Reason 4: The Great Awakening awakened old cultural reminders of the reasons that the Puritans had left England, and the state-run Church of England, to found the colonies long ago.
Reason 5: England was making 'noise' about abolishing the slave trade, which the Southern colonists were profoundly opposed to, as they believed this would mark the end of their agriculturally-based way of life.
Reason 6: The rise of individualism, inspired partly by the Awakening and also the increased popularity of the philosophy of John Locke, was another contribution to the growing sense of discontent amongst the colonists.
All of these factors contributed to the rebellion. However, the old cliche about the drive of 'no taxation without representation' continues to be valid. Of all of the reasons, Reason 3 seems to be the driving factor, because it struck at the heart of conflicts over American government as well...
The colonies thought that the taxes were prohibitive, and that they were being exploited to pay for King George III's failing government. The British government was unable to understand how this was valid, given that the colonies required their military protection. Americans were outraged that they could not express their displeasure in a meaningful fashion, in a way that would have a legislative impact in Parliament. The taxes affected their lives, yet they had no voice. This seemed hypocritical, given that England was the nation that had given birth to the philosophy of John Locke and other voices of liberty in its past, and the institution of Parliament was supposed to keep totalitarian power in check -- which it seemed increasingly unable to do, either to protect the colonies' interests or even those of the British populace, who were also being overtaxed.
All six reasons draw from My…
