Causes of the American Revolution - Free Essay Example

The American Revolution was caused by the French and Indian War, the Proclamation Line of 1763, Navigation acts, lack of colonial representation, and violent colonial resistance. Even though the French and Indian War succeeded in giving Great Britain an enormous amount of territory in North America, it was also immensely expensive. In an attempt to cover these expenses, Britains parliament decided to impose taxes on the colonists, also known as the Navigation Acts. These acts led to colonial resentment over the growing imperial rule in the colonies. Having no control over these taxes, colonists realized their lack of representation in the English Parliament and wrote to King George III, hoping to gain some say in what was imposed upon them. In response, the colonists gained more taxes and their irritation with the parliament grew. Great Britain, not wanting to provocate another war with the Indians, attempted to limit Westward expansion for colonists by passing the Proclamation Line of 1763, which stated that colonists could not settle West of the Appalachian Mountains. Tired of the repressive laws and taxes bestowed upon them, colonists began to revolt and use violence as their way of rejecting British rule. These clashes over colonial freedom led to an extensive war for independence. When the war ended in 1763, Britain gained a vast amount of land for its empire after signing the Treaty of Paris. Although the war had ended, fighting with indians continued. After signing the treaty, ten thousand British troops arrived on the new frontier to defend and assuage it. The soldiers lodged themselves in the homes of many settlers, causing colonial discontent with the disruption of their homes. Along with building a vast empire and strong Navy, Britain was so high in expenses that Englands national debt doubled in amount. England decided to push the debt on the colonies in the form of many taxes and laws. Resentment among colonists grew as their expansion was limited and they were heavily taxed. After an expensive war, King George III passed the Proclamation Line of 1763 to prevent further fighting with the indians. This frontier policy forbade colonial settlement West of the Appalachian Mountains, mainly in the Ohio Valley. Many colonists disliked this policy and resented the British monarchy for it. The colonists were celebrating the opening of the frontier won after the war, and grew upset that their expansion became limited. Many colonists believed that Britain was trying to keep a tight control over the colonies by enacting this policy. Since Britain was in a massive debt and in need of cash, the expenses were pushed onto America. This led to a series of taxes imposed upon the colonists, some of which were meant to prevent smuggling. The Sugar Act of 1764 taxed many commonly used imports such as sugar, coffee, and wine. Tax collection was stringently enforced and led colonists to protest and cry no taxation without representation, because they had no say in the British policy. For the colonists, property was seen as a freedom instead of just a possession. If one had property, they could provide for themselves without relying on the government. When the security of that property was threatened due to taxes, so was the liberty that came with it. Many colonists believed that their freedom was being dealt with in this way, and protested. For example, in Massachusetts, a protest was drawn up that stated that taxes ought not to be laid without representatives of the colonists affected by them. In March, 1765, the Stamp tax became a law, forcing any formally written or printed documents to be put on singular stamped paper and distributed in America by resident agents who were on payment of the taxes. The colonists would have to pay stamp tariffs on the stages of lawsuits, almanacs, newspapers, bills and bonds, diplomas, deeds, advertisements, and even dice and cards. Regardless of size, each fee seemed to be a strike on the security of property to the colonists because they were levied without assent. With the passage of the Stamp Act, merchants of the colonies rebelled by agreeing to cease imports on all British goods unless Parliament were to repeal it. Most colonies also witnessed a pause in business due to the desire to nulli fy the act, and used nothing that required the use of stamps. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION Most Englishmen were ineligible to vote on the acts of Parliament, either because they did not own enough property, or they lived in towns that were not allowed to send members. The Sugar Act and a newly proposed stamp tax brought forth colonial protests and objections. In an attempt to justify these new acts, Thomas Whatley, a member of the Parliament, assured the colonists that they werent unrepresented, but they instead enjoyed a virtual representation, without voting for anyone. According to Whatley, each member of Parliament represented the entire empire and not just the few electors who chose them. The colonists roundly rejected this idea of virtual representation and wanted an actual representation in Parliament. In October, 1765, nine colonies sent representatives to New York to attend the Stamp Act Congress, where they drew up a set of regulations denying the authority of taxation by Parliament. This declaration of rights and grievances was framed and then sent to King Georg e III, but despite the opposition, the Stamp Act was still enacted. The colonists were angered by the lack of representation that they had in the British government, and thus their desire for freedom was fueled. COLONIAL RESISTANCE As the colonists tried to flout the British government, they formed rebellious associations, a popular one called the Sons of Liberty in Boston, led by politician Samuel Adams. The purpose of these groups was to declare the colonial intention to resist the Stamp act to the last extremity. The colonists in these associations found themselves willing to risk their lives in rebellion to prevent the security of their property from being taken by the Parliament, in which they had no representation. In response to the Stamp Act, the Sons of Liberty hung an effigy of Andrew Oliver, who was paid to distribute stamps in Massachusetts, along with a large boot with a devil climbing out of it, to symbolize Olivers evil connection to the Stamp Act. After dusk, many furious colonists of Boston burned Olivers property, stoned his house, and beheaded the effigy. Similar riots began to break out and forced the resignations of various crown-appointed officials.

