Introduction
For many years in its early history, the United States of America was colonially reliant on Great Britain. One of the period’s pertinent and contentious issues is the nature of political government in the North American colonies, particularly the emergence of political democracy. The colonists’ struggle began with the Stamp Act and was not merely a fight for justice but for independence from the British authorities.
Legal Documents Related to the Revolution
The Stamp Act required that several printed items in the colonies be printed on London-produced stamp paper and imposed a direct tax on the British colonies in America. The Stamp Act Congress, which met in New York, was the first significant coordinated colonial reaction; it is possible that the Boston Massacre was the second instance (Carp 15).
A street fight broke out in Boston on March 5, 1770, involving locals and British soldiers (Erkkila 351). The Townshend Acts mandated that colonists pay import duties on various consumer goods imported from Britain (Bellot 109). The Boston Tea Party became a catalyst for the American War of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence of the United States is a vital document that played a critical part in the country’s foundation. On June 7, Virginian Richard Henry Lee delivered a resolution of independence for the colonies to the Continental Congress (Willing 653).
The Role of the Sons of Liberty
The radical colonists launched an anti-English campaign, founding their groups known as the Sons of Liberty. J. Adams, one of the United States’ founding fathers, was among the Sons of Liberty leaders (Willing 653). They effectively hindered the implementation of the Stamp Act.
Although there were patriots of Britain, they did not like this action, and it served to change their opinions. Loyalists, the supporters of Britain, did not support the taxes and viewed more colonial power as the solution to the situation (Park 65). These events played an important role in society and shaped opinions about the problem.
Conclusion
Hence, beginning with the Stamp Act, the colonists struggled not only to achieve justice but also to gain independence from British rule. The Stamp Act levied a direct levy on the British colonies in America and mandated that various printed objects in the colonies be printed on stamp paper made in London. A key document that was instrumental in the founding of the United States is the Declaration of Independence.
Works Cited
Bellot, Leland J. “5.” The Dye Is Cast & More Mischief Will Follow”: Conflicts of Interest & the Coming of the American Revolution, 1770-1775.” William Knox. University of Texas Press, 2021, pp.106-139.
Carp, Benjamin L. The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution. YALE University Press, 2023.
Erkkila, Betsy. “Phillis Wheatley on the Streets of Revolutionary Boston and in the Atlantic World.” Early American Literature, vol. 56, no. 2, 2021, pp.351-372.
Park, Benjamin E. A Companion to American Religious History. United Kingdom: Wiley, 2021.
Willing, Richard. “Of life, liberty and the pursuit of ‘All persons found lurking within our lines’: the Continental Congress’ Committee on Spies and the path to American independence.” Intelligence and National Security, vol. 37, no. 5, 2022, pp.651-666. Web.