Directions: Read the following five document excerpts, and then write one well-organized paragraph summarizing the reasons many Americans felt pushed toward independence.
Document 1
A colonist cannot make a button, a horseshoe, nor a hobnail, but some snootly ironmonger or respectable buttonmaker of England shall bawl and squall that his honor's worship is most egregiously maltreated, injured, cheated, and robbed by the rascally American republicans.
Boston Gazette, 1765
Document 2
We have called this a burthensome tax, because the duties are so numerous and high...that it would be totally impossible for the people to subsist under it....We further apprehend this tax to be unconstitutional. We have always understood it to be a grand and fundamental principle of the constitution, that no freeman should be subject to any tax to which he has not given his own consent, in person or by proxy....We take it clearly, there fore, to be inconsistent with the spirit of the common law, and of the essential fundamental principle of the British constitution, that we should be represented in that assembly in any sense, unless it be by a fiction of law....
Resolution of the Town of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1765, opposing the Stamp Act
Document 3
Considering the utter impracticability of their ever being fully and equally represented in parliament, and the great expense that must unavoidably attend even a partial representation there, this House thinks that a taxation of their constituents, even without their consent, grievous as it is, would be preferable to any representation that could be admitted for them there.
Circular letter, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1768
Document 4
If we view the whole of the conduct of the ministry and parliament, I do not see how any one can doubt but that there is a settled fix'd plan for enslaving the colonies, or bringing them under arbitrary government....If the ministry can secure a majority in parliament...they may rule as absolutely as they do in France or Spain, yea as in Turkey or India....
View now the situation of America: loaded with taxes from the British parliament, as heavy as she can possibly support under,--our lands charged with the most exorbitant quit rent,--these taxes collected by foreigners, steeled against any impressions from our groans or complaints...our charters taken away--our assemblies annihilated,--governors and councils, appointed by royal authority without any concurrence of the people, enacting such laws as their sovereign pleasure shall dictate...the lives and property of Americans entirely at the disposal of officers more than three thousand miles removed from any power to control them--armies of the soldiers quartered among the inhabitants, who know the horrid purpose for which they are stationed, in the colonies--to subjugate and beat down the inhabitants....
Reverend Ebenezer Baldwin, 1774
Document 5
I have heard it asserted by some, that as America hath flourished under her former connection with Great Britain, that the same connection is necessary toward her future happiness, and will always have the same effect. Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument....
Not one third of the inhabitants, even of this province [Pennsylvania] are of English descent. Wherefore I reprobate the phrase of parent or mother country applied to England only, as being false, selfish, narrow and ungenerous....
The injuries and disadvantages we sustain by that connection are without number; and our duty to mankind at large, as well as to ourselves, instruct us to renounce the alliance: Because, any submission to, or dependence on Great Britain, tends directly to involve this continent in European wars and quarrels; and sets us at variance with nations, who would otherwise seek our friendship, and against whom, we have neither anger nor complaint. As Europe is our market for trade, we ought to form no partial connection with any part of it....
[Continued British rule will lead to] the ruin of the continent. And that for several reasons. First. The powers of governing still remaining in the hands of the king, he will have a negative over the whole legislation of this continent. And as he hath shown himself such an inveterate enemy to liberty, and discovered such a thirst for arbitrary power; is he, or is he not, a proper man to say to these colonies, "You shall make no laws but what I please"....Secondly. That as even the best terms, which we can expect to obtain, can amount to no more than a temporary expedient, or a kind of government by guardianship, which can last no longer than till the colonies come of age, so the general face and state of things, in the interim, will be unsettled and unpromising....
O ye that love mankind! Yet that dare oppose, not only tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression.
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776
20 comments:
Many Americans felt pushed towards independence. the american colonists were so heavily taxed that it was unbearable. the colonists also thought they were being taxed without representation (Doc. 2). these taxes were also collected by britain who even when she was 3,000 miles away still dictated the property and lives of American colonists. along with britain dictating them the colonists also had the soldiers to live with. the colonists had to quarter soldiers in their houses (Docc. 4). lastly, the colonists wanted their independence because they were tired of being dependent on Britain. also whatever the king sayd goes, even for the colonist, and as long as that went on they were unhappy.
MR. T I JUST DID IT ALL AND THEN MY COMPUTER SHUT DOWN AND NOW I HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN! uuuuuggggggghhhhhhhhhh!
Ok, here is my homework for the SECOND time...