The Guatemalan Genocide - Free Essay Example

The Mayan community, left in ruins after a catastrophe that left scars physically and mentally, are still struggling to recover from what can only be described as a nightmare in real life. The Guatemalan Civil War, a controversy between the Mayans and the Government, was an injustice due to discrimination in the government system. There was only one way this could end, mass genocide of the Mayan people. Through this terrible event, the Mayans still persevered. They had hope for a better future where they could be free from hate. The Mayan people have been used as slaves since the Spaniards founded their land in the 1600s. In the late 1800s, The Mayans had no security in keeping their land. Not only was it extremely easy to take Mayan land, it was also easy to enslave their people as well. When the Mayan land was taken, they would have nothing and have no choice but to become a slave to stay alive. These injustices continued for years until the Mayans started to stand up for their rights. These protests made the plantation owners and slave owners of the Mayans feel threatened, and started asking the government to get rid of the Mayans. The government ignored the requests of the slave owners, but later would use it as an excuse for the genocide. In 1944, a civilian government was elected on a platform of ambitious land reforms. In response, the CIA helped install a right wing military dictator in June, 1954. This conflict was the start to 40 long years of political violence in Guatemala. The military rulers continued to liquidate their political opponents throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In order to stop this dictatorship, a guerilla movement began due to the civilians getting increasingly militarized. The Mayan initially supported the guerilla movement. They viewed it as a last hope for their equality. The government did not like this, and marked the Mayan population as enemies. This helped kick start the Mayan Genocide. In 1980, the Guatemalan army instituted Operation Sophia, an initiative aimed at ending the guerilla movement. The army targeted the Mayan population, who were the main supporters of the guerilla movement. This was the start to the worst part of the Guatemalan Genocide. Over the next three years, the army destroyed 626 Mayan villages, killed about 200,000 people, relocated over 1.5 million people, and drove over 150,000 people into hiding. They then instituted a Scorched Earth policy. They burnt and destroyed buildings and crops, slaughtered livestock, polluted the water supply, and violated sacred places. All of these horrible actions were undertaken by the army. The Mayans were not the only ones hurt. Catholic Priests and Nuns also faced violence because they supported the Mayan population. In 1986, civilian rule and a new constitution were set up, but the Guatemalan army kept its power, fueling the genocide for a little bit longer. Peace talks were being set up across the globe to stop the genocide in 1991, but made poor progress. After 10 years of trying to stop the Guatemalan Genocide, a peace agreement was finally signed in 1996. Part of the agreement included the start of The Historical Clarification Commission (CEH). The Historical Clarification Commission was an investigation into the events of the Guatemalan Civil War. It began work in 1997, funded by a number of countries, with the U.S.A being a very generous donor. The Commission asked for the records of the Guatemalan army for the period of 1981-1983, the peak of the genocide. The army was unable to provide the records, however, the Commission was able to collect over 9,000 witness statements for what happened in the three year window. In February, 1999, ?Guatemala: Memory of Silence was published. This report brought attention to the injustices of   the Guatemalan Genocide to people around the globe. The report also revealed the government policy of genocide against the Mayan Indians. This started movements around the globe to help the Mayans. In June 2001, Mayan communities brought a charge of genocide to Efrain Rios-Montt, the former dictator in charge of the genocide. From that point on, the trials from the genocide began to become more frequent, with the injustices against the Mayan finally being resolved. After the Guatemalan Genocide, Mayan communities were left in ruins. People all around the world were trying to help the Mayans the best they could. Bridgeway, a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were first introduced into this cry for help from a missionary in their community. Bridgeway went on a mission trip in 2006 to Guatemala to help build homes for the widows and children. Jeff and Jodi Helpman, who were former members of Bridgeway, saw the need in Guatemala and got their church, The Grove, a church in Bryson City, involved in the mission trip as well. Together, the two churches formed Bridge of Hope, a foundation dedicated to helping clean up the Guatemalan Genocide. Every year in March, Bridge of Hope sends a group of people to go to villages in the Ixil Triangle and build homes for the widows and children affected by the Mayan Genocide. On the trip, the group will build about 15 to 25 (12ft by 12ft) homes. Not only do they provide homes, they also provide wood stoves, garden ing tools, live stock, and most importantly, hope. I chose this service project because my family has been a part of Bridge of Hope for all my life. I have heard many stories from them and know a lot about the trip. The main reason is that I plan on going to the 2019 Go Guatemala trip next year. I wanted to learn more about the area before I experienced it. Our plan for our service is to help raise money for the 2018 Go Guatemala trip. We are going to help fundraise by operating our churchs hot chocolate bar on Sunday, December 9. The Guatemalan Genocide deeply affected the Mayan community. It left the Mayan scared with the loss of friends, family, and their homes. Although nobody can reverse the Guatemalan Genocide, there are people out there who are willing to work hard to make a difference in the Mayans lives by showing their compassion and helping to heal the wounds The Mayan Genocide left behind.