American Colonists Justified Dbq

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“Give me liberty, or give me death,” once said Patrick Henry, former governor of Virginia, in 1816. The American Revolution was a revolt caused by the thirteen colonies against the British between 1765 and 1783, which lead to America’s independance. The American colonists were justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain because of taxes, lack of freedom, and no representation in the parliament. First of all, I believe the American colonists were justified in breaking away from England because of taxes. “There is another late act of parliament, which appears to be unconstitutional, which is granting duties on tea, paper, etc.” (Document B) said John Dickinson, a political leader, referring to the Townshend Act. This states that this act was unfair to the colonists, making them miserable by forcing unreasonable taxes. “...Britain government passed new laws that tightened its control of the colonists. Some of these laws also placed new taxes on the colonists.” This insert from the background essay states that after the French and Indian War, new taxes were …show more content…
“The law stated that colonists could not move westward over the Appalachian Mountains. Those settlers who were already living there were to return east,” (Document A) stated the Proclamation of 1763. In other words, the colonists were forced to stay in a certain location, and could not pass a certain boundary. “The Quartering Act forced colonists to provide British troops with living quarters, food, and supplies,” (Document G) asserted the act made in 1765. Colonists were made to give up their privacy, homes, and extra necessities to the souldiers, and would be greatly punished if they didn’t do so. As you can see, the British limited and slowly started to take away the colonists freedom, which made the lack of freedom a reason why the colonists were justified to wage war with