Question

Explain the events in the American struggle for independence.

Answer 1

To suit its colonial interests, England began to impose restrictions on the colonies. The Maritime Law was a step in this direction. This law authorized only the British companies for the sea transport.

The ‘Stamp Act’ (1765) made it obligatory to purchase special stamps for important documents. British colonies in America like Virginia, Massachusetts put up resistance against the Stamp Act and also other restrictions imposed on the colonies. On 5th March 1770, some people were shot down by British soldiers, in Boston, a port city in Massachusetts.

The British parliament had granted a monopoly to ‘East India Company’ to import and sell tea to the colonies. People in the colonies had started demanding the removal of the restrictions imposed on them and autonomy. When the British Government refused to yield to these demands, the American colonies declared a boycott on British goods. In 1773, as an act of resistance, the local residents of Boston dumped the boxes containing tea in the sea belonging to the East India Company. This event is known as the ‘Boston Tea Party'. A federation of the colonies known as the ‘Continental Congress’ was established. In 1774, a meeting of the congress was called. In this meeting known as the ‘First Continental Congress,’ a strong opposition was expressed to the import of British goods. It was also decided to boycott British goods. These events ultimately gave momentum to the American independence movement against European powers.

Thirteen colonies in America came together and declared independence from Great Britain. On 4th July in the meeting known as the ‘Second Continental Congress’, a document is known as the ‘Declaration of Independence’ was adopted. This document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The crucial point of the document announced that the 13 American colonies were independent sovereign states. The key point of this document is the statement about three basic human rights, namely, ‘Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness’. It was stated that these three are the natural rights of all humans, which nobody can be deprived of.

The conflict between the colonies and the British army continued for some time resulting in several battles after the colonies declared independence. Finally, at Saratoga, the colonies got a decisive victory over the British army. This victory proved to be a turning point for the colonies as the French agreed to support them in their conflict with the British. Eventually, Spain also joined the colonies in their struggle for independence. On 7th October 1780, George Washington defeated the British army. On 19th October, British general Lord Cornwallis surrendered and America became independent. The American revolt for independence is also known as the ‘American Revolution’. It was a war tantamount to Americans fighting one’s own king to get back their independence. Americans proved to the world that the subjects have a right to fight the rulers who deny them their natural rights. It is said that ‘State without a King’ is a phenomenon, which is a gift to the world from America.