“Seeds of Rebellion:

The Actions That Shaped America's

Fight for Independence”

Historia Contemporánea de las Sociedades Anglófonas

Florencia Guadalupe Grafión

Instituto de Educación Superior N°4 “Scalabrini Ortiz”

Profesorado de Inglés

Ms. Gladys Soraide

San Salvador de Jujuy

Diciembre 2024
SEEDS OF REBELLION

INDEX

IDEX …..……………………………………………………………………………………….1

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………..………………2

ESSAY CONTEXT ………………………………………………………………...…….…...3

British empire’s economy.…………………….……………...…………………………….3

Public debt and the need for revenue………………………………………………….…..3

England’s economic situation during the pre-independence events………….…………3

Impact of the colonial boycott…………………………………………………………….4

The Sons of Liberty………………………………………………….……………………..4

Samuel Adams (1722–1803)..…………………….………………………………………..5

Patrick Henry (1736–1799)..................................................................................................6

George Washington (1732–1799).........................................................................................7

ESSAY: “Seeds of Rebellion”………………………………………….…………….…….…8

BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………………………..…….11

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SEEDS OF REBELLION

INTRODUCTION

1776 was a pivotal year in American history, as it marked the declaration of independence by

the thirteen colonies, stretching from north to south along the eastern part of America, from the

British Empire. This brave step towards autonomy was fueled by a series of oppressive

measures, particularly the new taxes imposed by the British Parliament, which held absolute

authority over the administration of the colonies. These taxes became the primary catalyst for the

American revolutionary movement. On one side, Great Britain, having emerged victorious from

the French and Indian War, faced a significant economic downturn. To restore its status as a

world power, the British government imposed a series of taxes to recover the costs of the Seven

Years' War (1756–1763) and to maintain a military presence in the American colonies. On the

other side, the American colonists, frustrated by these new taxes and their lack of representation

in Parliament, protested under the slogan "no taxation without representation." Amidst this

confusion, with an ocean separating them, 1776 became a defining moment in both American

and British history, signaling the beginning of a revolutionary struggle that forever changed the

course of both nations.

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 ESSAY CONTEXT

British empire’s economy.

By the mid-18th century, England was in the process of becoming a global power due to its

colonial empire, emerging industry, and naval power. However, despite these achievements, its

economic situation by the late 18th century was marked by several tensions:

Public debt and the need for revenue.

Great Britain found itself in a situation of extreme debt due to the costly both in terms of

human resources war against France in the Seven Years’ War. To manage this debt, the British

government began looking for new sources of revenue, which led to the imposition of taxes and

policies that directly affected its American colonies, as the colonies were an important source of

income through trade in goods like tobacco, sugar, and cotton.

The Stamp Act of 1765 was one of the initial attempts by Britain to secure revenue from the

colonies. However, these taxes were deeply unpopular among the colonists, who argued they

should not be taxed without representation in Parliament under the slogan"no taxation without

representation". This protest led to boycotts of British products, which adversely affected the

British economy, particularly merchants and manufacturers.

England’s economic situation during the pre-independence events.

The British economy was deeply intertwined with trade from its colonies, which served as

sources of raw materials and markets for British-manufactured goods. Mercantilism, the
SEEDS OF REBELLION

dominant economic system of the time, held that colonies existed primarily to benefit the

metropolis, supplying natural resources and acting as captive markets for British products. In this

context, the American colonies represented a crucial economic asset, making any disruption in

their trade relationship have significant implications.

When tensions between the American colonies and the metropolis reached a breaking point,

England’s economy was affected.

Impact of the colonial boycott.

In response to British policies, the colonists began organizing economic boycotts, especially

after the enactment of laws like the Stamp Acts of 1765 and the Tea Act of 1773. These boycotts,

which included refusing to buy British goods like tea, and other luxury items, had a direct impact

on the British economy. Exports to the American colonies decreased, which affected British

merchants, particularly those in ports like London and Liverpool.

Although trade with the colonies represented only a portion of Britain’s total trade, it was a

valuable market, and its restrictions led to a significant loss of income. The Boston Tea Party

(1773), where colonists destroyed large quantities of tea in protest against the monopoly granted

to the East India Company, exemplified how colonial economic resistance harmed British

interests.

The Sons of Liberty.

The Sons of Liberty were a secret organization of American patriots formed in the American

colonies. The organization was founded by a group of merchants, artisans, and other influential

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figures in the colonies who were discontented with the imposition of taxes from London. Some

of the most well-known leaders of this organization included Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry.

