During the mid 18th Century, English colonists appealed to the metropole for redress of various grievances. In this essay, I want you to consider the ethics and civics of those seeking change (later known to us as the Patriots). Who were these Patriots?

Signature Essay

February 17, 2020

Tomi Nerhus

History 1301-700: US History to 1865

Margaret Keller Garnett, M.A.

Signature Essay

February 17, 2020

Tomi Nerhus

History 1301-700: US History to 1865

Margaret Keller Garnett, M.A.

In the 18th Century, the colonist wanted to be relieved from British rule and have their independence. 1. The British were raising taxes and cutting spending to the colonies, and the colonists began to rebel. The Patriots fought back with seeking education, separating themselves politically, and creating their own wealth. In doing this, they became strongly united and independently wealthy and able to form their own independence.1 

One way to gain independence was to become educated. In John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding, “the mind was originally a blank slate and people were formed primarily by their environment.” This meant people were a product of their environment and not because they were made better than other people. This meant that the colonists needed to create a world where they had access to the things that created wealth and help them become better educated. If they were able to gain access to these things, they could be as well off as the British.1

The colonists also wanted to form their own political institutions. In order to have a strong political intuition, they needed to band together. One way they were able to form a large political body together was due to a famous Patriot Samuel Adams who had posted in the Boston Gazette “separate body politics”. By the Gazette being circulated to many of the colonists, it gave the colonists strength and inspiration to seek independence. They began to create their own political government, which helped them separate from British rule. 1

In order to become independently wealthy, the Patriots began perusing trading and manufacturing of their own goods and were not concerned so much with purchasing more land or other recourses. They wanted to have economic growth to help decrease their national debt rather than raising taxes to decrease their debt. This also empowered them to gain their independence from the British. 1

In response to the British raising taxes and cutting spending to the colonies, the Patriots helped the colonists gain their independence from British rule. They did this by becoming educated, creating their own political government, and creating their own wealth. 1

Primary Sources

George R. T. Hewes, A Retrospect of the Boston Tea-Party, 1834

Thomas Pain Calls for American independence 1776

Declaration of Independence 1776

Secondary Sources

The American Yawp

Foot Notes

1. The American Yawp