American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804

This chapter examines the dynamics between colonial assertions of autonomy and British parliamentary authority during the period leading up to the American Revolution. The narrative illuminates how deeply ingrained the concept of liberty was among British colonists, contrasting sharply with the existence of slavery within their societies. The dialogue between the colonies and Britain is characterized by a profound disagreement over the nature of parliamentary power and colonial autonomy, with the colonists insisting on a political framework that respects their legislative bodies as coequal with Parliament. This contention over legislative authority set the stage for the revolutionary conflict.

The text underscores the pivotal role of political philosophies derived from British critics of parliamentary overreach, like the eloquent essays in Cato’s Letters, which critiqued the accumulation of power as inherently dangerous to liberty. These ideas resonated deeply with the colonists, who feared the encroachment of parliamentary power on their rights and autonomy. The narrative reveals how the colonies’ pushback against Britain was not just a response to taxation without representation but was deeply rooted in a broader philosophical contestation over power, liberty, and governance.

Amidst this political and philosophical turmoil, the chapter discusses the