Let's See Why Treason Can Be A Good Thing

Why was the American Revolution justified? These colonists were committing the highest form of treason by starting a revolution.  What had occurred that made ultimate treason a noble act?  These men, who we call heroes, were starting a revolution that would cause the King of Great Britain to lose part of his territory. What made their criminal acts heroic?  Perhaps the best answer to this is that they were simply following the beat of a different drummer.  A drummer that would allow them to keep their natural rights.

King George III wanted his kingdom to fully return to the monarch system of rule.  He believed his father and grandfather had been weak kings and wished to change the tradition.  The King first decided that in order to obtain the largest amount of power, he would be required to bring the colonies in America completely under his control.  The people in America had long since been used to having the right to rule themselves.  They were still, of course, subjects to the King of Great Britain, but they were essentially in control of themselves.  The King wished to change this.  He began to fire all of the previous members of his cabinet who were mostly members of the Whig party that were satisfied with allowing the colonists to continue ruling themselves.  These party members were no longer in positions of leadership. Instead, the men who had taken their place were all sympathetic to the King and would do whatever he wanted.  This was the first step in laying the groundwork for the colonies’ rebellion.

Second, King George III took away most of the colonists’ lawmaking abilities.  They were no longer allowed to create their own legislature without it possibly being vetoed by the King.  The King maintained an unspoken rule that all those loyal to him would be rewarded.  With so many people willing to help the King, he soon had to create more positions of leadership to reward those he favored.  These extras were placed as members of the military in the Americas.  This was, obviously, not appreciated by the colonies, but this was not a matter that greatly concerned the King, as he was mainly concerned about gaining absolute control.  King George III, however, greatly underestimated the people of America.    

The colonists were an amazing group of people.  They were the ones that had fled England is search of religious freedom.  Most of those people who could actually afford the crossing would have been rich, and therefore been able to afford a proper education.  This ensured that the colonist would know how to think for themselves.  They understood that God had given them certain rights because they were humans and the monarchy was infringing on those rights that had been laid down by God. 

There were several acts laid down in later years that made sure the colonists would become enraged and wish to fight for their freedom, not that this outcome was the Kings goal.  The Sugar Act was passed in 1764 to tax many items that the colonies traded.  Also in 1764, the Currency Act stated that the colonies could no longer issue any more paper money.  They would be reliant on the Motherland’s money.  Perhaps one of the most jarring acts of all was the Stamp Act in March of 1765.  Every item that was printed would be taxed.  No legal procedure could continue without the stamp, literally, of approval.  No newspapers would be read or printed without the stamp.  However, the Stamp Act was not observed by the rebellious colonies.  Members of the Sons of Freedom intimidated those men who would sell the stamps into resigning from their positions.  Without the stamps, every paper product used would be used in a criminal act.  However, life had to continue, so the colonies acted as if the Act had never taken place.  There would be no tolerance in the colonies for “Taxation without representation.”  In the same year, just two months later, the Quartering Act was passed.  This law stated that the colonists were required to allow the military of Great Britain to stay in their homes.  Not only were they supposed to provide room for them, but also food to sustain them.  This was the last straw.  It was the opposition to these outrageous Acts that were passed without representation that drew the colonies together.  They determined that it was time to act. 

  The colonists soon realized that these Acts had been forms of indirect taxation, but the Declaratory Act, which was passed the day the Stamp Act had been repealed, was a direct tax. This allowed the King to tax the colonies simply for the sake of taxing them.  There were new taxes that those people in Great Britain did not have to endure.  The colonists simply wanted to have the same rights they had always had. 

John Dickinson wrote a series of letters entitled Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania.  In these letters, Dickinson stressed that the colonies should maintain loyalty to the Crown of England, but to resist the cruel Acts given to America.  The colonies were first to send petitions to the Crown, followed by boycotts, and if those failed, less peaceful means, but, there should be no riots. 

Eventually, after many failed attempts at peace, men, who would later become known as our Founding fathers started a full revolution.  They were determined to states their reasons for leaving Great Britain and did so in the historic document known as The Declaration of Independence.  This was perhaps one of the first documents that mentioned unalienable rights given to man from God.  These rights consisted of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.   The Monarch of Great Britain had infringed on all of these rights.  Many colonists were killed because their allegiance was not to the King.  Their liberty was taken away because they were no longer represented while voting for taxes.  Lastly, their property rights were null.  The Quartering Act ensured that the colonies would no longer have the full right to their possessions. 

These men were justified in their revolt. They were ensuring that their children and the future generations would grow up in a free country.  In their own words, when a government attempts to bring its subjects under complete control, “. . . it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”