Moral Foundations to Independence

Independence is a condition of a group of people in which its group members exercise self-government over their territory. Independence is where the members of the group act upon their own choices; they are free from opposing rules. Independence is what the thirteen colonies struggled for as they rebelled against the British Government in the late 1700's. The thought of what Independence meant for the colonies gave them determination and the will-power to struggle for it. There were many reasons as to why the colonies wanted independence, but the main reason was that the British government was making decisions that went against the rule of law. This is why the colonies where morally justified in declaring their independence from Great Britain.




First, the inalienable rights, or the natural rights of man were completely violated by the British government. While the thirteen colonies were rapidly expanding the British passed many laws that were called acts that violated these rights. Natural rights are the rights that all men are given by God and cannot be taken away. If these rights are threatened, then any group or person, or in this case the American colonies, are justified in rebelling against the unlawful government. Also, there are many freedoms that the colonies desired that the British took away from them, such as, the freedom of religion. The want to be able to worship what you want to and in your own ways, played a big part in an individuals yearning to become independent from Britain. King George III was trying to be a great and powerful king, unlike his two predecessors, but his rulings created a government where many wanted to rebel because of all the restrictions. After the American colonies were formed, King George III continued to make laws that he thought would prevent the colonies in rebelling even further, when in reality made all of the patriots do the exact opposite and got even angrier with the British Government.

Many of the Acts, or laws, that the British enforced during the late 1760’s and 1770’s included the Stamp Act, the Tea Act, and the Quartering Act. First, the stamp act was a law passed where all printed materials were taxed, including; newspapers, pamphlets, bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs, dice and playing cards. This law was the first direct tax on the colonies. The patriots were morally justified to become independent because this law represented taxation without representation and an absurd amount of taxes on everything that even correlates to stamps and such. Next, the tea act was to reduce the massive surplus of tea held by the financially trouble East India Trading Company in its London warehouses. This made it so all tea companies had to be imported to Britain first before it went to the colonies. This created larger taxes and tea. However there was one exception, the east India trading company was the only one who could import straight to the colonies. This created a monopoly and shut all other businesses down. In response, the patriots executed the Boston Tea Party where hundreds boycotted this specific company to try to send them a message. The tea act took away the colonist’s freedom to choice for themselves of what tea company they wanted to purchase from. Also, the tea act displayed taxation without representation. Following, the Quartering acts were put in place. The quartering act was a law that forced families to give up their own home and food to house a British soldier at any time. This act went against man’s natural rights the most because it violated man’s rights to property. When someone has to give up what is personally theirs, such as part of a house, is certainly justified to rebel and desire independence from the government that enforced that law.


Along with the previous acts, the Massachusetts Government Act and the Administration of Justice Act were also key laws that justified the patriots in rebelling and claiming their own independence. The Massachusetts Government Act made it so the government of Massachusetts was now under the rule of the crown. This meant that Massachusetts no longer had the freedom to make up their own laws. This also desecrated man’s natural rights in that the right to liberty or freedom is not observed. When the king took away Massachusetts right to government, it took away man’s right to liberty, making it okay for the colonists to rebel and eventually declare independence from independence. Next, the Administration of Justice Act made it so royal officials no longer had to face trial for crimes, or in other words, could just go straight for death☻. Just kidding, I was being sarcastic, that is the exact opposite of a smiley face:(. Yes, that is more like it. Anyways, George Washington called it the “Murder Act” because the royal officials did not even have the opportunity to face trial. This went against man’s natural right of life, probably the most important one because without life, there wouldn’t be an opportunity to have liberty or property. If the British government takes away one’s right to their own life, I am pretty sure that it would be alright if the colonies become independent.


Finally, to take the final steps in becoming independent many of the colonial citizens started to voice their opinions. For example, Patrick Henry once uttered a phrase, “Gentlemen may cry peace, peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God—I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” These types of speeches were very common and completely accurate. When Patrick Henry said give me liberty or give me death was no understatement. The men that signed the Declaration of Independence were signing their lives away because of how unlawful their actions were. If the declaring of their independence didn’t work then all 56 men that signed that document would have probably be swiftly executed.


These are many of the reasons why the colonies’ rebellion and declaring of their independence was morally justified. Moral justification is the reason why we are here today and why the United States of America is what it is today.