demonstrated their philosophical differences. The colonists boycotted British goods in an effort to avoid paying import taxes. Interestingly, there was

In 1776, the original thirteen colonies officially declared their independence from Great Britain after the American revolution. This fight for freedom was not an easy one however and was brought on by a chain of events following the French and Indian War in 1754. After fighting in the French and Indian War, Great Britain had greatly over-extended itself, causing a period of severe debt. To cope with this debt, Parliament started trying to generate revenue for the country; one way this was done was though the passing of acts. In 1764, under the order of George Grenville, Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time, the Sugar Act and the Currency Act were implemented. These two acts were consumption taxes on sugar and printing currency, respectively. Not too long after these acts were passed, the Stamp Act of 1765 occurred, requiring colonists to pay for an official seal to have their mail sent. After this act was passed, colonists were becoming angry that they were being taxed on nearly everything. This anger led to the

First, the Stamp Act of 1765 is an act that required the colonists to pay on paper items. This act angered many colonists and the colonists can not let this pass them. “The English passed the Stamp Act so the colonists can help pay their expenses from the French and Indian War”(Colonial Unrest). With anger, groups like the Sons of Liberties stopped stamped paper being unloaded off decks. Then, merchants had a plan and agreed not to buy anything from the British. Also, representatives from different colonies formed the Stamp Act Congress and demanded Parliaments to reverse the act. In conclusion,

The French and Indian war caused debts among the British. The British realized that during the war the income from the colonies was insufficient (document F). After the war, the British needed certain ways in which to gain revenue. They imposed taxes on the Colonists. These taxes, in turn, caused a stir among Americans. The Stamp Act was a tax imposed on the colonists without representation (document H). Their liberties as English citizens were being denied. Radical Whigs would go as far to say it

III. As a result of the harsh treatment and strict regulations put on the colonists by the British such as the Boston Massacre, the Tea Act, Stamp Act, and other taxes, the colonists were ready for a change. They are tired of being controlled by a government on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, and are ready to start fighting for their freedom. The colonists form many rebellious groups such as the Sons of Liberty, to protest and rebel against the British involvement in their country. They hold meetings and help carry out acts against the British such as the Boston Tea Party. When the British don't change their ways it is time for war. The fighting starts at Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775 with the first shots being fired. People all over wanted to help in the war effort by joining the army and forming small militia groups to fight the British. Benjamin Martin's army was one of these groups. The British won many battles

Every time there is a war, money must be raised to maintain it. However, unlike the king, taxes were made without proper reason and proof made it harder for colonists to understand why the king's actions were justified. During the Stamp Act of 1765, Britian declared that all documents (newspapers, books, court documents, etc.) must be stamp and that a stamp purchase must be required to help finance the stationing of British troops throughout North America.1 American colonists were not recognized in the House of Commons, and claimed that Britain had no reason to impose taxes solely based on making profit on regulating trade.2 The colonists' allegiance was still to Britain, but they later decide to boycott the act due to the invalid response made by Parliament. The Townshead Acts of 1767 allowed exports to be taxed and a creation of a board of customs commissioners to prevent any further smuggling of goods.3 This act was later repealed a

The American Revolution, which occurred approximately from 1765 to 1786, is also known as the American Revolutionary War and the U.S. War of Independence, for good reason. The conflict rose from rising tensions amid the people of Great Britain’s thirteen American colonies and the colonial government, which represented the British crown. Clashes between Britain’s troops and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord in April 1775 kicked off the armed conflict, and by the following summer, the rebels were waging a full-scale war for their independence. The American Revolution had tremendous consequences, and was not simply a victory of arms on the battlefield, but also a feat of economic and political ideals, and vital societal changes. This huge period of history set into motion greater changes in American life and created a country, demonstrating just how this revolutionary age in time more than earned its name. This battle of independence waged by the American colonies against Britain influenced political ideas and revolutions around the globe, as a young, largely divided nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.