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Essay / Boston Tea Party: What Laws Actually Do in Society
Until the late 18th century, colonial America was ruled and policed by Great Britain. Even though they were two separate continents, America was considered the property of Great Britain, and everyone who lived in colonial America was expected, and some might say forced, to follow British law. Some laws seemed so ridiculous and restrictive, such as taxes on imported products like tea, that they provoked massive uprisings by different groups. An example of this rebellion would be the Boston Tea Party. Taking place, as noted, in Boston, in December 1773, a few men had something to prove to the British. "Three teams of men dressed as Mohawk Indians silently boarded three British ships, carefully opened hundreds of crates of tea, threw the tea leaves into the water, and claimed responsibility for the deed in the name of the Sons of Liberty." They wanted the British to know that no matter how harsh and powerful Britain is, the colonists will fight back for their own rights. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay With this act of defiance and many others, the Revolutionary War was sparked. The Revolutionary War officially began in 1775, with General George Washington, a courageous but strict man, leading the Continental Army. The thirteen colonies lacked fighters, so allies were formed, bringing France and Spain to the aid of the Americas. Fighting Britain was surely daunting. In addition to the large number of men in the British forces, the soldiers were very close-knit. “The British soldier's distinctive red coat, which gave him his nickname, was made of woolen cloth […] Soldiers used a mixture of lard and candle wax to grease their hair before powdering it.” Britain, combined with Germany, was a tough force, but not unbeatable. “Independence was declared on July 4, 1776. Declaring independence and achieving it, however, were not the same thing. » From the time of the declaration of independence until the actual gaining of independence in 1783, the war was a difficult road. After the events of the Revolutionary War, new Americans awaited peace. On the other hand, it was anything but peaceful. New rules had to be established. New laws that every citizen had to respect had to be developed. The only problem with this is that not everyone agrees. One of the biggest controversies, which led to more corruption and hatred, was slavery. “South Carolina had more slaves than free people, and Virginia's slaves made up about 40 percent of its total population. Vast amounts of money were invested in human property, and few owners were willing to part with their investments. […] If the North and South were to remain within the same nation, they would have to compromise on slavery. » As far as slavery was concerned, this was going to be the end of a nation that was just beginning. Finding compromise on an issue that meant so much to some and so little to others did not seem plausible. By showing how laws cause people to act radically, I ask this question: if laws create disruptive behavior, why maintain it? If the rules create as much chaos as without them, then why force everyone to follow them? We make laws to serve as guidelines for what is acceptable in our society...