Road to Revolution: Day One

John Locke:
2nd Treatise on Government:
Government has no other end but the preservation of property.

Man should be free from all taxes but what he consents to in person or by his representative.

The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.


THE ROAD TO WAR

I. Changing Policies:
(ending “salutary neglect”)

A. Navigation Acts:

B. Sugar Act (1764)
George Grenville

Patrick Henry

C. Stamp Act (1765)

D. Townshend Duties (1767)

II. Escalation:
A. Discussion:
The Boston Massacre

In spite of each parasite, each cringing slave
Each cautious dastard, each oppressive knave
Each gibing ass, that reptile of an hour
The supercilious pimp of abject slaves in power
We are met to celebrate in festive mirth
The day that gave our freedom second birth
That tells us, British Grenville never more
Shall dare usurp unjust, illegal power
Or threaten America’s free sons with chains,
While the least spark of ancient fire remains

B. Burning of the Gaspee

Thomas Paine, “Common Sense” 1776

But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain...let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING.

Small islands not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet, and as England and America, with respect to each Other, reverses the common order of nature, it is evident they belong to different systems: England to Europe- America to itself.