King James 1 of England approved chatters to the London Company and the Plymouth Company allowing them to establish a permanent settlement in America in 1606 (Richter 138). The colonies of the New England that were acquired for religious beliefs included Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Other regions were colonized for trade and economic expansion (Charkins et al. 26).
The Americans lost their land, and dignity hence, there was a need for revolution to attain their pride. Several ideas are encouraging Americans to revolt against England and they include natural rights, property rights, self-determination, republicanism, individualism, liberalism, and defense against corruption. Americans want to develop a new country that would lead to social and political identity. Although the loyalist proposes that the American colonies were productive under the protection of the English government, patriots encourage people to fight for their liberty and republicans. The purpose of the paper is to explain the argument of encouraging people to revolt against England.
Economic policy
The England Empire operates all trade activities under a mercantile system, prohibiting trade with other territories. America cannot trade its farm produce with other empires such as France, Spain, and Germany. England uses the system to enrich its government and merchants. Under the mercantile system, the government partners with British merchants to promote political power and wealth by excluding other empires. Americans should revolt against the mercantilist policies because it deprives them of the opportunity for economic expansion (Richter 188). The government protects the merchants against the competitions from other countries. Moreover, the government removes trade barriers, complex regulations, and provided subsidies to domestic companies to maximize exports. To revolt against the policy, Americans can use smuggling to obtain goods from Dutch, French, and Spanish. Americans cannot obtain gold and silver because the government of England sends them back to the mother country.
The government spends most of the revenue to finance a Royal Navy that was used to protect the colonies. The navy also threatens the security of other empires by seizing them to enrich the motherland (Charkins et al. 28). Britain has also established laws that blocked international trade with Spanish, French, and Dutch. They include the Navigation Acts and Americans should avoid them to expand their economy. However, they should demand the officials to stop search and seizure of commodities that have been imported or exported to other empires. The Wits of assistance are violating the natural rights of the colonist’s ad should be abolished. The legislation on external trade is affecting the American economic growth and development; hence the people should revolt against them.
The British legislatures are convinced that applying new and old laws on their colonies was the only way to benefit. These laws harmed North America politics because these laws violated their capacity to make their policies. The two major laws include the Sugar Act and the Storm Act. The Sugar Act levied high duties of six pence per gallon on molasses. This is to raise more funds to fund the British war and North America is among the most producing country. On the other hand, the Stamp Act required North America to pay tax to buy printed items.
Taxation
England has imposed a heavy tax on the colonies because it wanted to raise money to finance the debt it had accumulated following the French war. The taxes include the Sugar Act (1764), Currency Act (1764), Stamp Act (1765), and Townshend Acts (1767) (Charkins et al. 26). The Americans should reject paying the numerous taxes because the Parliament formulated these legislations without involving the Americans. The Americans should not allow colonist’s parliament to bypass their laws by imposing taxes without involving them. They are not represented in the parliament; hence they could not negotiate the percentage and number of taxes that will not oppress them. There are various methods the Americans can use to revolt against taxation for instance protests, and tax evasion. Another reason why Americans should not pay the imposed taxes is that the British parliament has refused to nominate some representatives. The enactment of the Tea Act (1773) should escalate discontentment between the colonies and British policies. The best method of refuting the tea tax is boycott by dumping tea on water or the ground. The farmers may also refrain from picking tea and engage in other activities.
Liberalism
According to Holifield the colonization of the Americans is a violation of natural rights (194). All humans are created at liberty and the government controlling them should obtain their concept. The Americans are equally free as the Europeans if the rights by creation and quality by creation are applied (Holifield 194). Therefore England needed an independent consent from the Americans before governing them. The officials from England have no rights to rule and colonize free people, hence the Americans should revolt. In the application of social contract, many patriots should persist on their goal of overthrowing the colonists because they have violated their natural rights. Moreover, the Europeans have also violated the Americans rights of Englishmen. The intolerable Acts should increase tension because it restricts self-government in Massachusetts. The parliament of England passed the laws that permitted military leaders to obtain colonial homes to host soldiers without the consent of the civilians. The Americans are forced to surrender their homes to soldiers and at times provide food. The legislations also annulled colonial rights to hold trials in cases involving crown officials and soldiers. The cases for special individuals are held in England, denying justice to the Americans. The parliament of England commissioned Thomas Gage to head the British forces in North America and serve as Massachusetts’ colony Governor. The people of Massachusetts should revolt against England because they violate their freedom.
Republicanism
Americans must fight against England to embrace their republican values (Bailyn 125). The colonists are introducing vices such as political corruption and aristocracy. Americans believe in the public good that is greater than private interests in the government. Every individual must be granted equal opportunities to all citizens for the common wellbeing and economic development. Women should be mindful of the teachings and vices their children will inherit from the colonists. The African slaves should join the American army in the coming revolution to fight for their freedom.
Conclusion
The colonies of England should revolt because they are subjected to economic policies that limited economic growth. Moreover, their liberty for self-government homes has been taken by colonial officials. The English government has also imposed several laws and policies to control and benefit from the colonies, for instance, tax policies such as the sugar Act of 1764, Currency Act of 1764, and the Townshend Acts of 1767. The Americans must revolt against England to preserve their way of life, protect their territorial integrity, and evade political cooptation.
Works Cited
Bailyn, Bernard. The ideological origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press, 2017. 125-137
Holifield, E. Brooks. “Thomas s. Kidd God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution. New York: Basic Books. 2010. Pp. vi, 298. $26.95.” (2012): 194-195.
Charkins, Jim, Michelle Herczog, and Thomas Herman. “Breaking Down the Silos: The American Revolution-A Story Well Told.” Social Studies Review 58 (2019): 25-42.
Richter, Daniel. Before the Revolution : America’s ancient pasts. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap Press.(2011): 130-262