American Independence-How did it happen?

Question

Please, explain how the colonists went from a rather conservative response to the Stamp Act of 1764 to the radical position adopted by the Declaration of Independence. Please, aslo trace out the policies, events, and ideas between 1763 and 1776 that led to this radicalization of American attitudes and allowed the colonies to unite against England. Im not a history and im having problems organizing these historical events. Please help. I glady accept long and extent answers. Thank you very much.

Ill put it in a simpler way:

1. how did the colonists went from a rather conservative response to the Stamp Act of 1764 to the radical position adopted by the Declaration of Independence?

2. What important policies, events, and/or ideas between 1763 and 1776 led to and allowed the colonies to unite against England-probalby Thomas Paine had some role here?

Answer 1

There were more than just the Stamp act that had the colonists willing to turn against the British. The French and Indian Wars had just concluded. The agreement made by the British with the Indians stated the Colonists could not settle west of the Allegheny Mountains though some already owned land there. (This agreement was broken by the British). There was also the taxes on Paper goods, Tea taxes, and the Quartering Act.

When the King issued the Sedition Acts and made laws against any company trading with the colonists, the colonists organized groups like the Sons of Liberty and Minutemen to stand against this oppression.

The Boston Massacre took place in 1770 in which colonists and British fought while the British were trying to break up a riot. 5 Colonists were killed. Of the many colonists arrested, many were set free or found guilty because they were tried by other colonists.

In 1775, the first battles of the Revolution started with Lexington and Concord, Fort Ticonderoga, and the first "major Battle" being the Battle of Bunker Hill. Ironically most of the BAttle of Bunker Hill was acually fought on Breed's Hill when American Soldiers accidently went up Breed Hill instead of Bunker Hill. This is either because of the darkness kept them from seeing where they were going , inacurate maps or as some believe, many of the soldiers were unruly and drank a great deal and Breed''s Hill looked easier to climb. Regardless of the reason, it turned out to be good for the colonists. The reason this battle was so important is it is the first time the British realized the colonists would fight instead of running. Over 1,000 British were killed in this Battle and about 400 colonists. Though the British finally took the hill because the colonists retreated after running out of Ammo, a few days later, forces led by General George Washington took the hill back.

Answer 2

First off the Stamp Act was the first volley. Parliament taxed the colonies more and more. They gave them nothing back, that was the second volley. When the British soldiers could go into anyone's home, steal food, and take it over, that was the third volley.

Then a bunch of rich men got together to debate how to handle Britain. There was a small riot in Boston. Which became the Battle of Bunker Hill (which technically was a nothing. 5 colonists killed and lasted less then 10 minutes). But that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Those rich men could not stand the taxes, the loss of the freedoms that they had in England, and no self rule. Therefore, the Declaration of Independence was written. Less than a year later, war broke out and the rest is history.

On a side note, at the beginning only 15% of the colonists wanted to separate from Britian. More people went to Canada at that time, relatively speaking, then any time in its history.

Answer 3

In short: the colonists got weary of paying King George a "tithe" or a part, a large part, of everything they made or grew, bought, sold, to the King, it was about two thirds.

If a caner made three cane chairs, two went to King George or a monetarily part. The same with the grain from the fields. And, the colonists were forced to feed so many of the British soldiers above and beyond their own families. This and, bunk them.

It reached a line and they said simply "no more' and had a tea party in Boston harbor. The rest is history.

Answer 4

Your question is a good one, but you attempt to accomplish too much with one simple question.

Long answers won't do. If you want to know the history then go to the library and read.

The short answer is revolution.

The colonies revolted against a foreign king, an unfair tax system and the idea that they were not in charge of their own destiny.

In other words they woke up.