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Essay / The Colonists' Aims in the Revolutionary War
The colonists had several goals in waging the Revolutionary War. The most important goal was for the people, eager to create a system of government on their own terms, to free themselves from Britain's stifling rule. Although the idea of freedom and independence was popular, the colonists ensured that there were still certain restrictions that kept certain groups like women and African Americans silent. Finally, the colonists deliberately adopted systems of government that were the opposite of the British model in order to address their most stubborn grievances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The main goal of the Revolutionary War was to gain independence from Great Britain and obtain freedom. As the new political system emerged, the idea of independence was often emphasized, whether independence from the British government or personal freedom. The idea of intrinsic rights was very popular thanks to the Age of Enlightenment. For example, the Pennsylvania Constitution, written in 1776 by some of the founding fathers, began by stating that “all men are born equally free and independent” (Doc 6). The document's goal, to create a system of government for the state, was quickly understood by the people, and although the document was addressed only to white landowners, it was considered a success. The first outline of a federal government did not appear until after the Articles of Confederation were created in 1777, so before then states had to create their own individual governments. Because of their newfound freedom, many people feared that a federal government would be too similar to the structure of England. In 1776, an independent writer claimed that although the British government was somewhat republican thanks to the House of Commons, "England [was] almost as monarchical as that of France or Spain" (Doc 1) . The colonies having no representation in the House of Commons, the Republican part of the government was withdrawn from them. Additionally, the British continued to tax the colonists even more heavily than their own citizens. The colonists were not fundamentally unhappy about being taxed, but they demanded “no taxation without representation.” The desire for representation influenced colonists to ensure they had a say in their government when developing plans for the nation. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776, he took the will of the people into consideration (Doc 2). He declared the colonies as free and independent states, giving them the right to wage war, engage in commerce, and forge alliances. He made it clear that the new U.S. government would grant states the rights they want, allaying people's fears. Although the newly proposed systems of government promised representation, they were somewhat misleading. In most cases, the idea of representation in government only really applied to white men. However, the difference between the American and British rules was that people had the opportunity to make changes. A large group in the United States, African Americans and slaves, were still heavily restricted. However, African Americans used their country's history with Great Britain to their advantage. A slave named Cato was freed[1] because his owner failed to comply with slave registration laws..