The organization was formed in response to protests against the Stamp Act of 1765, one of

the first laws imposed by the British Parliament that taxed documents and printed goods in the

colonies, such as newspapers, contracts, and permits. The movement quickly spread to other

colonies. The law was viewed as a direct attack on the colonies' autonomy and their fundamental

rights. While the British government justified the taxes as a means of funding the defense of the

colonies, the colonists saw them as a form of unjust control and rejected the idea of being taxed

without having a voice in Parliament.

The Sons of Liberty were not only a protest network but also played an active role in

organizing colonial resistance. Their actions included using an extreme form of civil

disobedience—threats and, in some cases, actual violence—to intimidate loyalists and anger the

British government.

Samuel Adams (1722–1803).

Samuel Adams was a key figure in the American Revolution and one of the Founding Fathers

of the United States. Born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was educated at Harvard College and

became deeply involved in colonial politics, initially working as a brewer and public official.

Adams is best known for his leadership in opposing British rule, particularly through his role

in organizing protests against British taxes such as the Stamp Act and the Tea Act. He was a

founding member of the Sons of Liberty, a group that used civil disobedience and direct action to

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challenge British policies. Adams also played a major role in the Boston Tea Party of 1773,

which helped escalate tensions leading to the American Revolution.

He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a strong advocate for independence,

helping to draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. After the Revolution, Adams served as

the governor of Massachusetts from 1794 to 1797. Known for his fiery patriotism and

commitment to liberty, Samuel Adams is remembered as a leading figure in the fight for

American independence.

Patrick Henry (1736–1799).

Patrick Henry was a prominent American statesman, orator, and one of the leading figures in

the early stages of the American Revolution. Born in Hanover County, Virginia, Henry was

largely self-educated and became a skilled lawyer. He gained national attention in 1765 for his

passionate speech against the Stamp Act, where he famously declared, "Give me liberty, or give

me death!"—a statement that became a rallying cry for American independence.

Henry played a crucial role in Virginia's resistance to British rule, serving in the Virginia

House of Burgesses and later as the state's first governor. He was a delegate to the First and

Second Continental Congresses and was an advocate for independence from Britain. Though he

initially opposed the U.S. Constitution, fearing it would grant too much power to the federal

government, he played an influential role in the formation of the Bill of Rights, which aimed to

protect individual liberties.

Patrick Henry is remembered for his powerful speeches and unwavering commitment to

liberty, making him a key figure in the movement that led to American independence.

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George Washington (1732–1799).

George Washingtonwas the first President of the United States and a central figure in the

American Revolution. Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Washington was raised on a

plantation and later became a successful landowner and military leader. In his early career, he

served as a military officer during the French and Indian War, where he gained valuable

leadership experience.

Washington became a leading figure in the American resistance to British rule, serving as

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. His leadership

was pivotal in securing American independence.

After the Revolution, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention in 1787,

helping to shape the new U.S. Constitution. He was elected the nation's first president in 1789

and served two terms, establishing many precedents for the new government, including the

peaceful transfer of power and the creation of the executive cabinet. Washington declined a third

term, setting the standard for future presidents. He is remembered as the "Father of His Country"

for his leadership in both the founding of the United States and in shaping its early government.

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SEEDS OF REBELLION

ESSAY

"Seeds of Rebellion: The Actions That Shaped America's Fight for Independence"

What happens when a government taxes its citizens without granting them a voice? For the

American colonies in 1776, the answer was rebellion. Following Britain's military victories and

in the face of a major economic downturn, the British government sought to recover its status as

a world power. Their economic situation was based on trade and industry thanks to its powerful

navy and colonial networks. During this period of time, the Kingdom of Great Britain had a deep

economic dependence on colonial trades with the thirteen American colonies, formed in the

eastern part of America, which represented the major revenue. In response to its financial

struggles, the British Parliament, under King George´s III authority, imposed a series of taxes on

the colonies. The American colonists, who had no representation in the British Parliament, rose

up in response under the slogan "no taxation without representation." This slogan encapsulated

their belief that they should not be taxed by a government in which they had no voice. The

resistance gave rise to a revolutionary movement, one inspired by principles of liberty, equality,

and self-determination. This essay will examine the actions taken by the members of this

movement to achieve the desired independence.

