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Chapter IV The First Protest Of Massachusetts (1761)
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- Written by: G.E. Howard
- Category: Preliminaries of the Revolution, 1763-1775, by G.E. Howard
After a century and a quarter of discussion, the American Revolution is today clearly emerging as an event of first-rate importance in social as well as political history. In that discussion, the wrong point of view has often been taken. On the one hand, the struggle has been looked upon as a war of liberation from a despotism imposed on the colonies as if through conscious malice; on the other, as a needless revolt inspired mainly by a few hot-headed demagogues taking advantage of a blundering royal policy.
Chapter III The Mercantile Colonial System (1660-1775)
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- Written by: G.E. Howard
- Category: Preliminaries of the Revolution, 1763-1775, by G.E. Howard
The primary cause of the American Revolution must be sought in the character of the old colonial system, which was based on political and economic theories generally accepted as valid in the seventeenth century, but which, nevertheless, were the fruit of ignorance and inexperience.
Chapter IV Poverty And Peril(1781-1783)
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- Written by: A.C. McLaughlin
- Category: The Confederation and the Constitution, 1783-1789, by A.C. McLaughlin
The adoption of the Articles gave no assistance to Congress in securing money. It had managed to hobble along in the past, now begging alms of France, now ordering the printer to issue more paper, again obtaining some assistance by requisitions from the states. But if the Confederation was to maintain even the semblance of credit abroad or of dignity at home, it must have money.
Chapter III The Problem Of Imperial Organization (1775-1787)
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- Written by: A.C. McLaughlin
- Category: The Confederation and the Constitution, 1783-1789, by A.C. McLaughlin
The end of the war did not end America's trials. The next few years were crowded with perplexities; men who could think were anxious and troubled. Before the people who had broken away frorn Britain and had announced their own political beliefs could take full advantage of the opportunities lying at their door, the wreckage left by the war had to be cleared away; they had to find suitable political organization, overcome the disastrous influence of civil commotion, look the toil of the future fairly in the face, and begin seriously to practise the principles of self-government, which many were apt to forget were not far different from the principles of self-control.