On July 4, 1776, the American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. While this was not the first act in the American Revolution, it was a definitive act which the colonists felt was necessary for their intentions to be known. After years of unfair treatment with no representation within the British parliament, the colonists were tired of Britain’s actions against them. While often represented as a simple issue with taxes, there were far more grievances the colonists had with their treatment at the hands of the King. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, the colonists felt they were kept under military pressure in peace time, unfairly taxed, not given fair trials, not given proper representation, and much more, leading to their inevitable desire to part ways with their mother country.
Although taxes have been cited as a predominant issue between the colonies and the British government, this is because the British King’s use of taxation exemplified so many other issues. As it says in the Declaration of Independence, the King was, “imposing taxes on us without our consent” ("Declaration of Independence - Text Transcript", 2016). This is because, as it says in the Declaration as well, the King purposed to call together the governing bodies in such a way there was either no way they could make it, or they would be exhausted when they got there ("Declaration of Independence - Text Transcript", 2016). Furthermore, the King also refused to address necessary laws for the colonies to be successful. The first time the colonists stood up against the British government was concerning the Stamp Act of 1765. This tax was ironically to be used to fund keeping a British Army in America ("American colonies declare independence", 2016). The colonists protested by boycotting British products and attacking the homes of the tax collectors ("American colonies declare independence", 2016). This led to the Stamp Acts eventual repeal. Then came the Tea Act in 1773, which gave Britain a monopoly on the American tea ("American colonies declare independence", 2016). To rebel against this, some of the colonists threw a ships worth of tea into the Boston harbor, creating what is now known as the Boston Tea Party ("American colonies declare independence", 2016).
While the colonists were well within their rights to rebel against the unfair treatment they received, the King did not respond well. Instead, he set more British troops to America and forced the colonists to house them ("American colonies declare independence", 2016). This is why the Declaration of Independence states, “For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:” ("Declaration of Independence - Text Transcript", 2016). Not only were the colonists forced to house the troops, the troops had been granted immunity for any action they might take while in the colonies. This left the troops with carte blanche on their treatment of the colonists.
There is no doubt the King’s treatment of the colonies was unethical. Instead of viewing them as a true extension of his own lands, he saw them as people to use an exploit for his own purposes. His imposition of unfair taxes, purposeful lack of representation and unnecessary use of military force all are evidence of the colonists need to declare independence. Any promises from the King to improve his behavior would have been short lived, so seeking freedom was the colonists best and only recourse from being unfairly treated by their own government.
References
American colonies declare independence. (2016). HISTORY.com. Retrieved 14 June 2016, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-colonies-declare-independence
Declaration of Independence - Text Transcript. (2016). Archives.gov. Retrieved 14 June 2016,
