Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1956When addressing the Constitution one must think of the many hardships, glorious victories, and most importantly the sense of pride and patriotism that thrived and helped characterize America as an accumulative society. The constitution helped quench the colonists thirst for Independence as well as the concept that they had the biggest effect of their country’s future and that they have the natural right to chose as a nation whom shall lead their country. The constitution conceived the first authentic concept of an actual legitimate republican government and aided in expanding the Americans natural rights and freedoms. Even though such glory and triumph came out of this single document many individuals began to develop and ill will towards the constitution and were not afraid to advertize their hostility towards the document. In Charles A. Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution, Beard refutes this perception of the founding fathers and state that the leaders are driven by greed and not for the rights of the people.
In Edmund S. Morgan’s The Birth of the Republic: 1763-89, Morgan portrays America as a country that functions solely for the purpose of the people’s life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In the case of whether Beard’s animosity or Morgan’s patriotism depicts the factual and superior image of the colonists and early America the true victor of the debate would have to be Edmund s. Morgan. Morgan’s analysis is well written and seems more plausible than beards interpretation. He expands on how the colonists combated Great Britain and did not secede to their bullying or unfair taxes even under times of great weakness and disunity. He described the courage demonstrated by the patriots fighting for their colony’s independence and how thirteen miniscule colonies disputing over trivial complications can somehow unite to stand strong against one of the world’s greatest and strongest country’s and somehow finds a way to achieve their long awaited victory and independence.
The Research paper on Constitution And Law In America
Constitution's Significance with Law in America The definition of constitution is the act or process of composing, setting up or establishing (Websters Dictionary online). When I think of constitution I think of our "founding father's", the ones who established our and function. I am reminded of why they came over here. I think of the Constitution as the mission statement for the American ...
Morgan first describes the early colonists as far from united. He interprets on how they didn’t seem to cooperate well if at all, tended to fight amongst each other for little or no reason and when neighboring colonies were under the fury of the usual Native American attack there was usually no help form the neighboring English brethren. Civil wars broke out and many early states began fighting amongst each other, west vs. east and north vs. south. Colonial unity and ultimate organization seemed impossible as there was no foresight of the American Revolution that was soon to come. Morgan also describes the early colonies as a carefree and content country as well. Without the usual Native American nuisance or neighborly bickering the colonists were actually joyous, they were able to posses their own property whether rich or poor and they lived in a country that was agriculturally as well as industrially prosperous.
The colonists were privileged to be protected and included in the largest empire of the Western World yet they were free of any pestering or burdensome taxing that they’re English relatives across the pond were receiving from the mother country. It was now that Morgan foreshadows the hostility and friction between the two countries that would soon ensue. Morgan was correct in his statements about the colonies not being united and with his description of the different states turning on each other according to what side they live on. Morgan definitely hit the nail on the head when he explains how the colonists believe in themselves as lucky and safe due to their partnership with Great Britain and how they were joyous due to the fact that they were left alone with no taxes that the Englishmen that stayed in Great Britain received.
The Essay on British Colonies Colonists England
Were the colonist justified in declaring independence from England I feel that they had plenty of just cause to separate themselves. England was taxing the colonies without fair representation in Parliament, the British also took away the right to assemble, and they were using different tactics to attempt to intimidate the colonists. One of the greatest thing that angered the colonists was the ...
No one likes to pay taxes, and the English in 1763 thought they had too many:(p.15).
Morgan understood that the seven years war had crippled the proclaimed invincible empire and with the newly acquired territory of Canada and the EasternMississippi Valley the renovation of Great Britain’s Economy seemed unattainable but one man had the audacity to propose the plan that would inevitably lead to Great Britain’s downfall. George Grenville was a cunning yet straight forward man; he was Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1763 and dared to utilize the idea of taxing the colonies in the good name of Great Britain. Sir Robert Walpole dismissed this proposal many of times stating, “I will leave that for some of my successors, who may have more courage than I have”: (p.15.) but it wasn’t until Grenville came into the scene that Parliament finally decided to enforce taxes.
Grenville began working on the prevention of smuggling and even presented the stamp act. Such infamous taxes as the Molasses act, the Sugar Act, and the stamp act caused quite a fuss and showed a threat to the colonist property. Morgan explains that for the colonies, as for Englishmen, property and liberty went hand in hand and without them life was not worth living. Aside from taxing virtual representation played a key role in the hostility between the two countries. Virtual representation means that a representative is not elected by his constituents, but he resembles them in his political beliefs and goals. The colonies had virtual representation in the British government. After the stamp act was repealed it looked as if everything would go back to normal and the issues and bitterness between the two countries would soon be forgotten.
But like all great wars peace will always play preliminary to belligerence. Morgan had a fantastic view on what he believed was going on in the colonist’s heads during this time and greatly depicts how unfair and imperious Great Britain used and abused the colonies. He used great factual insight on Grenville and the infamous taxes that he would soon create but altogether he understood the hardships that came with the new taxes as well as abuse that tormented the colonist spirits and egos.
