America250: Politics, Taxes, and Revolution

America250: Politics, Taxes, and Revolution

This page presents primary resources from the State Library exhibiting the politics and relationship between the Thirteen British Colonies and Great Britain and with each other in the 18th-century. Before the age of radio, television, and the Internet, public debate on issues of the day were addressed either face-to-face in coffee houses, taverns, etc. or were addressed to larger audiences through public speeches (often called oratory), church sermons, or through printed materials distributed to larger audiences across geographic locations. These printed materials can be explored as instruments of persuasion through textual analysis and comparison or arguments for and against taxation, British rule, revolution, and independence.

Selected holdings of the State Library of Pennsylvania pertaining to taxation, revolution, and politics have been digitized as part of the America250 project, and are freely available by clicking the button below.

In 1763, the Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War (1756-1763) between Great Britain and France resulting in France ceding most of its North American possessions such as Canada and the Ohio and Mississippi River Valley regions to Britain. The North American portion of this conflict, or "contest for Empire", was fought as the French and Indian War (1754-1760). As a result of the war, Britain began to impose taxes on the thirteen American colonies to help pay for the cost of past and future defense, beginning with the Sugar (1764) and Stamp Acts (1765). This angered colonists, not only from a financial standpoint but from the fact that these taxes were imposed by the British Parliament (where there were no American representatives) and not colonial legislatures, leading to the rallying cry of "taxation without representation."  The more Britain imposed new taxes and asserted its right to tax and govern, the more Americans resisted, leading to punitive measures by the British government and open rebellion in the colonies by 1775.

 

Questions to Consider:

As you explore the following pamphlets can you determine if the author is for or against taxation of the American colonies by the British Parliament? Would you be surprised to know that some writers that were against British actions in the 1760s such as the Stamp Act, remained loyal to Britain in the 1770s after the start of the Revolution and America's claim of independence? Can you find such a person among the authors represented here?

The Claim of the Colonies to an Exemption from Internal Taxes Imposed by Authority of Parliament, Examined in a Letter from a Gentleman in London to his Friend in America / By William Knox, 1765

The Only Sure Thing is Death and Taxes

Arguments for or against some public issue such as taxation were often presented to a larger public audience unde the guise of a letter from one correspondent to another. While it is true that sometimes personal correspondence between two parties was often published in newspapers of the day to convey an idea or account of an event, this was sometimes used for rhetorical purposes.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Do you think that the author of this work really wrote it to a friend in America or does "the friend' mean all Americans?

What is the author's main argument? Is he in favor or against taxing the American colonies?

 

Considerations on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes in the British Colonies, for the Purpose of Raising a Revenue, by Act of Parliament / By Daniel Dulany, 1765

No Taxation Without Representation

Daniel Dulany (1722-1797) was a Maryland lawyer who also served as a mayor of Annapolis. He wrote this pamphlet as a response to the Stamp Act.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Do you find the author's argument convincing? Is he in favor or against the Stamp Act? 

After reading this would you be in favor of taxes or against taxes in order to help pay for defense of your homeland?

Would you be more in favor of being taxed if you could have a say in the idea of taxation to pay for a public benefit?

Would you rather be taxed by your local government or one far away?

The Importance of the Colonies of North America, and the Interest of Great Britain with Regard to Them, Considered Together with Remarks on the Stamp-Duty / By Nicholas Ray, 1766

This work by Nicholas Ray (1715?-1788) a resident of London (formerly of New York) and William Bollan (d. 1776) was originally printed in London and later reprinted in New York.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

What do you think is Ray's and Bollan's view of the Stamp Act? Were they for or against?

Do you think that a person's opinion on something like the Stamp Act could be neither wholly for or wholly against?

Good News From a Far Country, A Sermon Preached at Boston, May 17, 1766 / By Samuel Stillman

Politics and Religion

Baptist minister Samuel Stillman (1738-1807) used his pulpit and the attention given to him by parishioners to comment on the news of the day. 

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

What is the good news from a far country that the title of this sermon references?

What is Stillman's view on the news. Was he for or against?

Why would Stillman talk about this in church?

