Quotes about Colonial Discontent

Woodrow Wilson

The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation.

Robert Trout

The American Revolution was, in fact, a battle against the philosophy of Locke and the English utilitarians.

Carl Bernstein

The American Revolution and Declaration of Independence, it has often been argued, were fueled by the most radical of all American political ideas.

Edmund Burke

A wise and salutary neglect

should be His Majesty's policy toward the American colonies.

David Ramsey

The repeal of a few acts of parliament, would at this time have satisfied America. But confident of victory, the ministers were deaf to petitions and remonstrances

Ramsay was discussing the events leading up to the American Revolution. He and many English historians believe that had the British repealed a few if the hated taxes and given America some representation in Parliament, the conflict could easily have been avoided. Ramsay was the first major historian of the American Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin

The execution of the Stamp Act will be impractical, without occasioning more mischief that it was worth by totally alienating the affections of the Americans.

His advice was not taken. The result was as Franklin predicted.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

The Stamp Act was to go into operation on the first day of November. On the previous morning, the 'New Hampshire Gazette' appeared with a deep black border and all the typographical emblems of affliction, for was not Liberty dead?

John Kenneth Galbraith

The American colonies, all know, were greatly opposed to taxation without representation. They were also, a less celebrated quality, equally opposed to taxation with representation.

George Washington

Between you and me, I think our affairs are in a very bad situation.; not so much from the apprehension of General Howe’s army, as from the defection of New York, Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Of the 13 colonies, the 3 Middle Atlantic States, were the least enthusiastic about an armed revolution against England. Jersey—Now New Jersey—was the most recalcitrant then with Benjamin Franklin’s son as Governor. See {634108} for an explanation of why that was.

John Penn

The general temper of the People, as well here as other parts of America, is very warm. They look upon the Chastisement of Boston to be purposely vigorous, and held up by way of intimidation to all America; and in short that Boston is suffering in the Common Cause.

The crackdown on Boston which was intended to set an example and intimidate all of the other colonies backfired, and the British were told about it by their own officials in America. But they were so rigid and ideological about monarchy, that the stimulated rebellion rather than suppress them.

Nicholas Cresswell

The New Englanders by their canting, whining, insulting tricks have persuaded the rest of the [American] colonies that the Government [of George III] is going to make absolute slaves of them.

Colonial Discontent Quotes