On March 23, 1775, in Richmond, Virginia, Patrick Henry gave a speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses. His speech contained a quote that would verbalize the morale of many Americans for the revolutionary years to come, “Give me liberty or give me death”. The odds were stacked against the Americans, but the determination to rid themselves of a tyrannical leach pushed them through to victory. The colonists managed to turn the tide in the war with the British and secure their homeland because of the morale garnered by political unrest, the diplomatic success with France, and the exceptional leadership by American generals.
Political discord between England and its colonies persisted since shortly after their formation, but the Seven Years …show more content…
To avoid British taxes, traders began to smuggle merchandise in and out of American ports and colonists openly defied the Proclamation of 1765 by settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. Angry colonists formed a club called the Sons of Liberty and would break into tax collectors’ homes to beat them up and burn tax documents. At this point Britain sent 40,000 troops to protect the tax collectors and suppress forms of rebellion. The colonists were forced to house the soldiers that were oppressing them, which only angered them further. They expressed this anger through taunting the soldiers, throwing snowballs or rocks at the troops at any opportunity. The Boston Massacre of 1770 marked the first major conflict between the disgruntled colonists and British soldiers. It began when a crowd of colonists surrounded the British soldiers at the customs house, throwing snowballs and rocks at them as usual. It became unusual when the soldiers began firing into the crowd. Five of the colonists were killed and many more were injured. British officials punished the soldiers by having their thumbs burned and were then released. This mild punishment angered the colonists, who considered it a message to the colonists that they were considered lesser than those of Britain. In 1773 the British imposed the Tea Act in an attempt to monopolize the tea trade for the
Political discord between England and its colonies persisted since shortly after their formation, but the Seven Years …show more content…
To avoid British taxes, traders began to smuggle merchandise in and out of American ports and colonists openly defied the Proclamation of 1765 by settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. Angry colonists formed a club called the Sons of Liberty and would break into tax collectors’ homes to beat them up and burn tax documents. At this point Britain sent 40,000 troops to protect the tax collectors and suppress forms of rebellion. The colonists were forced to house the soldiers that were oppressing them, which only angered them further. They expressed this anger through taunting the soldiers, throwing snowballs or rocks at the troops at any opportunity. The Boston Massacre of 1770 marked the first major conflict between the disgruntled colonists and British soldiers. It began when a crowd of colonists surrounded the British soldiers at the customs house, throwing snowballs and rocks at them as usual. It became unusual when the soldiers began firing into the crowd. Five of the colonists were killed and many more were injured. British officials punished the soldiers by having their thumbs burned and were then released. This mild punishment angered the colonists, who considered it a message to the colonists that they were considered lesser than those of Britain. In 1773 the British imposed the Tea Act in an attempt to monopolize the tea trade for the