Could the American Revolution have been Avoided?

[Zkribbler]

In 1763, at the end of the French & Indians War (a.k.a The 7-Years War), relations between Great Britain and its American colonies were at their high point. A dozen years later, shots were fired at Lexington and Concorde.

Could the whole mess have been avoided, and Benjamin Franklin's dream of an Anglo-American Empire have been realized?

[Harry Tuttle]

Sure it could have. Open up the west to white settlers and land speculators. Don't tax the colonies that much. Bingo, the King reigns supreme.

[Zkribbler]

Yeah...I was thinking about something like that myself.

Britain's problem is that it had a huge war debt. It's solution: We've never directly taxed the American colonialist before--much of our debt came from protecting them--so let's tax them.

Britain could have opened up the land between the Alleganies and the Mississippi, and sold it to land speculators. Plus, instead of forbidding foreign ships from trading in American ports (which was another source of aggrevation), allow it, but charge hefty duties.

[Odin]

Theoratically? Yes.

Realistically? No.


IMO the politicians in London never understood (except for a few Whigs like Edmund Burke), and probably never could of understood, the mood shift tiggered by the colonial disgust towards Quebec Act and the row over the various taxes imposed (and then mostly ended) to recoup the cost of the Seven Years War. The politicians thought we were being "ungrateful children," the fact that the row was over honest convictions seems to have went over most of thier heads.

When Parliament overreacted to the Boston Tea Party and related acts of civil disobediance by enacting the Intolerable Acts the fateful line was quickly crossed. Sides rapidly polarized. When Ben Franklin met with British parliamentarians in an effort to prevent the escalation of the conflict he was insulted and humilated by the parliamentarians, it is said that he went into that meeting British, and came out an American.

[KrazyHorse]

Yes, if you'd remembered your place like you should have.

[Zkribbler]

A few weeks ago, I was talking to a Candian buddy of mine. He likes to "pulled people's tails" and, in line with this, drew exception to my use of the word "Tories." According to him, they weren't Tories but rather "loyal Americans."

So I ask which was the more loyal -- those who remained loyal to the King or those who remained loyal to the rights of Englishmen. He changed the subject.

[Odin]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Yes, if you'd remembered your place like you should have.

Give me liberty or give me death!

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a Candian buddy of mine. He likes to "pulled people's tails" and, in line with this, drew exception to my use of the word "Tories." According to him, they weren't Tories but rather "loyal Americans."

So I ask which was the more loyal -- those who remained loyal to the King or those who remained loyal to the rights of Englishmen. He changed the subject.

The epithet of "tory" applied to those who refused to take part in the American Revolution is historically inaccurate. Though the tories were the strongest supporters of the King's rights, it is disingenuous to blithely assume that the whigs were in support of a people's right to rebel against their lawful sovereign.

[TheStinger]

If the UK govt treated the US like they did the Moose botherers and the sheep worriers over the next century there would have been a gradual seperation rather than a revolution

[b etor]

I had to write an essay for school about this. I forget what I wrote though.

[Saras]

Yanks playing in the Ashes

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Odin


Give me liberty or give me death!

Heh heh.

"How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?"

Samuel Johnson: Taxation No Tyranny 1775

[Odin]

Originally posted by molly bloom



Heh heh.




Samuel Johnson: Taxation No Tyranny 1775

IIRC most of the "whining" came from New England merchants.

[Drake Tungsten]

When Parliament overreacted to the Boston Tea Party and related acts of civil disobediance by enacting the Intolerable Acts the fateful line was quickly crossed. Sides rapidly polarized. When Ben Franklin met with British parliamentarians in an effort to prevent the escalation of the conflict he was insulted and humilated by the parliamentarians, it is said that he went into that meeting British, and came out an American.

Am I the only one who suspects Odin copied this from somewhere?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


The epithet of "tory" applied to those who refused to take part in the American Revolution is historically inaccurate. Though the tories were the strongest supporters of the King's rights, it is disingenuous to blithely assume that the whigs were in support of a people's right to rebel against their lawful sovereign.

"historically"? Thats how the word tory was used in the 13 colonies at the time - it was tories vs patriots, not tories vs whigs. It emerged because pre-rev the Tory govt in England was identified with taking away rights. Sure it was an epithet - but so were the words "Tory" and "Whig" in origin.