Reflections on Colonialism and Independence

As a citizen of a country getting ready to celebrate the 240^th anniversary of its independence, I think it bears stopping to reflect on exactly what that means ... and where we came from.

While researching for my piece on the famed Kentucky rifle, I was also reading a bit on the history of warfare, and the two converged in some strange ways in my brain.

                Here at Colonial Quills we celebrate not just the material history of the colonial American era, but also the spiritual legacy. Entangled with both is a political and sociological legacy that moderns are made to feel increasingly ashamed of because of the apparent social and cultural inequities of the time. Even the term “colonial” has been turned into a Bad Word, as the evils of European Colonialism are discussed everywhere.

                What is colonialism, and why did it happen? Since nearly every empire in history made a name for itself by claiming lands that weren’t originally theirs, it’s unfair to lay all the blame for modern woes at Europe’s door. And people groups in general have migrated here and there almost since time began.

                Over the centuries, people ventured here for diverse reasons. Some came seeking profit, but just as many came because they felt they had few other options, or were brought here against their will. Various efforts have been made, at least as we can extrapolate from our own recorded history (recorded in English, that is), by those who settled here to at least attempt to get along with native peoples. Sometimes the natives were amenable (even when they possibly shouldn’t have been) and sometimes they weren’t.

Athens and her fellow Greek city-states were constantly trying to annex each other

                It’s also noteworthy that all major European nations practiced colonialism from about the 17^th century until at least the late 19^th century. North America was the particular focus of Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, and Spain. When the dust of the Seven Years’ War settled (known on this side of the pond as the French and Indian War), Great Britain held most of the continent.

                By the time America declared its independence from Britain, the Crown was attempting to contain westward expansion. I’ve mentioned before how the overmountain settlements—anything west of the Appalachian Mountains—were essentially illegal under both the British and Continental governments. Jefferson is credited as the president who most aggressively pursued westward expansion, with the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Louisiana Purchase, but it can be argued that settlement across the American continent was as much an individual endeavor, or that of family groups, as it was a governmental enterprise.

                Other issues that came out of America’s colonial heritage, such as the government’s treatment of the native peoples, and that of slavery, can be addressed as separate from any particular nation’s quest for supremacy, in my opinion. Others may disagree, but regardless, I feel it’s time that popular culture stopped flailing us as Americans for something that’s been a phenomenon of kings and governments since before Rome, Greece, and the Mongols.

                We may not have gotten here by superior military might (it was more that we wore out Great Britain), and we may or may not be here by the grace of God (although I’d argue we are), but ... we are here. And as a republic, we are one of the most unique nations ever. Do we have things to answer to God for as a nation? Of course. But we’ve also enjoyed a great deal of blessing, all things considered.

                And to quote a popular comic book series, With great power comes great responsibility. May we rise to that, again!

The Birthplace of American Independence . . . in 1687

Mural of the Ipswich Remonstrance in 1687.

Almost 90 years before the first shot of the American Revolution, an event took place in another Massachusetts town that helped turn the tide of history. In the seacoast town of Ipswich, north of Boston, on the eve of August 22, 1687 the esteemed Rev. John Wise of Chebacco Parrish gathered together an emergency meeting of the Selectmen and other leading citizens of the town to discuss a course of action against the recently appointed Governor's warrant to impose taxes on the colonies without the consent of their representatives.

In December 1686, Sir Edmund Andros had assumed the role of Royal Governor of the newly formed administrative region called the Dominion of New England, which included the Massachusetts Bay Colony whose charter was revoked. The Dominion of New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, later New York, East and West Jersey) was established in 1685 by England's Lords of Trade and Plantations, under James II, with the sole purpose of improving and consolidating royal influence in the colonies.

One of Governor Andros's first acts was to pass an ordinance demanding a tax of a penny on a pound to afford him revenue. The Colonies had previously appropriated its own taxes according to each town's needs. Although the new Governor's warrant aroused general opposition, most towns submitted to the new ruling including appointing tax collectors.

When the Ipswich men met, "They all agreed that this warrant act for raising revenue, abridged their liberties as Englishmen." and “that it was not the town’s duty any way to assist that ill method of raising money.” The right to assemble for town meetings having been denied the colony by Governor, they called a legal assembly the following day by virtue of choosing a commissioner to assess the inhabitants for laying of rates and voted unanimously that:

"The town then considering, that this act doth infringe their liberty, as freeborn English subjects of His Majesty, by interfering with the Statute Laws of the land, by which it was enacted, that no taxes should be levied upon the subjects without the consent of an Assembly, chosen by the Freeholders for assessing of the same, they do therefore vote, that they are not willing to choose a commissioner for such an end without said privilege, and, moreover, consent not, that the Selectmen do proceed to lay any such rate until it be appointed by a General Assembly, concurring with Governor and Council."

This rebellion was the beginning of the American protest against taxation without representation which finally led to Independence.

Mural on the Ipswich Riverwalk depicting the arrest.

What followed was the arrest of the seven principle individuals involved for being "factiously and seditiously inclined, and disaffected to his Majesty's government." They were brought before a jury hand-picked by the prosecution. When claiming their rights as Englishmen the judges stated that they had left their rights in England when they left, telling Rev. John Wise, "you have no more privileges Left you then not to be Sold for Slaves." The revolters were jailed and heavily fined. Rev. Wise was also revoked his ministerial authority for a period of time. And, among them, Maj. Samuel Appleton refused to give the bond and was kept prisoner in Boston from November until  March under harsh conditions.

The Dominion came to an abrupt halt in 1689, when word arrived in the colonies about the removal of James II from the throne in the Glorious Revolution. Some poetic justice was had when Maj. Samuel Appleton helped escort Andros to Castle Island in Boston Harbor as a prisoner before he was shipped back to England. The new British sovereigns, William and Mary, issued the colonists new charters.

The Rev. John Wise, whose writings were reprinted and popular in the years preceding the American Revolution, is said to have inspired the Declaration of Independence with these words originally written in 1700:

“The first human subject and original of civil power is the people . . .
and when they are free, they may set up what species of government they please. The end of all good government is to cultivate humanity and promote the happiness of all, and the good of every man in all his rights, his life, liberty, estate, honor, etc., without injury or abuse done to any.”