The Essay on Problems Caused By Mercantilism For The American Colonists
... the colonists faced was the Stamp Act of 1765. This act imposed a new tax on legal documents, newspapers, playing cards and dice. The Americans ... began. And three years after that, a new act arose. Parliament passed the Tea Act in an attempt to save the East India ... enforced were often protested and then repealed. Soon after, the colonies broke free from Britain's rule, and no longer had to ...
Morgan explains that the sons of liberty had nothing to do with the repeal of the stamp act and that Great Britain had more to do with repealing the acts than America. Two separate factions led by William Pitt and Marquis Rockingham had most to do with the repeal. Pitt was a masterful genius and was very popular not only in England but also in America. And even though he was still greatly renowned as a war hero he only possessed a minuscule amount of followers. He stated that “taxation is no part of the governing or legislative power”: (p.30).
He was even delighted upon hearing of the Americans resistance towards Great Britain. Rockingham was an old feeble man who led a different group called Old Whigs.
His group contained more followers than that of Pitts and even for a moment had the king on his side. On February 13, 1776 Franklin stood before the House of Commons and answered numerous questions correctly and made his point heard without any problems. He stated that there were no problems with taxes on trade but with the internal taxes. Franklins standing before the House of Commons helped a lot but it wasn’t until the Declaratory act that the act was repealed. Pitt was the original creator of the declaratory act but it wasn’t until Rockingham drafted and created the document that it actually got exposure. It clearly stated that Parliament had the right to make laws for the colonies in all matters. So even though it ended the stamp act it pretty much made things even worse. After the stamp act was repealed a new act was created and passed during the Grenville administration.
It was known as the quartering acts and it stated that colonists had to feed, house, and pay for stationed within the colonies. Once Charles Townshend became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1767, he decided to create another series of revenue measures that taxed quasi-luxury items imported into the colonies, including paper, lead, tea, and paint. The colonial reaction was outrage and they instituted another movement to stop importing British goods. A key writer during this time of need was John Dickinson who drafted a declaration of colonial rights and grievances, and also wrote the series of “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania” in 1767 to protest the Townshend Acts.
The Essay on British colonization of America
... led to the diversity found in the British settlements in America. More than simply for religious freedom, economics ... Georgia, a colony created by an act of the English Parliament in 1732" (92), and by 1770 ... of the Indians "unused" lands. Soon the colonists were forcing their religion on nearby Indian tribes ... The Puritans may have emigrated to North American in order to practice Christianity, but they ...
Many members of parliament believed it was time to teach America a lesson and by September they sent two factions of soldiers to Boston with two more coming behind. Morgan’s was biased when he writes “the commissioners, who descended in Boston November 1767, bore no resemblance to saints. They were a rapacious band of bureaucrats who brought to their task an irrepressible greed and a vindictive malice that could not fail to aggravate the antagonism not only against themselves but also against the parliament that sent them”: (p.37) But even though it was a totally biased statement it was true. They were greedy and were the exact opposite of saints. They were crooks.
Even though Americans held a grudge with the monarchy and neglected most of the taxes issued by them they still believed that they were true loyal Englishmen and remained loyal to the monarchy. They have created a distinguished right of knowledge between taxation with legislation and the more the Americans understood and followed the concept the more Parliament members wanted to teach the colonists a lesson stating that Americans would never have a say in how parliament should and would use their powers. But not all of Parliament was negative towards the Americans beliefs. William Pitt was the only member in Parliament that adopted the view of the Americans. As tension grew between the two countries Morgan describes the scene beginning with a couple of men pelting the soldiers of the twenty-ninth Regiment with nothing more than a couple of snowballs as the men responsible for the soldiers arrival peered through the window carelessly watching as what later would be known as Boston’s unforgettable Massacre which later encouraged the duress of colonists to British authority economically. Eight Men were injured, two or them mortally and Three Bostonians lay dead.
The unforgettable Boston Massacre encouraged the force of colonists to British authority economically. These started as groups of private citizens in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York who, in 1763, began circulating information about opposition to British trade measures. The Committee of Correspondence was the first government-organized committee and appeared in Massachusetts in 1764. Other colonies created their own committees in order to exchange information and organize protests to British trade regulations. The Committees became particularly active following the Gaspee Incident. The committee of Correspondence was created to prepare a statement of inalienable rights of Americans. The Americans afterwards were prepared to object the Parliament’s next move already. The Boston Tea Party happened after a band of angry colonists decided to dump loads of tea that governor Hutchinson was attempting to transport into the harbor due to the governor’s decision to not turn back and leave Boston harbor.
The Essay on Boston Tea Party British America American
Boston Tea Party - by m. ems The Boston Tea Party is considered to be the boiling point in a series of events leading up to the revolutionary war against the British. When a group of devout colonists, boarded British tea ships and unloaded their cargo into the Boston harbor, America would be changed forever. What was, at first, seen as an act of mischievous rebellion, turned out to be one of the ...
This infuriated Parliament and caused them to pass the Coercive Acts. The First Continental Congress was the aftereffects of the violent and disrupting commotion that took place in Lexington and Concord. MorganStriving for equal rights, colonists changed their attitude towards their relationship between Britain and America from 1774-1776. The British were astonished at the remarkable defiance of the colonists toward the Acts implemented by the Parliament and the recalcitrant nature of the colonies altogether. Some men like Galloway believed that entire British Empire must be restructured. The Second Continental Congress declared war on Britain and selected George Washington as military commander because of his noble and determined character.