First, the growing discontent among the colonists led to the formation of the Sons of Liberty,

a group of American Patriots who resisted British oppression. Led by Samuel Adams, the Sons

of Liberty began organizing protests against British policies, particularly taxes. The first major

action occurred in Boston on August 14, 1765, in response to the imposition of the first direct

tax, the Stamp Act. This tax required colonists to pay for stamps on documents ranging from

official documents to playing cards. Its goal was to raise money for the British army stationed in

North America. In protest, the Sons of Liberty gathered under the “Liberty Tree” against Thomas

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Hutchinson, a Massachusetts official responsible for enforcing the Stamp Act. Effigies of

Hutchinson were hung, symbolizing the colonists' rejection of British policies, especially taxes

imposed by a distant Parliament. Related to this, the organization’s leader said, "If ever a time

should come when your people are not justly represented in Parliament, that is the time when

they will have a right to resist, and may justly resist." (Samuel Adams, 1765). Considered that

The Stamp Act was an act of tyranny, and denied colonists their natural rights as Englishmen.

This act of defiance spread across the thirteen colonies, encouraging unity and resistance against

British rule.

Secondly, another relevant measure taken by the settlers was the rebellion of the Tea Party in

Boston-Massachusetts. A crucial event that occurred following the imposition of The Tea Act

(1773), which imposed a three-penny tax on tea. According to the letter written by John Adams,

(one of the Founding Fathers of the United States) to his wife, Abigail Adams, refers to this act

as “The late act of Parliament, commonly called the Tea Act, is the most dangerous and

unconstitutional act that has yet been passed. It gives the East India Company a monopoly of the

tea trade, and forces the colonies to take their tea at their own expense, without the liberty of

purchasing it from any other source.” (1773) The colonists saw this as another attempt to infringe

on their rights, as it granted the British East India Company exclusive rights to sell tea in the

colonies, bypassing colonial merchants.As a consequence of this, the Patriots strike another blow

against the Empire. In protest, the organization disguised themselves as a bad impersonation of

Mohawk Indians, boarded three British ships—the Dartmouth, Eleanor, and Beaver—in Boston

Harbor. They destroyed over 342 boxes of tea, worth about £10,000 British pounds. This bold

act of rebellion infuriated the British government, which responded by closing the port of Boston

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SEEDS OF REBELLION

until the tea was paid for, demonstrating their willingness to use force to maintain control. These

measures strengthened the colonists' resolve to seek independence.

Thirdly, in response to the growing tensions, the colonies convened the First Continental

Congress in Philadelphia in 1774. Twelve of the thirteen colonies (Georgia did not participate)

sent delegates to discuss a unified response to British oppression. The Congress, which included

leaders like Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington. It was organized based on

the idea that if the British could impose laws and taxes unflinchingly in Massachusetts, they

could advance by taking the same actions to the other colonies imposing their rules. Its objective

was to come up with a unified strategy to oppose Britain's increasing transgression on their

liberties. This Congress resolved that a British attack on any one colony would be regarded as an

attack on all the Americans. It was then that they drafted the "Declaration and Resolves of the

First Continental Congress" which outlined "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men

are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that

among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (1774) Reflecting in this way the

colonies’ grievances against the British government. Its key points were that the colonists had

natural and inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and property. As well as listed complaints

against the British Parliament, including the dissolution of colonial assemblies. The Congress

called for a unified response to defend the colonies' rights and liberties, laying the foundation for

the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

In conclusion, the discontent among the American colonists in response to British oppression

led to a series of significant actions that guided the way for the American Revolution. The

formation of the Sons of Liberty marked the beginning of organized resistance, with protests like

the 1765 Stamp Act protest setting the stage for wider opposition against British policies. This

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was followed by the bold act of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, which served as a strong statement

against the Tea Act and the perceived infringement on colonial rights. In response to these

actions and the growing tensions, the colonies convened the First Continental Congress in 1774

to formulate a unified strategy to resist British oppression. The Congress not only articulated the

colonies' grievances but also laid the groundwork for future independence, emphasizing the

natural rights of the colonists and their determination to defend them. These events collectively

marked a turning point in the colonies' relationship with Britain, ultimately leading to the

Declaration of Independence in 1776.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Raphael, (2001), A People's History of the American Revolution, The New Press

Wood, (1991), The Radicalism of the American Revolution, Vintage Books

Zinn, (2004), People's History of the United States: 1492 to present

Paine (1791) Rights of Man

Adams, (1773), Letter written by John Adams to his wife

(1774), Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress

https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/sons-of-liberty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtPH5eDh074&t=1663s

https://www-history-com.translate.goog/news/sons-of-liberty-members-causes?

_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=es&_x_tr_hl=es&_x_tr_pto=sge#:~:text=The%20Sons%20likely

%20formed%20from,in%20other%20colonies%20as%20well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbGodj0lJ2Q

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