David Baker Instructors Name Course Title Date

R E P O RT N A M E
The reasons for revolution in the colonies were three fold. The rst of these was the Enlightenment. The philosophical developments that manifested themselves in the colonies over their recent histories were the foundations for their moral justications for war. The second reason I attempt to examine is the French and Indian Wars fought from, 1754-1763. This war effectively bankrupted the British government leading to evermore stringent demands upon the colonies in the form of taxes and trade controls. The last signicant cause for violent rebellion was the Crowns implementation of martial law over the colonies. The Declaration of Independence very clearly describes a situation of brutal military occupation. One need only to read a few passages from Jeffersons brilliant work; --He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the Consent of our legislatures. --He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. Its clear to me, martial law is the nal straw that commits the people to a violent overthrowing of the political system that threatens their liberties. I will explore the antagonisms and economics that led to this desperate attempt to bring the colonists to heel, as well as the moral resolve that distilled itself so brilliantly in the rebels and led to their eventual victory.

The divine right of kings was being questioned and challenged like never before in the decades leading to revolution. Building off of the philosophies of Locke and Hobbes the colonies were awash with the romantic oratory of men like Patrick Henry who used the philosophy of liberty to rally the Virginia Burgesses to war. A century of frontier life and self governing had given birth

to a people that would accept nothing less than liberty or death.

The 1760s would be a turbulent time between the Crown and the colonies. This period is marked with repeated offenses towards the economic freedom of the people. The Empires lust for war and riches had led to its bleeding dry of its coffers and becoming indebted to the central bank of london. In an effort to extort from the colonists everything possible, a series of edicts were passed making trade difcult and essentially converting the colonists into serfs. These were as follows; 1764 - Sugar Act 1764 - Currency Act 1765 - Quartering Act 1765 - Stamp Act 1767 - Townshend Act All of these laws effectively strangled the colonists ability to support themselves. Black markets resulted from the need to operate outside of law and as a result brought further enforcement from the Crown. This meant more troops to enforce taxes and trade monopolies like the East India Trading Co.

What was to come of all of this is, as I said before, all eloquently documented in the Declaration of Independence. Martial law is what these edicts eventually led to. The reasons are simple and obvious to outsiders, while being less so to tyrants. The colonies were seen as the royal ATM, to be a self sustaining store of wealth for the exploitation of the whimsical monarchy. The colonists were seen as care takers of the Crowns property in a return to the feudal system. This system of control requires a large and capable enforcement arm that has broad authority in action. This broad authority manifested itself in the establishment of military

tribunals, writs of assistance, and conscription. All of these only acting as fuel for the re working to stoke the ames of discontent rather than extinguish the resolve of the colonists. The Crown invoked the basic impulse of ght or ight, but on a societal scale, and to disastrous consequence to its own interest.

The implementation of military rule and the abandonment of a civil and common law will always lead to rebellion, if not full scale violent revolution. Thomas Paine said; The cause of America is, in great measure, the cause of all mankind. I couldnt agree more. I would also add that the destruction of the common law and its replacement with military or martial law is the great danger that governments pose upon civil society. It is the task of free people everywhere to guard against these threats and to oppose tyranny at all costs.