Do you think people would have listened to him and adopted his views? Why or why not?

Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies, 1769

A View on the Townshend Duties

This series of letters written by "a farmer" first appeared in newspapers in the colonies between 1767 and 1768 in response to the Townshend Duties imposed on goods imported to the British Colonies from Britain. 

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

In the context of this item what does the word "duty" mean? How does this differ from a tax or tariff?

Do you think the author of these letters was really "a farmer"? Why or why not?

Read one of these letters. What are the author's main arguments?

Who was the author of these letters and what role did he/she play in the American Revolution?

 

Prohibitory Act of 1775

Do This. Don't Do That.

The Prohibitory Act, passed by the British Parliament in October 1775, prohibited trade between Britain and the American colonies as well as blockaded trade between the American colonies and other nations of the world and any ships engaged in trade would be seized and forfeited to the government. The Act also removed British protection of the colonies from attacks by other nations.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Read this Act. What do you think Britain hoped to achieve by imposing this new law on colonies already in rebellion and at war with Britain?

After reading this, if you were alive in 1775 would you be inclined to reconcile with Britain?

 

By the Spring of 1775 the situation in Massachusetts was tense as colonists prepared for war by stockpiling weapons and gunpowder in towns such as Concord. British troops had been quartered in private properties to impose order and compliance with British law since 1774. The updated Quartering Act was only one of a series of measures imposed on Massachusetts as punishment for the Boston Tea Party of December 1773 where tax protesters dumped imported British tea into Boston Harbor to oppose a tax on tea. These acts, known as the Coercive or Intolerable Acts, also included the Boston Port Act, closing off trade; the Massachusetts Government Act , a takeover of colonial government by Crown appointees; the suspension of trial by a jury of one's peers (local trial) by allowing trials to be moved to other venues outside Massachusetts; and the Quebec Act, extending Quebec's borders south to the Ohio River to thwart the northern colonies from expanding to the west. On April 19, 1775, war began at Lexington and Concord when British troops were sent toward Concord to seize American arms and arrest colonial leaders. While the Thirteen Colonies had assembled in the First Continental Congress in 1774 and reassembled in 1775 as the Second Continental Congress to coordinate a response to British actions, the Colonies initially wanted to reconcile and  remain British subjects with only a few radicals calling for independence. This began to change in 1776 as the scale of the war expanded and colonial leaders realized that there was no alternative but to declare and fight for independence from Britain.

 

Questions to Consider:

In the items seen below can you identify which works were written by loyalists (those against American independence) and which by patriots (those seeking American independence)?

 

Helpful Links:

Olive Branch Petition

Timeline of Events 1763-1801

A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Seting forth the Causes and Necessity of Their Taking up Arms, 1775

Why We Fight

The Continental Congress (representatives from the Thirteen Colonies) adopted this message to the British government at the same time as the Olive Branch Petition in July 1775. While the Olive Branch was addressed to the King, this Declaration was meant more for the British Parliament.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

How does the language of this Declaration differ from the Olive Branch Petition sent to the King? (you can find the text of the Olive Branch Petition online)

How does the language of this Declaration in 1775 differ from the Declaration in 1776?

Common Sense / By Thomas Paine, 1776

Enlightenment Media Influencer

English born Thomas Paine's persuasive argument for American independence, Common Sense was first published in January 1776. This work was so popular that it was printed in at least 25 editions in 13 different towns and cities. Before Paine's influential work, most Americans wanted to reconcile with Britain and remain British subjects. Paine's arguments and other events began to change public and political opinion towards independence.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

What was the Enlightenment and can you name three main ideas of Enlightenment philosophy?

Reading this pamphlet, what is Paine's opinion of monarchical government (government of kings and queens)?

Plain Truth: Addressed to the Inhabitants of America. Containing Remarks on a Late Pamphlet, Intitled Common Sense / Written by Candidus, 1776

A Dissenting Opinion

This pamphlet was a response to Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Read the title page of this pamphlet and consider the following questions:

Who do you think Candidus was? Was this his/her real name?

What is Candidus' view of the idea of American Independence? Was he/she in favor of American independence from Great Britain?

