American War of Independence: 1776

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American revolution was a political revolution. Thirteen British colonies revolted against their home-land in the North America and obtained their own freedom.

Let’s study in details about American War of Independence.

Discovery of New Land:

The Continent of America was separated from the world since a number of centuries together due to the Atlantic Ocean in the East and the Pacific Ocean in the West. Due to the efforts of the European land. Christopher Columbus, John Cabet and Amerigo Vespucci in the 15^th century discovered the North, East and Middle parts of the American continent for the first time.

Groups of people from Spain, England, France, Netherland, Portugal and other Countries of Europe rushed the America’s newly discovered land to establish their colonies. From 1606 A.D. to 1732 A.D. England established 13 colonies on the Eastern Coastal region of America. Virginia was their first and main colony.

Different kinds of people were established or settled in the American colonies – farmers without land, traders, citizens with desire to live free life people who are exhausted due to religious and political tyranny rushed to America to settle their itself.

The British Colonies in America:

People who came from England to America formed their own colonies. In the beginning there were many problems before the colonies, but the problems were solved on the local level. The Red Indians America’s native people started their revolts, other neighboring English colony’s s border-line. Various deals finalized regarding agriculture and trading sector. Suitable administrative system was to be setup for the colonies. The organizations formed and ruled out Tax system and other bills and laws, after their mutual discussions with representatives. The colonists were worried to take benefit of the natural resources of America. They never liked other’s restrictions. England’s – motherland’s control over the colonists was very nominal in the beginning.

Restrictions over the Activities of the Colonists

England and France had a war on the problem of the ownership of Ohio and the North American states. The Seven Years War’ between 1756 A.D. to 1763 A.D. was fought between England and France. This war ended under the ‘Paris Treaty’. England gained Canada and Appalcion mountain along with the territorial region of the Mississippi river, from France. England took decision to keep the above-mentioned region reserved for hunting for the Red Indians temporary. Those colonists, desiring to advance beyond West of the Appalcian mountain, were restricted, consequently many of the colonists were angry. France was defeated in the “Seven Year War” so the colonists became fearless of their attack on them, in the same way they had no need of the protection and guidance by England. The colonist developed feeling that they became independent for their own administration. Due to these reasons, the colonists became ready to revolt.

New Taxes and other Restrictions:

England became financially chaotic due to the “Seven Year War” the British Parliament in 1764 A.D. for compensating the losses in the war from the colonists, passed the bill named ‘Sugar Act’. Sugar, silk, coffee, alcohol etc. were charged taxes under this Act while importing into America. Severe restrictions were imposed upon toll. So, the commercial sector people were fearful in the colonies due to this Act.

The 1765 Stamp Act was also proved to be very strict and harsh. By this Act, the tax was strictly charged upon newspaper, court-stamp papers, insurance agreements, documents of the ships faring to and fro, licenses and the playing cards too. Due to intensive tax-imposing by the British Parliament on the Colony-people, there was a huge tide of anger in America. Under the name ‘Sons of Liberty’, the colonists formed organization and rejected disdainfully the ‘Stamp Act’ by criticizing very severely. The British goods boycott breach of law activities in the colonies began. The Colonists’ Protest was so powerful that the British Parliament had to cancel the Stamp Act.

In 1765 Currency Act, Belating Act, etc. such tyrannical acts were imposed on the colonies. Passing the Declaratory Act in 1767, England threatened the colonies that the British Parliament has rights to form laws and impose unlimited rights over them. On the contrary, the colonists responded insisting that imposing tax on them means denying their rights to individual freedom or on their representatives. “It’s a great tyranny to impose tax without the consent of their representatives said by James Otis, the Pleader. The colonists’ slogan was “No Taxation Without Representation”. In 1767, the British Parliament passed the ‘Town Shend Act’ by which they imposed tax on the import of tea, sugar, paper, color, lead, etc. Again, the colonists protested, agitated and the British Parliament had to bend and surrender. The East India Company of England was in financial crisis. In order to save the Company, England passed one more act in 1773 and according to this act, the East India Company has monopoly in trading tea with America. But the Americans boycott on tea, and instead of tea-drinking, coffee- drinking in America has become the indication of patriotism. This event is known as the ‘Boston- Tea-Party’.

Boston Tea-Party:

Boston Tea-Party is the tentative reason for the American War of Independence. The colonists were severely discontented due to unjustifiable tax-imposing on tea. Three ships full of tea-boxes were due to arrive to the port of Boston. The Ship ‘Dark Mouth’ was set at the port on 27^th November, 1773. The colonists asked the ship to go back but this demand was rejected, so 8000 Red Indians were gathered at ‘Old South Church’. By making well-disciplined groups, the people embarked the ship in the night. The same night 342 tea-boxes were thrown into the seawater. The cost of the tea was calculated to be 18,000 pounds. This happened on 16^th December 1773. In the American history, this is known as ‘Boston Tea Party’ Unless tax on tea is paid, the British Government declared that the port of Boston would be closed for trading, consequently discontent arose terrible and finally American war of Independence was declared due to the ‘Boston Tea Party’.

