Years Leading Up To The Revolutionary War
In the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, there were numerous ideas and visions of what should become of America. Many of these ideas and visions, yet often contradicting and varying compared to one another, eventually led to an idea of unity and a identity among the majority of Americans. The time period of 1750 to 1776 displayed numerous events and actions relating to this general idea.
During the early years of the 1740’s and 50’s, there was a great amount of unrest between colonies. Major conflicts were visible between the developed Atlantic Coast colonies and the newly settled colonies in an area known as the “ backcountry”. Colonists in the backcountry felt that they were underrepresented and virtually represented in colonial government. Numerous revolts against the Atlantic Coast colonies over proper protection brought out a prevalent message that there was unrest in the colonies. An important event that stands out in this period was when an organization known as the Paxton Boys went to Philadelphia with demands for relief from colonial taxes and money to help defend against natives. In other areas in the colonies, farmers were angered over taxes that were being placed on them. Small-scale civil wars broke out, such as the Regulator movement in North Carolina, a rebellion among farmers who were opposed to high taxes that local sheriffs collected. There was also a great lacking of unity between the socioeconomic classes of the time. Members of the lower classes displayed a great amount of unrest towards their rich counterparts of the upper classes. Even though such a great amount of non-unity was displayed in this time of turmoil in the colonies, events would quickly change. An idea of unity soon began to emerge on the onset of the Grenville ministry. Even though civil disagreements and rebellions such as the Regulator Movement occurred during the Grenville ministry, colonists began to realize the oppression of British rule. With the onset of the ministry, Britain increased its political power in the colonies in more direct ways. Colonists were bombarded with such policies that many considered to be unjust. Policies such as the Sugar Act of 1764 brought an increased awareness of British power. Later policies such as the Stamp Act brought out the idea that the Grenville program was a threat basically to every member of colonial society from the poorest of poorest in the lower classes...