The American Revolution…   how it all began… Part 11

The Spirit of ’76, originally titled Yankee Doodle, was painted by Archibald M. Willard, of Cleveland Ohio for exhibit in Philadelphia during the 1876 centennial celebrations.

Three separate issues finally induced Colonial America to declare its Independence from Great Britain. 

First, King George declared the colonies in revolt August 23, 1775;  

King George declared…  “All our officers Civil and Military are obliged to exert their utmost Endeavors to suppress such Rebellion, and to bring the Traitors to Justice and make known all Treason and traitorous Conspiracies which they shall know to be against Us, Our Crown and Dignity”…

Second, Parliament enacted the Prohibitive Act, December 22, 1775;  

This act created a blockade against the 13 colonies cutting off all trade with England, further stating that any colonial ship caught trading would be confiscated as if it were any enemy of Great Britain.  As this action is an act of war, the Colonies reacted by issuing letters of marque, allowing Americans to seize British ships.  To further drive the wedge between England and the colonies, the act further declared that all American vessels were no longer under the protection of the British Navy.

Third, Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” was released to the American public, January 10, 1776,  it was both wordy and lengthy.  It not only destroyed the idea that monarchy was a viable form of government for the colonies, but that instead of the benevolent monarch many believed the king to be, he was the architect of the ministries he ruled.  His personal views were very much like that of his subjects; narrow, insular and contemptuous of colonists in general.

That there remained opposition to Independence from England was true, but the tide of rebellion overwhelmed the reluctant in the American population.  John Adams said, “Every post and every Day rolls in upon Us Independence like a Torrent.”  By July 1, 1776 the tide of support for Independence finally brought the colonies to the final decision to sever all ties to England and the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

(Authors Note)  This brings to an end this treatise on the causes that drove the colonies to sever ties with Great Britain.  We Americans are and should be free and to this day, we celebrate the Declaration of Independence with much fanfare and love of this, “Our Country.”