Political psychology: theory, research, and applications

American Revolution

Motivations of the American Revolution

Some may say that the American Revolution was conceived during the earliest days of British colonization. Inspired to move to the new world for a greater degree of freedom to worship according to the way they chose or for the career, financial, or economic opportunities that life in America would bring, the colonists were encouraged to move to the new world because the differed from their British counterparts. They wanted new opportunity, new experiences, new challenges. and, in each of these areas their wishes were granted. Thus, some could argue that the American colonists' tendency toward revolution began with colonization, as ideologies began to differ across the sea. Indeed, while economic concerns are generally credited with inciting the revolution, ideological and social concerns also played a major role in causing the conflict.

Taxation without representation is the maxim that most remember in association with the American Revolution. As a symbol of the economic causes of the conflict, this statement is valid; however, it also represents the increased imperial control under which the colonist buckled. This control was both political and economic. In 1763, the English government decided to increase the number of soldiers stationed in the colonies, taxing the colonies to pay for the increase, which the colonists did not enjoy in the first place. In 1764, the English government passed the Sugar Act, which placed sales tax on sugar, along with other substances. Unlike the more relaxed taxation policies of previous years, this policy was enforced, and was used to pay off England's debt. In addition with the Stamp Act, which was passed in 1765 and imposed more taxes on the colonists, many disagreed with the taxes because they did not believe they should be taxed when they were not represented in parliament. Many also believed England was taxing its colonies far more than it was taxing its homeland population. Finally, the Boston Tea Party in 1773, which featured colonists dumping British tea into the ocean, provoking King George III's Intolerable Acts, which further infringed on colonists' rights. Thus, the economic causes of the American Revolution were not simply linked with the right to tax, but were also felt in conjunction with a general increase in power that was not acceptable to the colonists ("The American Revolution: First Phase")

This increase in imperial power was one of the primary ideological motivations of the revolution. Many colonists had come to the new world in search of a lifestyle infused with greater freedom. The colonists' ideas about government differed greatly from their English counterparts. While the English still focused on the power of the monarchy, the colonists had been holding popular assemblies since 1763 ("The American Revolution: First Phase"). They began to believe in rights that they saw the English and their stationed guards as there to violate. In addition, they believed that they, not a country across the ocean, should have the right to control or at least have a say in the political decisions that would affect their lives.