The colonists felt that they were pushed towards independence for many reasons. First of all, they felt that they weren't allowed to make or trade anything, while the british, who could do both as much as he/she wanted, complained that the Americans were robbing them. Second, they felt that they were being taxed unfairly, without consulting any of the colonies first. This was Taxation without Representation and, according to Document 2, this was "unconstitutional." They also felt that the British had no right to tax them, or take away their charters, or quarter soldiers in their land, or do anything of that sort, as Britain was 3,000 miles away. Third, they felt that, while their relationship with Britain was beneficial to the British, it was not helpful at all to the colonists. They were tired of being dependent on Britain and wanted more freedom.
Those were the reasons that led the Americans towards independence.
THE END
There were many different reasons why the colonists pushed towards their independence. They were being taxed with out representation and the British collected all of the tax. They were pretty much just giving Britain their money (document 2). Document 1 shows that they didn't have as many rights as the American Republicans. This wasn't fair to them because they couldn't even do simple things like make a button. Lastly document 4 shows that they were tired of being dependent on Britain and being used. They also felt that Britain wasn't helpful to them. So the colonists were unhappy so they decided to become independent.
There are many reasons why the colonists felt pushed towards independence from Britain. One reason is that the colonists were being taxed without the colonies having a say in this matter. This was called TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION and the colonists felt that this was "unconstitutional", according to Document 2, and that Britain had no right to tax them. Another reason is that the colonies were not allowed to make or trade to any other country besides Britain while Britain was actually convinced that the colonies were robbing them since they couldn't make a proper living. Lastly, in Document 4, colonies were becoming tired of being dependent to Britain and slowly began developing bitter feelings towards their mother country when Parliament failed to recognize the colonies rights as an American. Colonies basically wanted to be free. Those are the reasons why colonists felt pushed towards independence!!
Many Americans felt pushed toward independence because firstly, they were being taxed without their representation. In document 4, the colonists felt that the British Parliament had no right to take away their charters, to completely destroy their councils, and to supply soldiers with food and shelter. They didn't like how Britain was treating them and felt that they didn't need to depend on the British.
--Janet
The colonists felt pushed towards independence for many different reasons. They were being taxed without representation, and the British collected all of the taxes. They felt like they were just handing over their money to Britain for no reason(there really wasn't a reason DOC2.). Also, the didn't have as many rights as the American Republicans.(DOC1.) This wasn't fair to them because they couldn't even do the simplest of things like making a button. The colonists were tired of being so dependent on Britain and being used. They felt that Britain was of no use so they decided to become independent because of their unhappiness.(DOC4.)
Amanda Brandell
Many of the colonists felt that they had to push towards their independence for various reasons. One of the major reasons was when the British ignored their right of "no taxation without representation", and began to heavily tax them. The colonists felt that this was "unconstitutional" (according to document 2), and that they should have a say in this matter. They also felt that they must strive to gain their independence because they weren't allowed to trade with any other country besides England. The British complained that the Americans were "robbing them". In the end, the Colonists decided that their relationship with their "mother country" was only beneficial to England, and not to the colonies. (document 4) They didn't feel the need to depend on Britain anymore, and decided to become independent, granting them a lot more freedom.
Many Americans felt pushed toawrds independence because they were so heavily taxed, that a lot of them rebelled so much. The colonists felt that they were being taxed without representation, and that they were just handing over theirmoney to Britian.(Document 2) They felt that they didnt have the same rights as American republicians. (Doc 1)They felt that they couldnt do the simplest things. Also, the colonists were so tired of being dependent on Britian and they felt as if they were being used. A rule was that whatever the king said goes, and the colonists were very unhappy about that. They wanted more freedom, so they decided to become independent.
Many Americans felt pushed towards independence for several reasons. First off, the colonists were so heavily taxed. Because all coloinsts felt the same about taxes and rebelled together, it created colonial unity. For example, Document 2 shows the colonists feelings on the fact that they were being taxed without representation. Furthermore, colonists also felt that they didint have the same rights as amerucan republicans did, shown in Document 1. Lastly, Document 4 shows that the colonists were getting tired of being dependent on Britain, and they were tired of feeling "used." The Americans were unhappy becfause they felt as though whatever Britain said, goes. This truly angered colonists, and led Americans towards independence.
