TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 INJUSTICES LEADING TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

 TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 INJUSTICES LEADING TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

From the Declaration of Independence we have some reasons for seeking independence from England/Great Britain.  (A lot of these come from: https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3218 

Let’s look at some of the reasons:

1. "He has refused his Assent to Laws necessary for the public good."

Life in the colonies was different from life in England.  England had been a settled country for centuries, but the colonial region was a new land.  If there were ‘native’ people in England, they had long ago been assimilated into English life.  In the colonies, the people were dropped into a world that was inhabited by native peoples. 

[Aside, it wasn’t a good thing for the American natives (aka “Indians”) as The settlers brought various illnesses that wiped out some native tribes and weakened others.  And, sometimes the natives attacked the settlers and took animals, food, etc.  An analogy might be to say (whenever colonies are formed on the Moon or Mars), that they had to abide by the same rules as back home.  

2. "He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of pressing importance."

“Royal governors had rejected any colonial laws that did not have a clause suspending their operation until the King approved them.”

Let’s say a colonial assembly had passed a law establishing a speed limit in towns (like saying horses in a town need to walk at a slow pace (making that up)), then the Royal Governor had to send that law to the King (approximately a 6 week voyage back to England, then a while while the king decides, then a six week trip back to the colonies).  Then the kind might reject that law (“Why are those stupid colonists making stupid laws like that - everybody knows you need to slow down in town”).  

3. "He has refused to pass Laws unless people would relinquish the right of Representation."

“The Crown had failed to redraw the boundaries of legislative districts to ensure that newly settled areas were fairly represented in colonial assemblies.”

Yesterday, I used this research: “By 1760, the population had reached 1.6 million, not including African slaves, and by 1775, the white population stood at 2.5 million. Philadelphia was the largest city in that year, with a population of about 34,000.”

So, as the colonies grew in population, the legislative districts didn’t change. Currently, with a census every ten years, states are mandated to adjust legislative boundaries to include the new areas.  For example, Texas will gain two seats in Congress because of the 2020 census.  But, not so in colonial times.

4. "He has called together legislative bodies at places distant from the depository of their public records."

“Royal governors sometimes had forced colonial legislatures to meet in inconvenient places.”

So, it would be like the Governor of Texas demanding that the Texas legislature meet in Dalhart Texas (on the Oklahoma/New Mexico/Texas border) - which is an eight-plus hour drive in a car.  Or forcing the Massachusetts colonial body to meet in North Adams (on the Vermont/New York/ Border) forcing Bostonians into several days of travel in the wilderness.

5. "He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly."

“Royal governors had dissolved colonial legislatures for disobeying their orders or protesting royal policies.

6. "He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected."

Royal governors had delayed in calling for elections of new colonial assemblies.”

Now, in a democracy, representative bodies meet and discuss the governance of their region.  

But, the Royal Governors (appointed by the King), were not elected to serve the people.  Legislatures were elected to serve the people.  This was definitely a conflict of interests - protecting the King’s views or the views of the populous. 

LEGAL ISSUES:

8. "He has obstructed the Administration of justice."

The King had rejected a North Carolina law setting up a court system.

9. "He has made judges dependent on his Will alone.”

The Crown had insisted that judges serve at the King's pleasure and that they should be paid by him.

18. "For depriving us of the benefits of Trial by Jury."

The royal government had deprived colonists of a right to a jury trial in cases dealing with smuggling and other violations of trade laws.

19. "For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried."

A 1769 Parliamentary resolution declared that colonists accused of treason could be tried in Britain.  (So, I might be considered a treason for writing today’s blog - and thus, I could get put on a ship (with about six weeks of travel) to England to be tried.  And, maybe held in a prison cell awaiting trial, and even if declared innocent I would have six weeks of travel back home. Meanwhile, my job would be gone, my family might be gone, I was probably considered "guilty".

*****

TODAY’S WRAP UP.

In today’s world, we have our political pundits analyzing all actions within minutes of a press conference or any action.  News media go crazy on their shows bringing in “experts”that tell us how great the action was - or how terrible the action was.  In the colonial world - without instant communication - and with such power vested in the king and royal governors - little issues became burning issues.  Trust evaporated.  And, chaos ensued (leading to a revolution!!!)

More tomorrow and for the rest of the week.

LOVE WINS

HUGS

Karen

(And, maybe we need to quote Patrick Henry - “Give me liberty or give me death”!!!)