What would you call Candidus, a loyalist or patriot?

Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

Breaking up is Hard to Do

On July 4, 1776 the Second Continental Congress adopted a Declaration of Independence from Great Britain and established a new United States of America.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Compare the language of the Olive Branch Petition to King George III from July 5, 1775 to the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence. What differences do you notice? What events occurred the previous 12 months that may have influenced the Declaration?

Look at some of the grievances against the King listed in the Declaration and compare with the timeline of events leading to the Revolution. Can you match any of these to some of the laws passed by Parliament between 1764 and 1775?

An Oration Delivered at the State-House, in Philadelphia, to a Very Numerous Audience; on Thursday the 1st of August, 1776 / By Samuel Adams

Liberty, Huzzah!

Before radio, television, and the Internet, oratory was a common way to express one's opinions in a public setting. Attending a public debate or speech could be a form of entertainment for the public, especially on a popular or compelling topic such as independence. Many orations were later printed so that additional audiences could experience them. This example, printed in Dublin Ireland is attributed to Samuel Adams one of of the most fervent American patriots but may be a forgery (not actually by Samuel Adams).

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Look at the full title page of this oration.

Why do you think there are asterisks in place of letters in this title page?

What do you think the missing letters say? 

What are the speaker's (author's) main arguments in this work?

If this is not a actually by Samuel Adams, why would someone attribute it to him?

Letter Addressed to his Excellency General Washington on the Declaration of Independence by the Congress of America/ By Rev. Jacob Duche, 1777

Et Tu Duche?

Jacob Duche (1737-1798) served as the Rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia and as the chaplain to the first Continental Congress in 1774. After being captured by the British in September 1777, Duche wrote this letter to George Washington in an attempt to influence Washington and publicly state his (Duche's) position on the American cause.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Read this item and determine if Duche was for or against American independence?

What do you think Duche's motives were in writing this letter to George Washington and having it published for all to read?

By 1783, the United States had been at war with Great Britain for over seven years over issues of taxation, representation, and self-determination. While major hostilities began to wind down after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis's British army at Yorktown, Virginia in October, 1781, the United States had still not won its independence from Britain and the British army still occupied New York. In the political arena, the Continental Congress had adopted the The Articles of Confederation taking effect March 1, 1781 to serve as a blueprint for a more effective, unified central government. However, the Articles proved to be weak leading to a Convention of delegates to meet in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. This meeting led to the adoption of a new Constitution for the United States that took effect in 1789 and has continued to this day. 

 

Helpful Links:

Articles of Confederation

Peace Treaty between Britain and the United States, 1783

International Recognition of the New Nation

The Treaty of Paris signed on September 3, 1783 established peace between Britain and the American Colonies and America's ally, France, ending the American Revolution and recognizing the United States as an independent nation.

First Publication of the U.S. Constitution, September 19, 1787

A Better Form of Government

The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787, initially to revise the Articles of Confederation, but leading to the adoption of a new Constitution that took effect in 1789. This first printing of the U.S. Constitution appeared in the Wednesday September 19, 1787 issue of the Philadelphia newspaper, Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Look at the beginning of Articles I., II., and III. of the Constitution and identify the three branches of government it created.

Compare the Constitution with the former form of government, the Articles of Confederation (can be found online). Can you identify three differences (such as powers given to the government) between the Articles and the Constitution?

Form of the Ratification of the United States Constitution by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, December 13, 1787

Early Adopter

After the Constitution of the United States was agreed upon by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787 it still had to be ratified (agreed to) by conventions of the thirteen colonies with nine required for it to take effect. Pennsylvania was the second colony to ratify the Constitution on December 13, 1787. To influence other colonies to ratify or reject the Constitution, persons wrote a series of pamphlets or newspaper articles for or against ratification. Among the most famous of these were what became known as the Federalist Papers in favor of ratification written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

Suggested Activities or Questions to Consider:

Do you think there was a reason that the Constitution was ratified (agreed to) by special conventions held in each of the thirteen states rather than voted on by each state legislature? Can you identify the reason?

Do you think that smaller (size of population) states had more or less to gain that larger states in ratifying the Constitution? Why or why not?