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Shadow of War:

England had sent some of the troops to America. New-York was its central place of Military force was also called at Boston. Prime point of their tension was the presence of the British soldiers. According to England, the British Military force was sent to America in order to protect the lines of control, but the colonists presumed that England wanted to keep in control over them by sending the force to America. By the appearance and the dressing of the soldiers of England, the colonist called them ‘Red Coats’. There were conflicts between the British soldiers and the colonists regularly. At Boston, on 5^th March, 1770, five colonists were killed in such conflicts by the British soldiers. It is named as the ‘Boston Assassination’.

Delegate’s Conferences of Colonists:

The Colonists were united against the tyrannical rule imposing taxes as well as unjustifiable restrictions by England on them. The feeling of breaking of war very soon arose among the colonists, against the British rule. They realized that there is need to act unitedly. Under the presidentship of Benjamin Franklin, the first conference was called for all the colonies at Philadelphia on 5^th September, 1774. This conference is recognized as the First Philadelphia Congress. The representatives gathered there made slogan ‘Life, Liberty and Property’ are our birth rights. The colonists were appealed to prepare themselves with weapons by erecting their own troops. England’s Emperor George III was requested to cancel the unjust tax on the colonists but the emperor denied their request. He ordered his military to break their revolt, consequently the conflict rose and there was a clash between the British soldiers and the colonists at Lockington and American war of Liberty started to take place.

On 10^th May, 1775, the second conference at Philadelphia was held under the presidentship of John Hankok. George Washington was appointed as the Army General of organized troops of soldiers. The colonies were instructed to be alert and aware for the battle. The president of this conference John Hankok declared that “Our goal is justifiable and we are totally united,” not as the live slaves but we would prefer to die as free- mankind.” Lastly, England declared war against thirteen colonies on 23^rd August, 1776 on 4^th July, 1774 the colonists held third conference at Philadelphia. In this conference, ‘Freedom Manifesto’ was declared. All the relation with England were curtailed.

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Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson made draft of American Manifesto. It was as follow:

“These truths are self-evident, all are equal right from birth, life freedom and happiness in life are their own rights given by God and the Government rule prevails only to protect and prevent all such rights.”

For that reason, meeting at Paris was held in 1783 for truce-agreement. After signing the truce- agreement, America was declared to be the free nation consequently United States of America (USA) came into existence.

Effects of the War of Independence:

It was for the first time in the history of the world that a democratic government in the form of United States came into being. George Washington took an Oath as the first President of USA. The American war of Liberty proved that every man has right to revolt against injustice and right to freedom.

Many wars were fought for the original rights of human-being in the world. Many countries and nations followed the ideal of the written constitution of America. A number of nations in the world took inspiration form the American war of freedom to establish democracy. England had to lose 13 colonies and that was a great blow to them. England had to follow liberal policy regarding the colonies. The French economy became very critical due to the participation in the American War of Independence.

The French warriors who took part in the American War of Independence, made propaganda of democratic thoughts and importance of democracy after returning homeland and hence created background for the French Revolution in 1789. The French Revolution is supposed to be the issue of American Political Revolution. This American Revolution established ever lasting impact on the world-history.

George Washington:

George Washington was a great landlord of Virginia. He had taken active part in the Seven Year War as well as the wars with French and the Red Indians. He was appointed as the chief of Army of the colony’s composite troops. He was the leader of the American War of Independence, and become the first President of USA. He politely denied to become President of USA third time after becoming the same for two times consecutively. He developed Judiciary and economic system of America, a powerful country in the world.

Thomas Penn and Impact of His Writings

Thomas Penn, the revolutionary thinker of England expressed his revolutionary thoughts in his book’s ‘Common sense’ and ‘Rights of Man’. He expressed that king’s power is not Godly. The King becomes dictator when there is unlimited power in his hand. Thomas Penn was always against of the rule of a king and his kingdom. King is a crafty man with crown, he always asserted.

Thomas Penn was the first thinker in the world asserting about human rights in the world- history. He made scientific interpretation of human rights in his book. ‘Rights of Man’. He said that the origin of human rights in the Nature and people should form a government to protect human rights. There should not be monopoly to form government because in doing so there in no need of heredity. People who loved freedom, took inspiration from this book.

Work of some Great Thinkers:

The thinkers played a great role in performing American Revolution. John Lock, Milton, Thomas Penn of England, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau of France, Samuel, Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, etc. of America made great impact on the people of America by asserting natural rights of mankind and freedom of man and created a great background to the American War of Independence.

Note:

Italian Sailor Amerigo Vespucci discovered America in 16^th
The Seven Year War Fought between England and France. France was defeated. The war ended with Paris-Treaty.
First conference of the colonies at
George Washington appointed as the Military General of composite Troops at the Second Conference at Philadelphia.
Manifesto of American War of Liberty was declared by Thomas Jefferson at the Philadelphia colonies of third conference.
Lord Caranwallis of Britain surrendered at York town and the American war of Liberty ended.
America’s United States of America came into being independently.
George Washington America’s First President.
Thomas Penn wrote ‘Common Sense’ and ‘Right of Man.’