Reasons for the American Revolution and the Arguments Made by the Colonists After 1763

American Revolution after 1763

There are several factors leading to the American Revolution. During the 18th century, the British colonists in North America established themselves as a new nation. Increasingly, they had begun to see themselves as American rather than British. This new consciousness contributed to increasing resentment of any British attempts at control and influence in America. British action deemed unfair by American colonies, such as taxes on tea and sugar, contributed significantly to this problem.

Exacerbated American Grievances after 1763

The Stamp Act is one of the greatest British thorns in the American side when 1766 arrived (Benjamin Franklin Testifies Against the Stamp Act, p. 3). The problem was that this tax had to be paid by order of a Parliament where the colonials were not specifically represented. Franklin in fact threatens the British with a loss of respect and "affection" from the colonials if this Act were not repealed (p. 5). He also displays the American pride in self-sufficiency when he explains that everything provided by the British can also be produced within American borders, or otherwise be done without, if necessary (p. 6).

Another tax problem involved tea. The colonials resented British attempts at indirectly taxing tea, and the infamous Boston Tea Party was the result of this resentment (Philadelphia Threatens Tea Men (1773), p. 7). Philadelphia went as far as turning away tea ships from London, and quite serious threats were made on occasion (p. 8).

The Sugar Act furthermore served to exacerbate the problem of resentment and of the general national American feeling that the British did not have any further rights to impose taxes or restrictions upon them (The American Nation, p. 104).

The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War, from 1758-1760 in truth set the stage for increased American resentment against the British, and what they saw as British-imposed issues. These issues, according to colonial reasoning, had no place among the American people. The problem created by this war is that the America of 1763 was much larger than that of 1754. Hence it would also cost more to maintain, which is the reason for the many tax increases (The American Nation, p. 101).

A further problem was the increased complexity of the American environment and nation. The Ohio Valley, won during the French and Indian War, expanded the American land, as well as the American drive to increase its dominion. The years 1775 and 1776, during which the American Revolution reached its height, were thus an accumulation not only of resentment, but also of the positive drive to be an independent American nation, free to expand and build according to its own concept of human rights.

The Revolution: 1775-17776

The American right to produce all the country could from the resources at its disposal was voiced by Adam Smith (Adam Smith Opposes Mercantilism (1776), p. 2). Indeed, this emphasis on the rights of the American people is the beginning of a long struggle for everybody within the American borders to "be all that they can be."

And indeed, even the slave trade was opposed at this early stage, although with little success (The Abortive Slave Trade Indictment (1776), p. 13). The slave trade was supported by the British as a profitable business. In this the British were supported by the South, who relied heavily on the slave trade.

The Americans however were more concerned with their independence from the British than the finer points of human rights within their own borders. Thomas Paine therefore arrived on the scene just at the correct moment. Thomas Paine was to show through a pamphlet he entitled "Common Sense" that the British were not meant to rule America in the great scheme of things (Thomas Paine Talks Common Sense (1776), p. 10). Paine reminded the American people that the time had arrived to claim their own independence.