American Colonies Dbq

During the late 1600’s and early 1700’s things like migration of many immigrants to the colonies in search of economic, religious and political burgeoning and freedom. When they arrived some came to the south, some in the middle and some in the north. When the people landed in the north near MA colony they were out of the charters jurisdiction so they created a temporary gov. like agreement called the Mayflower Compact which in a way was like an attempt to break from the mother country and sort of make their own identity. They colonist started to develop a sense of their identity and unity as Americans as the revolution neared because of British imposed stuff. Along with that each section of colonies, south, middle, and north, all developed
their unique individuality because of things like political reforms, economic disruption, various “Acts” and even writing and pieces of literature. They all helped with their development of economic and political identity more than like religious and etc.
Many political reforms were put in place because the colonies were still under British jurisdiction and were a part of it. They put in many “Acts” because Britain’s debt was continuously growing and they needed to money to pay it off to the loaners so they imposed a lot of various taxation acts. The Stamp Act of 1765 which required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London and carrying an embossed revenue stamp. These printed materials were legal documents, magazines, newspapers and many other types of paper used throughout the colonies. Like previous taxes, the stamp tax had to be paid in valid British currency, not in colonial paper money. The purpose of the tax was to help pay for troops stationed in North America after the British victory in the Seven Years' War. The British government felt that the colonies were the primary beneficiaries of this military presence, and should pay at least a portion of the expense. Colonist replied with somewhat hostility and start a saying “Taxation without representation” which effected the parliament a little to change it. On 3 February 1766 Edmund Burke spoke in front of the parliament in his “notes for Speech in
Parliament” in which he basically said, “Let the sleeping dog lie”, and that let the colonist do whatever and just let them be. So in the summer of 1766, King George III of England replaced Prime Minister Rockingham with William Pitt. Pitt was popular in the colonies. He opposed the Stamp Act and believed that colonists were entitled to all the rights of English citizens. He became sick and Charles Townshend took over. Townshend wanted to strengthen the power of the British parliament which would simultaneously strengthen the power of royal officials. He convinced the Parliament to pass a series of laws imposing new taxes on the colonists. These laws included special taxes on lead, paint, paper, glass and tea imported by colonists. In addition, they had to quarter British soldiers. The Acts also insured that colonial officials, including governors and judges, would receive their salaries directly from the taxes. This lead to more acts which then lead to the First and Second Continental Congress. During the Second Continental Congress British attacked Bunker Hill and before that the Intolerable act of 1774 blocked Boston from trade or import which led to the congress uniting more and eventually forming the First Continental Army led by Col. Washington. On 6 July 1775 the Continental Congress Declared for the Cause of Taking up Arms to show that they are tired of being subjects of England but not being represented or treated equally. This was a good start to unity and a form of political and economic identity of themselves as Americans.
The colonies also developed a better sense of unity and identity because of many books, letter, and forms of writing and art.
They were sort of used as propaganda and a way to convey the colonist to unite and create their own sense of identity. In 1750 when the Boston massacre occurred where civilian casualties happened because of miscommunication and taunting/ hostility from the crowd. This incident was depicted by a painting Paul Revere did showing British troops as hostile killers and the Bostonians as civil innocent bystanders being attacked without reason or purpose. Then Mather Byles addressed in “The Famous Mather Byles: The Noted Boston Troy Preacher, Poet and Wit” from 1707 – 1788 that having one tyrant far away or thousands of them close by doesn’t really make a difference but having a better ruler to rule and govern that would be appointed by the nation and follow their own set of laws and regulations and not someone else’s. Then in 1754 Ben Franklin published his famous drawing in the Pennsylvania Gazette showing a snake in multiple piece a representing the colonies and a large caption of “Join or Die” showing that unity is the way to go if to survive and gain a sense of identity by uniting and even strengthening and gain power. Also if you look at it from another point if a snake is cut into pieces it is not technically “united” and really doesn’t have an identity as a snake but if a complete snake is a snake. In 1774, 24 February Richard Henry Lee wrote to
Arthur Lee that if a true identity isn’t produced of the country the ministry will keep on oppressing them and not favor either but ruin them instead. Also he said that an economic identity is essential because of the manufacturing rapidly and become interdependent and become someone. Slowly most of the colonies were understanding the necessity to unite as one and find their identity if they want to become something and not be under a thumb of oppression for the time to come. So as the eve of the revolution neared they seemed to get the message and started helping out like the Contributors of Donations for the Relief of Boston, 1774 and 1775, Collections, showed a list of colonies from all the way from the south to the middle helping out the area of needs and uniting. So as the eve neared people got the message and developed sense of identity and unity throughout which helped them out sooner than they thought. They colonist started to develop a sense of their identity and unity as Americans as the revolution neared because of British forced stuff. Along with that each area of colonies, north, middle, and south, all developed their distinctive uniqueness because of things like political, economic reforms and disruptions, various “Acts” and even writing and pieces of literature. They all helped with their development of economic and political identity more than religious and other things. This help lead to what we know as America and which helped the colonist fight against the British and gain their independence and become a different body rather than being a part of something.