Introduction to American Politics – Reasons for Rebellion and Revolution

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Question

Q: Reasons for Rebellion and Revolution:

What were the reasons for the colonists’ rebellion and revolution against the British? Why did it happen? Could it have been avoided by the British, do you think?

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Britain needed money to pay for its war debts. The king and parliament believed they had the right to tax colonies. The British wanted taxes to be paid by the colonies for the French and Indian war. The British passed these laws because of the French and Indian war. The British had a huge amount of money to pay. According to the Library of Congress ” Many colonists objected to the presence of a ” standing army” in the colonies. Many objected to being required to provide housing and supplies, which looked like another attempt to tax them without their consent, even though disguised.” ( Library of Congress)

The colonies were profitable for Britain, but they were lost in defending Britain’s territory. According to Understanding American Politics,” They wanted the colonies to pay a large share of defense expenses and developed a series of tax and military policies.”( Bressler/ Friedrich et al p. 3, 2020). The British leaders wanted more control over colonies.

There was a resolution by Richard Henry Lee, he stated, ” The colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”(Understanding American Politics p.4, 2020). If the Colonies took part in voting for members of Parliament in England they might have felt different. I think the colonies should have been independent from the start and this would have prevented this rebellion.

works cited

Bresler/ Friedrich et al. ” Understanding American Politics.” 2020

” British Reforms and Colonial Resistence, 1767-1772. Library of Congress