The Ideology of Revolution
English Constitutionalism
- No written constitution, but belief in heritage back to 1215
- Rule of law over even the king
- Principle of consent of the governed.
Republicanism
- The people should rule themselves
- History (Greece, Rome) teaches that freedom will be eroded
- Standing armies, patronage networks, and taxation may be the eroders
- To preserve freedom and good government, there should local control by virtuous people.
The intense desire for self government comes out of a fear of its opposite
"A master-piece of policy for accomplishing the purpose of enslavement
- Massachusetts House of Representatives on the Tea Act
Why such upheaval at tea act?
- Gave privileges to massive monopoly at expensive of locals
- Treated colonists as part of imperial system, and not the most important part.
- Reaffirmed parliament's ability to tax locals without consent
- Kept local officials (governors) from dependence on local revenues