The Olive Branch Petition aimed at the reconciliation between British and American. In Common Sense, Thomas Paine wrote how the monarchy was flawed and that King George was worse than both the Parliament and the ministers. He said that nothing but misery has been derived from the King’s reign. The only reasonable solution was to overthrow or separate from this monarchy and establish a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Locke said that men are born free, equal, and independent, but the nefarious government can turn people cynical. The Enlightenment brought a new perspective to America.
However, the Battle of Bunker Hill showed that American victory was not unattainable, giving confidence to the Founding Fathers. The only conspicuous failure was the Canadian expedition. Many countrymen were devoted to the Revolutionary cause to prevent British people from attacking their homes. These men would hide in their homes; when the British army passed by, they would ambush them. Washington was badly beaten in the Battle of Long Island by General Howe because of his lack of experience and military strategic knowledge. The mediocre generals British sent out to subjugate colonists and the talent and capacity to learn of Washington ensured that a colonial victory would ensue. The defeat of General Burgoyne in the battle of Saratoga was a landmark in the American Revolution. The pivotal victory would allow colonists to profess their independence as well as gain a formal alliance with France. Vergennes eventually convinced Spain to ally with France. The assistance of these countries led to an American victory and the Treaty of Paris gave colonists many benefits, most importantly: independence.
The Essay on Native American Europeans America Million
Melting Pot of AmericaMigrationsAs Population grew during the Paleolithic period, people wanted more space to live a roam about. Since they didn't have a stable place to live, they were always moving and finding better places. Evidence indicates that the first peoples to migrate into America, coming from northeastern Siberia into Alaska (the Bering Straits), were carrying stone tools during ...
The Declaration of Independence-July 4, 1776: most Americans believed that independence was not mandatory, but economic freedom was. Colonists established a republic because they did not like the corrupt monarchy (Thomas Paine’s Common Sense).
They still admired some parts of the British Constitution and thus integrated several parts into their own. The only obstacle was to design a government that held similar values to the British constitution, but with additional safeguards to preclude federal government from exploiting their power over the people. Toleration of inequalities fluctuated among people of different virtues, but reform transpired showing how the Americans endeavored to do consummate work to achieve their ideals. Locke’s philosophy undergirded American ethics and the development of a righteous Constitution. Old customs including primogeniture and entail were abolished since they had no place in the new country.
Nationalism is known as the greatest parent of the revolutions and has spread throughout the world, from Africa to Asia and even in Europe. Feelings of Nationalism strengthen the colonist’s ego as well as unite many of them in a natural and secure manner. Morgan explains that we were all pretty much a united nation even before we were declared a nation in 1776. He explains that most of the Colonists shared the same language which was English of course and they also shared the same prominent religion which was protestant. Morgan adds a statement made by Joseph Warren of Massachusetts who states that the stamp act accomplished what no other colonist could ever accomplish. It united America and proved that the British were not immortal and that the colonists were more then a couple of bickering farmers. So in a way it was a huge upset for Great Britain and an even bigger gain for America.
After Britain, America’s primary source of income, was no longer there America had to open up foreign trade with other countries but this time by themselves and not alongside the mother country. The Article of Confederations was later created but it did not last very long as it was replace by the Constitution. Because of the urgency, most colonies agreed to first ratify the Article before taking a look at it. Maryland denied affiliation with the article but later ratified the articles due to the French ambassador stating that no protection could come from there navy unless the article was ratified in the colony. After Maryland accepted the article the Confederation was formally announced. The Newly accepted Article of Confederation would soon be dreaded and found insufficient.
The time that the Americans as well as the U.S. were under the authority of the feeble and odious Articles of Confederation is known as The Critical Period. But not only negative outcomes came from the articles. The Northwest Ordinance on the other hand was a great success and accomplishment of the articles of confederation for America due to the fact that the government set up the framework of a government for the Northwest territory, provided that the Territory would be divided into 3 to 5 states, outlawed slavery in the Territory, and set 60,000 as the minimum population for statehood. Prohibition of slavery supported by Jeffersonians and New Englanders failed to produce any beneficial concrete results. What was needed was foreign trade, but the Articles of Confederation did not grant this right. Many other deficiencies manifest in the Articles of Confederation. Many men shook their head over Daniel Shay’s and talked about the greatness that would come from a monarchy or dictatorship but they, as well as the rest of America, were blind to notice that shays would soon be one of the greatest revolutionary leaders of his time.
The low point of the Critical period took place during Shay’s Rebellion and John Jay’s proposed treaty with Spain. The year had reached its lowest point for trade and Virginia stepped up to try and salvage what was left of the dwindling nation headed downward and a meeting was decided and was to attended in Annapolis, Maryland on September 1786. Delegates from New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania arrived in Annapolis and amongst the delegates included three of the most intellectual and influential men in American history. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Dickinson. Charles Beard published An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States which questions the real true motives of America’s big whigs.
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