America is the most respected and hated country in the world. We thrive in business and technology. We are always on the verge of something great. People come from far and wide to start a life on our rich, humble, American soil. Are we so special because we were founded on morals of honor and integrity? I say no. Our founding fathers were nothing like we"re taught to believe. They were smugglers, thieves, liars, cheats and rebels, but they were all the aforementioned traits with a dream to be free from British rule.
In the book, "The Glorious Cause" written by Robert Middlekauff, it is said that the seeds of the American Revolution were planted before the war even started. I agree with that statement. The thirteen colonies were unfairly taxed, and represented. The conditions of the Stamp Act and the Treaty of Paris are proof. Soon after the laws of these actions were set in place the Sons of Liberty was formed. The Sons of Liberty were a radical group of men who set out the raise hell against the British. Another unfair act was the Townshend Act, which taxed many imports and exports.
In 1770 the Boston Massacre was the final straw. The American colonists had had enough. The First Continental Congress was established and the Boston Tea Party soon fallowed. This, I believe, was America's way of starting to rebel and show that we would not be intimidated. Keep in mind this was a very crude and non-gentlemanly gesture. The English would not take it and cut down any ideas of a compromise with the colonies.
Before the second meeting of the Continental Congress in April of 1775 the situation had changed again- both the British army and colonists fired shots. It was apparent the revolution had started. Boston had become under siege, George Washington was named General of the American Army, and Fort Ticonderoga was taken from the British. .
Fighting raged on and colonies were split into three groups loyalists, rebels, and undecided colonists.