What Are The Causes Of Nova Scotia's Rebellion

Many of the reasons the American colonies believed they were justified in their rebellion from England lay in trade and taxes. When George III inherited the throne at the end of the Seven Years’ War England’s debt had risen to 145 million pounds and his chief minister believed that the American colonies needed to help shoulder the debt. (Nash, et al., 2007., p. 134) In attempting to collect these taxes from the colonies to relieve the mounting debt Parliament passed a range of acts, which led to discontent among the colonists as many of them restricted trade, their political maneuverability and left many believing they infringed upon their “right to be taxed only by their own consent.” (Nash, et al., 2007., p. 135) The Stamp and Townshend Acts

After winning the French and Indian war in 1763 Britain received a large amount of land west of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists were eager to settle in the newfoundland, but the King’s Proclamation of 1763 forbade any colonists from settling there. This restriction of land was unjustified to the colonies and when they rose up to fight in the American Revolution in 1765 one of their goals was to be able to rule their own land. The belief in controlling their land strengthened as Britain continued to abuse the colonies’ settlements. In the Quartering Acts the King had forced the colonists to house British soldiers and allow them to invade their property. Their strong cry for land and control of it was heard upon winning the American Revolution. Similar issues arose during the War of 1812. Several British citizens had maintained a residence in the US

However, the relation became worse when Britain decided to support the South in the American Civil War. (p 105)As the result Americans wanted to take all land, which is now Canada. Moreover, Britain didn’t want to have to pay the cost of defending its colonies. So, the United States could attack Canada, but as all colonies were separate, they were afraid of the destruction. That is why; joining the Confederation would help and strengthen the military defense of colonies. Also, the Confederation would allow Canada to achieve the independence, build the Intercolonial Railway, which could allow a military support and have a defense strategy. A union would provide a better defense for Nova Scotia in case of American attack.(p 110) As a united Canada, all provinces are stronger in the military way and also more independent from other countries. All colonies were feeling pressure from United States, because of the some reasons like American Civil War, Fenian raids and Manifest Destiny. Fenian Brotherhood, a group of Irish Americans, was putting a pressure on Britain to grant independence to

British military governors instilled fear in the American people, and lead them to become angry at Parliament and their oppressive new way of governing them. After colonial assemblies condemned taxation without representation, British military governors along with many British soldiers were placed throughout the colonies to keep colonists from revolting or protesting the Taxes. Many of the colonists saw this as an act of distrust because the British did not think the colonists would do as they were told without the threat of military presence being there. The British could no longer trust them to be loyal and peaceful subjects to the crown, so they greatened the amounts of authority and restriction over the colonists. The colonists were not happy with the military presence and became wary of the growing amount of restrictions and taxes. The combined taxes and military presence was restricting the freedoms that the men and women had the rights to. The British Government did not believe that they deserved as many rights as British citizens, even though they were still loyal subjects to the crown. The British soldiers that had been placed in cities all over the colonies were often treated poorly, even though they were only doing what they were told by their leaders. To many of the colonists, they were seen as oppressors, instead of as a necessary evil to keep peace. This poor

Before the American Revolution, most colonists had traveled from England to the North American colonies considering themselves citizens of the British empire and seeking a better life. However, actions taken from the Continental Congress have begun to question British power. After the French and Indian War between France and Britain, the British government have abused their power and authority towards the colonies by taxing them without representation. As a result, between 1750-1766, the colonies of America have united and decided to declare independence from Great Britain to become a successful, self-developed nation.

It is important to establish that the colonists were a constituency of varied parties maintaining different interests. The colonial elite created a reconciliation and sustained a basic consensus regarding the general aims and concerns of the colonists. However, when met with friction, the elite’s alliance proved to be rather volatile; consequently, radical colonists emerged with much potency. For this reason it is unclear if there was a distinguished common goal amongst all of the groups within the colonies.

Upon arriving at Jamestown in 1607, English colonists began their experience towards achieving colonial unity. As much of the old world established dominion over the new colonies, they encountered more competition and continued the struggle to reach colonial unity. Legislation, such as The Mayflower Compact and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut enabled the colonies to expand upon themselves in such a way that enabled a sense of national identity, and eventually, colonial unity.

The American Revolution was a successful revolt of the colonies and their mother country in a fight for their independence. It was successful, because the new independent country known as the United States of America was formed, and can still be seen today. However, the revolution goes very in depth on how it happened.

Socially, a lack of communication between Great Britain and the North American colonies was to blame for the Revolutionary War. Part of Great Britain’s indebtedness

To finance the wars Britain raised taxes immensely sparking upset in both the colonies and in England (pg. 169) England wanting to expand their empire in the colonies wanted French posts out of Pennsylvania sparking the Seven Year’s War. (170) Colonists fought against French and Native forces until the war was won by the British in 1759(170). Northern colonists who fought in the war left with a sense of nationality towards England. Not only had the war left a patriotic feeling with Britain but also brought the colonies closer together. “The defeat of the Catholic French reinforced the equation of British nationality, Protestantism, and freedom.” pg 177. The colonists now wanted to be seen as Englishmen and have the rights of Englishmen in Parliament. Enlightenment thought was also becoming accepted by monarchs in other European empires, but Britain still relied on a social contract of religious beliefs. This upset colonists who thought that social contracts should be based on rights and liberties, not religious beliefs. As tensions grew between the northern colonies and the British crown, the southern colonies still had a booming economy. The southern colonies did not fight in the Seven Year’s War and did not want any changes to economy. They had free labor through the slave trade and relied heavily on constant trade with

Prior to the start of the Seven Years War, the colonies of the United States had experienced a permissive relationship with Great Britain due to the act of Salutary Neglect. However, after the war, England felt they could no longer have such uninvolved relations with the colonists and began instituting stricter policies over them. Consequently, the Seven Years War marked a great turning point in colonial relations with England, with changes such as the legislation which led to the increase of British control as well as anti-British sentiment in the colonies. But despite these changes, continuities such as loyalty to Britain still remained after the war.

The day after, the battle of Bunker hill the patriots retreated and reorganized. The patriots lost less men than the British had lost but even with the aont of men lost the British still had managed to take the hill. The American colonist heard about the battle and they faced major decision. Should they join the rebels or remain loyal to the British? With this battle the colonists became more independent in the formation of the continental army preparing for a protective war for

There were also negative consequences to having Native Americans on the British side. According to some British commanders, Native Americans were “unruly, uncontrollable, and could not be trusted in the heat of battle”. Native Americans were becoming more of a burden to the British as the war continued. They would often leave a battle to return home or would not listen to British commanding officers. Native Americans did not fight in the same manner as the British and some of their practices lead to mistrust and conflict with their British allies. The number of Natives also dependent on British gifts of food and clothing was also becoming unsustainable. The alliance would further be hampered by the deaths of strong leaders on both sides that held the fragile alliance together.

In the 1600’s as the first English colonists were settling in America, there was little difference between the identities of the colonists and the identities of the citizens still in England. The colonists were very much still English citizens who just took an opportunity, whether it was to make money or practice their religion. As time wore on this changed, as the colonists in America dealt with many experiences very different from those living in England. This included dealings with aggressive natives and the overall struggle for survival. By 1763, at the end of the French and Indian war, it was clear that the identities of those in England and the colonists were very contrasting. Although there were colonists whose