The American Revolution had commenced long before the War of Independence. It was a change in the hearts and minds of the people.' (John Adams) Discuss whether you agree or disagree with this statement, making particular reference to tutorial documents
In the aftermath of the Seven Years' war (1756-1763), Britain required a new imperial design, however, the situation in America was anything but favourable to change. During the middle of the eighteenth century the colonists wanted to pursue their rights of freedom. Before even the first shots rang out in Lexington and Concord in 1775, the true revolution was in the hearts and minds of the colonists which is reflected in a number of known writings. Some of the literary opinions voicing the change in the hearts and the minds of the people, Declaration of the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, the writings of John Adams, letters by John Dickenson are just a few. They show the severity of the resentment, the feelings of ineptitude and the cruelty of the British government and the direction America would be going under the control of Britain, this was to lead former supporters of Britain lament and reject the pleas for what was seen as injustice occurring in the colonies, thus resulting in the inevitable movement towards the War of Independence.
The introduction of the Stamp Act 1765, was the first step toward independence for the colonies. It was the most disliked of all the taxes that the British Parliament had introduced. By the end of the Seven Years' war Britain was left with a large army that was not allowed to be stationed in Britain during peaceful times, so the British Parliament stationed there soldiers in America at an annual cost of £350,000. [1] The Prime Minister of Britain George Grenville issued taxes on the colonies, first, the Sugar Act (1764) and then the Stamp Act (1765). It was the issuing of the Stamp Act that had created the most concern within America. In the Spring of 1765 Patrick Henry introduced a series of resolves in the Virginian House of Burgesses denouncing the parliamentary taxation and asserting the colonials rights to be taxed only by their elected representatives [2] . The assemblies in Rhode Island followed the example of Henry, and authorised the colonies officials to ignore the Stamp Act, calling in unconstitutional. In October of 1765, thirty-seven delegates from nine of the thirteen colonies called a meeting in New York to discuss the "Stamp Act", a meeting to be known as the "the Stamp Act Congress", this meeting was to issue a fourteen point 'Declaration of Rights and Grievances'. Along with the protest of the Stamp Act, the Declaration also contended the colonial's rights to trial by jury which was right and the use of Admiralty courts was abusive, without voting rights, Parliament could not represent the colonies, thus enforcing a statement by colonial lawyer James Otis statement, "no taxation without representation". Only the colonial assemblies could tax the colonies [3] . It was this statement that was to become primary grievance between the British Government and the colonies. Britain soon repealed the Stamp Act, however, in 1776 Parliament issued the 'Declaration Act', which insisted they had the authority to enforce laws on the colonies "in all cases whatsoever" [4] .
John Dickenson, a delegate to the 'Stamp Act Congress' Pennsylvania, is credited with drafting the 'Declaration of Rights and Grievances', and also wrote 'Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania' under the fictitious name "A Farmer". Which were a series of letters printed in colonial newspapers from 1767- 1768 in response to the 'Townshend Act' of 1767. The purpose of which was to create revenue in America to pay governors and judges by taxing items, such as, tea, glass and paint. Dickenson had argued through his letters that taxes laid upon the colonies by the British Parliament for the purpose of raising revenue, rather than regulating trade, were unconstitutional saying that "We cannot be free, without being secure in our property- that we cannot be secure in our property if without our consent others may take it away-that taxes imposed by Parliament, do thus take it away" [5] . Reiterating the colonial growing grievance of Parliament taxation without representation. John Dickenson's letters roused the colonials against the 'Townshend Acts' in the heart and the mid but did not provide methods to resistance of the taxes. In turn Dickenson forwarded his letters to James Otis of the Massachusetts assembly who asked Samuel Adams to draft a "circulatory letter" to other legislatures [6] . Samuel Adams' letter was to denounce taxation without representation making it clear that he did not support colonial representation in Parliament because the American Colonies were "separated by an ocean of a thousand leagues" from Britain and he thought it was impractical for them to be properly represented in Parliament [7] . The colonies then responded with boycotts, protests and an organised non-importation agreement, which forced the British Parliament to repeal the 'Townshend Act' in 1770, however, Prime Minister North kept the 'Tea Act' duty, so he could assert "the right of taxing the Americans" [8] The gradual dissolution of American loyalty to Britain due to the Townshend crisis [9] .
The 'Tea Act' of 1773 created a opportunity for the British East Indian Company to sell low-priced tea to the colonies directly, which in turn angered the local merchants who had been excluded. The colonies were outraged by the Parliaments latest dismissal of their rights and several ports like Philadelphia and New York turning the arriving East Indian trade-ships back to Britain. This was to leave the British East Indian Company with warehouses that were full of tea, which put the company in possibility of going out of business [10] . Thus, reviving the colonist issue of "no taxation without representation". In Boston however, Governor Thomas Hutchinson refused to allow the ships to leave without delivering their cargo and paying the import taxes. December 16th 1773 Samuel Adams convened a meeting of approximately 5,000 people after receiving a report that Hutchinson refused to let ships leave the port, Adams announced that "This meeting can do nothing further to save the country" [11] . Samuel Adams organised a group of fifty men, disguised as Mohawk Indians and broke into the harbour and dumped forty-five tons of tea in the water and act of rebellion later to be known as the 'Boston Tea Party' when finished the participants left quietly, and the town lapsed into a profound hush-"never more still and calm", according to one observer" [12] . John Adam admired the movement calling it "so bold, so daring, so firm,…I cannot but consider it as an epoch in history" [13] . Adams was right in his assumption, the British Parliament was outraged and Lord North said "we are now to establish out authority or give it up entirely" [14] . In response, Parliament issued a collection of laws called the 'Coercive Acts' that was known by the colonists as the 'Intolerable Acts'. It was intended to punish Massachusetts for the 'Boston Tea Party'. The 'Intolerable Act' of 1774, was a reaction made by the British Government, in a bid to calming the radicalism in Massachusetts [15] , the 'Coercive Acts' brought colonies to the threshold of the revolution. Repeal of these laws became the colonists unquestionable demand and the Declaration of Independence in 1776 mentioned them six times as grievances defending the break with Britain [16] .
The War for Independence began in 1775, it resulted in the colonial states uniting to form one nation. With the Declaration of Independence they removed themselves from the British Empire, rejecting Parliament and also the right to the crown demanding allegiance. In 1783 Britain recognised the United States' independence. Britain's egotistical approach towards the colonists was apparent in how they treated them. A series of unfair taxes and rejection of their pleas to be treated fairly infuriated and aggravated the natives. The writings of American patriarchs of those like John Adams and John Dickenson captured the feelings of resentment the colonists had towards the British Empire and its injustices. Whilst the war had only last seven years it is fair to say that the American Revolution had commenced long before the War of Independence. It was a change in the hearts and the minds of the people that had brought about the American Revolution.
