By 1765, most Americans were eager for independence from Britain.?

Question

True or False

Answer 1

Completely false! Even during the Revolution itself, historians estimate that no more than 1/3 of the populace specifically wanted independance.

Answer 2

False.

By 1765 all of the colonialists were loyal to their British Government, including British Lieutenant George Washington.

After the loss of the Seven Years War in 1765, the French government vowed to cause disruption in one of the 56 British colonies. The French began to send out 'agent provacateurs' to various British colonies to cause hatred and dissension against the British crown. The French contacted various ambitious and disillusioned British subjects for agitation and propaganda (agitprop) and to form a coalition against England.

To help defray the costs of the Seven Years War the British Parliment passed the fourth Stamp Act in 1765 placing a nominal tax and/or duty on all legal documents, permits, commercial paper, wills, and playing cards in all of her crown colonies including America.

A coalition of 'patriots' led by attorney John Adams protested this common tax as illegal and unrepresentative. Yet only 15-20% of the American colonists protested this revenue enhancement. Taxation without Representation is Tyranny was the propaganda used by a minority of colonial protesters as they agitated against their government. More and more violence broke out along coastal cities particularly in Boston and New York, plus Baltimore, Philadelphia and others.

It would seem that a certain 'coalition' used any excuse possible to agitate against the British crown, specifically taxes. The Boston Tea Party was a protest against a tax on tea which was the second tea party on the east coast, the first having just been performed in New York City.

It was the British reaction to the Boston Tea Party which directly led up to the minute men firing on the Redcoats on Lexington green in 1776, and the war was on. And thanks to French intervention in the Battle of Yorktown, the colonies won their independence from Great Britian, and John Adams always enjoyed a 'special' relationship with the French for the rest of his life.

Answer 3

False.

Answer 4

False. Very few supported full independence at such an early date.