To understand and fully appreciate Edmund Burke’s speech to Parliament on reconciliation with the American Colonies, one must understand the time and events amongst which it took place. Burke’s words were inspiring, showed a great understanding of the complexity of the situation, and presented a possible solution that might have had to potential to heal the rift between Britain and her wayward colonies in America. Unfortunately, Burke’s proposal was neither well received enough in Parliament, nor timely enough within the flow of events surrounding it, to have the effect desired. Before I can properly explain my own reactions to his speech I must paint a picture of the setting in which it was given.
Edmund Burke gave his speech before Parliament on the 22nd of March 1775. This date preceded much of the bloodshed that would occur before the decision by the Continental Congress to declare the colonies were independent states from Great Britain. The battles of Lexington and Concord were nearly a month away, and the decision by the Congress to establish a Continental Army begin offensive operations was still months away. While these major developments were yet to come, there had already been much conflict to account for…show more content… He accused his fellow representatives of believing that it was their acts and proclamations that fostered loyalty and obedience among the people of the empire. Burke quickly disabused them of this thought saying that it was the “spirit of the English constitution” that built the bonds of the empire. He also implied that the Parliament might have forgotten that the empire’s armed forces loyalty was derived not from fear of punishment, but the belief in something bigger than themselves and because of the love of the people of the empire (Burke, 1775). This portion of Burke’s speech was one of the most powerful for me as I am a soldier myself, so I can understand these
