The American revolutionary war has been studied and presented by historians in a multitude of ways. At the elementary level of schooling, many American children are given an account of the revolution involving a heroic, patriotic struggle against a tyrant King and a greedy despotic parliament. In this account, England is shown to institute taxes and tariffs that are completely unfounded by the colonists. Taxation without representation, the colonists cried. The reasoning behind these taxes is only explained as being instituted to force the colonies into submission. However, many historians give an account that is quite different. Some have researched both sides of the story, and make many of the claims made by the patriotic colonial leaders seem radical and sometimes even irrational. Examining the work The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution, by historian Bernard Bailyn, he describes the views of the colonists:

They saw about them, with increasing clarity, not merely mistaken,

or even evil, policies violating the principles upon which freedom

rested, but what appeared to be evidence of nothing less than a deliberate assault laun

However, John Adams addressed these letters in a series of essays published in the Boston Gazette. One of these read:

The first steps on the road to revolution are attributed to the passage of the American Revenue Act, or the Sugar Act, and the Stamp Tax. The Sugar Act called for raising the duties on foreign produced sugar to improve the economy of the British West Indies. The Stamp Act was the primary cause for unrest. This was an internal tax imposed by parliament, which had never occurred before. It placed duties on many items produced in the colonies, such as pamphlets, newspapers, legal documents, and others. It should be noted, however, that this tax had been in effect in England since 1694. This was immediately opposed by colonists. The most influenced by this tax were lawyers and printers, who in turn were the most influential people in the colonies at the time. Patrick Henry, a Virginia lawyer and politician, issued the Virginia Resolves, some of which were passed by the Virginia Assembly, but all were published, having a powerful propaganda effect. One of these states:

ched surreptitiously by plotters against liberty in both England and in America. (95)

Once again, both sides of the conflict are perceived. Adams wrote these essays in response to the support that was generated for England through the letters. This leads one to believe that the colonist population was not as radically oriented towards revolution as the original thesis described.

Our Patriots have been so intent on building up American rights, that they have overlooked the rights of Great Britain and our own interest. Instead of proving that we were entitled to privileges that our fathers knew and that our situation would not admit us to enjoy, they have been arguing away our most essential rights. (Leonard 84)

Some topics in this essay:
Boston Gazette, Period American, Stamp Act, Daniel Dulany, Townshend Acts, Years’ War, Dickinson Adams, Boston Lawyer, Colony Henry, Bernard Bailyn, townshend acts, internal tax, sugar act, placed duties, original thesis, regulate trade, taxation representation, stamp act, circular letter,