During the time before the American Revolution, many Americans felt pushed toward independence. The Colonists felt that they were being taxed on every little thing. Everywhere they turned there were taxes. In one of the Articles of the Boston Gazette of 1765, it says " A colonist cannot make a button, a horseshoe, nor a hobnail, but some snootly ironmonger or respectable buttonmaker of England shall bawl and squall that his honor's worship is most egregiously maltreated, injured, cheated, and robbed by the rascally American republicans." Basically they felt that the British in England could do whatever they wanted to the Colonists. They also felt that the taxes were coming out of now where and no one was telling them until the last minute. That probably got them angry and ispired the idea of " no taxation without representation". So over all the colonists felt they should have a sense of independence and it was "time for a change".(Barak Obama)
-Avi Solkoff
The colonists felt pushed towards independence. American colonists were being heavily taxed by their mother country, Britain. Britain helped America out during the French and Indian war, and started texing the colonies to repay their debt. The taxation was withour representation and according to Document2, "unconstitutional." Taxation without representation means that the colonies and citizens had no say in the taxes they were forced to pay. This angered the colonists. In document 4, it discusses the Quartering Act. This act stationed British Redcoats in colonial cities and housed them in the homes of colonists. British soldiers didnt get payed that much and so, they took jobs in cities that the colonists needed. All of these actions, and the fact that Britain was trying to control the colonies pushed many Americans towards initiating a Revolution for independence.
Sophia Chronopoulos
Homework
Many Americans felt pushed towards independence. The colonists thought they were being taxed way too much. They couldn't take it anymore. They felt that being taxed was taking their rights away. The colonists weren't being given a choice about the taxing (taxation without representation).They thought it was unconstitutional.
Another reasn the Americans felt pushed towards independence was that most of the population wasn't of English decent. Since this was true, they thought the British were being selfish by taxing them. They weren't taxing the people in Britian so they didn't think the British should be taxing them.
The colonists thought that the continuation of British rule would ruin the whole continent. The king didn't care about what the colonists wanted. Since the knig didn't care about the colonists, they knew things couldn't go on peacefully.
The colonists felt like they were pushed towards independence from the mother country. Some reasons that caused this are as follows:
1. The colonists were being taxed without any representation. They felt that they had no right to tax them because England was 3,000 miles away from america.(document 2)
2. The colonists began to feel that they were being used at England's disposal. They now understood that the only reason that they were there was for the sole purpose of England. This and being taxed without any representation is what drove the colonists towards independence.
The colonists felt pushed towards independence because they were being taxed without representation and they felt like the British was just using them because they needed money. (Doc 2.) The second reason is because they were mad because they were not granted the same rights as the American Republicans. (Doc 1.) The third and final reason is they felt as if they were being treated badly and they were just being used. It says they couldn't even do things as simple as make a button themselves. (Doc 4.)
The Colonists were being pushed towards independence because taxes, "as heavy as she [America] can possibly support under", were imposed by the Parliament on America.
The Colonists also felt that since America was composed of people of different nationalities, England should not impose taxes on them, for she was not the mother country of everyone. Thomas Paine felt that England was being selfish, narrow, and ungenerous by doing so in his book, Common Sense.
sorry mr. tesler. I forgot to put the paper in the folder thingy. I'm going to type it up now. Please don't mark it late.
The Americans began to lean towards independence by all the actions the British did. In document 1, it explains how the colonies couldn't make anything because all the goods HAVE to be imported from British. The colonies felt "maltreated". Also, the British taxed the colonies to pay off the debt that the mother country have. The colonies claimed this as taxation without representation (Document 2). Also, document 4, they believed that all the tax acts was only helping the British but not at all to the colonies.
Many Americans did feel pushed towards independence. They were uncontrolably taxed on simple goods just so the mother country can get out of there debt, and they were 3000 miles away. This was called Taxation without RepresentatioN(doc.2).Also the colonists thought that there relationship with the British was helping both themselves and the British, meanwhile it was only helping the British. The colonist s didnt want to depend on Britain for everything anymore, they wanted freedom and independence.
i just got my internet fixed today [11/11]...
The American colonists felt pushed towards independence for numerous reasons. The English colonies were fearful that dependence on England would lead them to wars and battles with other European nation. This is a problem because the economy in the colonies relies on trade and many of the exports are to Europe, so this can be dangerous to profit [document 5]. In addition, there are some things that the colonies can't produce themselves, and England complains that they are being cheated by the colonists (document 1). Lastly, the colonies are being unfairly and excessively taxed by England(doc 2), causing them to take action against it. Reverend Ebenezer Baldwin said, " America: loaded with taxes from the British parliament, as heavy as she can possibly support under". He also mentions that the colonies already had expenses to pay for and they couldn't afford the additional taxation.
-Danielle C
Americans felt pushed towards independence. Many things occurred to make them feel this way. Document 1 showed that they didn't have the same rights as the American republicans. Document 2 showed that they had too many taxes where they got intolerable. They took matters into their own hands by taring and feathering tax collectors, boycotted British goods and protested. After all of this document 4 showed that they were tired of depending on the British.
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