Er, there had ALWAYS been taxes. No, the deal was Britain just arbitrarily saying we will tax this and that (ever more aggressively), we will do this, do that - all, often, ruthlessly so - and all without REPRESENTATION.
And so what? Rend unto Caeser......
Not justifying the actions of the early Americans, just stating their motivations. And I would agree that rebelling against an established power WAS wrong - certainly to take up arms or any actions that were overtly rebellious. There may well have been better ways to address the British, as aggressive and arrogant as they were, so as to come to understandings and cooperation. But as always, the hotheads on both sides turned a snowball into an avalanche.
And hypocritically, those on both sides of the conflict thought nothing of enslaving other human beings for free labor, or of grabbing Indian lands. Very interestingly, at the end of the French and Indian war, so as to avoid future conflicts with the Indians and to dissuade alliances of other nations with them (against Britain), the British government (in 1763) forbade and further settlements west of the Appalachians - to the great consternation of poor settlers, railroads and land speculators.
And so all these Americans were upset over their British overlords, but thought absolutely nothing of invading countless Indian nations, taking their lands with worthless treaties, etc. Oh, and before any one thinks political correctness has overtaken me, the INDIANS themselves were guilty of these very same things (enslavement, constant warfare, invasions, conquering lands of others - oh, and this went on as virtual sport with their surrounding tribes). Oh, and as my rant against political correctness, just go to the National Indian Museum in D.C. and you'll see virtually NO mention of warfare between tribes, massacres BY Indians ON Indians (not to mention on others). Warfare and aggression were ways of life for many tribes, some notoriously feared because of it - but you'll find no mentions of this are to be found at the NIM, as if to preserve the myth that native peoples were so much more noble, peace loving and spiritual, at least as compared to the evil Europeans around them. Complete PC hogwash! The corruption of mankind knows no national, geographical or genetic boundaries.
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