The Moral Foundation for the American Struggle for Independence

Tradition of Tyranny

   The dispensation of rights by the monarchs of Europe was a long standing tradition that proved successful throughout the middle ages. Later the foundation was laid for equal application of law in the Magna Carta, or 'Great Charter.' It established the Rule of Law as being higher than the ruling power, and equally applicable in similar situations by the use of precedent. While this would seem to be effective when paired with a constitution, King George crushed the notion when he refused to apply standard English laws to the colonists.

   In England, the rulers would appoint ministers and leaders of the church. Their salary would also be set and paid for by the government. The colonists, however, were subject to these same rules, with one exception: They were to pay the salary. This financial burden would not have been so grievous if the colonists were granted representation in the British Parliament. Since they were not, they could neither select or dismiss those responsible for their connection to God, and had to pay for a service they had no control over. This is an example of government endorsed pillaging: When people are forced to pay for something that no one has the right to farce their neighbor to pay for. This is one of the few moral downfalls of the British crown that led the colonists to feel justified in rebellion.

Oppression of the Colonists

   Secondly, taxes were levied to control the colonists and they were denied the ability to make their own currency. While this is not inherently wrong, it is wrong to subject a people to economic distress, when their proper governing bodies are attempting to pass laws to solve the problem. In this way, Kind George sought to oppress the economy of New England, and took away peoples right to property since they were forced to barter and use scarce English currency for all of their transactions. This had a great effect on Samuel Adams when he tried to open the Land Bank, and failed due to legislation being passed in Britain, again without representation. It seems to have given Adams the support of those who had relied on the bank, and those who were suffering because of the lack of currency.

   Third, our natural right to liberty is blatantly threatened when a military presence is maintained in our own homes.  Many totalitarian regimes throughout history have cowed the citizenry with displays of military strength. This struck at the core of the colonists feelings of security and freedom because they were required by law to house soldiers without payment or compensation. New York was incompliant with the 1765 quartering act, and later Parliament passed resolutions to give officers of the law power to enforce the act more harshly.

   To further 'maintain order,' or rather, to further the oppression of the regime, writs of assistance were given to aid in the search and seizure of property. There we baseless warrants, which were not awarded in court, and unspecific as to their limitations. In essence, they had none. A British officer with a writ was 'legally' entitled to search the property of any colonists at any time without prior notice or consent being given. This took away the right to property that Samuel Adams felt everyone had. If one is not secure in their belongings, they are not likely able to pursue their happiness.

Mock Trial and Partial Courts

   Another attack, this time on the right to life, was made in the trials of colonists, who were judged by English judges, and without a jury of peers. Obviously this court setup would incriminate colonists more than a court of unbiased or local judges, and juries made up of local townspeople. When you are being tried for your life, you have the right to a fair trial. People have the right to defend themselves from their life being taken, and in a court, this is exactly what is supposed to happen, albeit in a nonviolent and civilized manner. When this is not the case, one is forced back to more primitive and violent means of protecting life... like starting a war for independence in order the possibility of equality in the court systems.

   Lastly, the Townshend acts attempted to establish a precedent... one based on the laws of a tyrant and a foreign parliament that would not cater to the needs of the colonists. These acts sought to further limit the rights of the colonists by taking more money in the form of taxes, and to set up the English Parliament as a superior governing body to the local colonial organizations.

   It was under these extenuating circumstances that some of the colonists started the War of Independence. Their God given rights had been overlooked for the purpose of increasing the money and power of the monarch. They were ready to stand by their moral justification and fight a war against the most powerful nation on the earth, on whose empire the sun never set. This strong foundation and belief in justice helped pave the way for a nation based on liberty instead of the divine rule of a monarchy.