The colonies were morally justified in declaring independence because many of the things Great Britain did toward the colonies. Great Britain passed many acts and laws that were not always fair for the colonists. Most the acts and laws were against the colonists rights and they were a corrupt government. It states in the constitution that if the government is immoral and corrupt the people have the right to over throw it and revolt.
The first major law that the British government passed that was not good for the colonies was the proclamation of 1763. This law stated that the settlers that settled west of the Appalachian Mountains and people already living in that area to return east. This was to try to ease the tensions with the Native Americans. The colonists objected to this law because many people were established in that area. The boundary lines changed because of treaties with the Indians.
The sugar act was passed April 5, 1764. It was an indirect tax but the colonists were aware of it. It was a tax on imported goods so many of the goods were smuggled into the towns. It affected mostly the merchants and shippers who had to have their things go through the ports so they were taxed. The colonists were not very happy and the two major protesters against this act were Samuel Adams and James Otis. In August 1764, fifty Boston merchants stopped buying imports from Britain. In a few places they increased colonial manufacturing. There weren’t any huge protests over the Sugar Act. The Sugar Act was revoked in 1766 and replaced with the Revenue Act of 1766 which lowered the tax amount.
During the war the soldiers needed places to stay so parliament passed the Quartering Act of 1765. This act stated that American colonies had to provide housing and provisions for soldiers. Many of the colonists were very angry by having to house soldiers in their houses and so some colonies refused to house them.
The British parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765 stating that any writing and printed materials had to be on stamped paper. Any newspapers, magazines, and other written articles that passed through the colonies had to be on this paper. The colonies fought this act by not sending any representatives to Parliament. On March 18, 1766 the act was repealed but parliament then passed the Declaratory Act, which stated that the British government can regulate taxes anyway they wanted. The colonies were very angry and started to protest which helped the movement towards the American Revolution.
In 1767 parliament passed a series of laws called the Townshend Acts. The purpose of this act was to raise taxes so the judges, governors and other elected officials could be paid a salary. Most of the colonies boycotted this act. This act was partially repealed but the tax on tea remained. The tea act was passes in 1773 which allowed the East India Company to ship tea to the colonies. Because of this the Boston Tea Party occurred which was the start of the American Revolution.
The Coercive act or the Intolerable acts of1774 were passed because of the Boston Tea Party. The actions parliament took for this act closed the Boston port, altered trials, and removed some religious acts. The colonists saw these acts as a violation to their constitutional rights. Since these laws were angering the colonists more people wanted to go against Britain.
In 1775 the colonies were so angry with Britain so they declared rebellion. Patrick Henry, a leader from Virginia, stated:
“Gentlemen may cry peace, peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God—I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
When King George heard about the colonies revolting he insisted that the rebellion was a “desperate conspiracy” of the people who claimed to follow him. He said that all the colonies really wanted were to create an “independent Empire”. He said he would deal with the armed forces and was considering a “friendly offers of foreign assistance” to stop the rebellion. When the king didn’t actually do anything the Empire was weakened and the rebellion and move to independence was strengthened.
During this time of rebellion many men stood up and became leaders now known as the founding fathers. They led the rebellions and most were signers of the constitution and the declaration of independence. John Adams, one of the founding fathers, stated:
“A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a government makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal.”
The founding fathers wanted a nation that had a good moral government. They understood that a good government would protect the people and govern them correctly.
The colonies understood that they could die by declaring independence but also understood that if government was corrupt they could overthrow it. Even though they were rebellion against their government they were still good people. The British government was passing laws that were violating the people’s constitution rights which justify the colonies rebellion. Every person has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The colonists had those rights taken from them and they had every right to fight to get them back.
