Revolution and Sentiments of Self-Governance

Because of the aftermath of nearly two centuries of war England adopts mercantilism to protect their merchants now suffering from Peace between Denmark and Spain.

Mercantilism

Mercantilism is an economic system developing during the decay of feudalism to unify and increase the power and especially the monetary wealth of a nation by a strict governmental regulation of the entire national economy usually through policies designed to secure an accumulation of bullion, a favorable balance of trade, the development of agriculture and manufactures, and the establishment of foreign trading monopolies

The British adoption of mercantilism resulted in a number of Acts, called the “Navigation Acts”, passed by Parliament limiting the purchase of everyday items by the colonists to English produced only.  To enforce the Trade and Navigation Acts, specifically in 1733 “the Molasses Act” Parliament passed the “Writs of Assistance”

Writs of Assistance

Writs of Assistance were court orders that authorized customs officers to conduct general (non-specific) searches of premises for smuggled goods. The exact nature of the materials being sought did not have to be detailed, nor did their locations.

1733 Navigation Acts

Embed from Getty Images James Otis Jr. 1725-1783

Born: February 5, 1725 Barnstable, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America Died: May 23, 1783 (aged 58) Andover, Massachusetts, U.S. Occupation:  Lawyer, political activist, pamphleteer and legislator Spouse: Ruth Cunningham (A staunch Loyalist, but “good Wife” Children James: died at 18 Elizabeth:  Married Captain Brown of the British Army and lived in England the rest of her life Mary:  Married General Benjamin Lincoln of the Continental Army

James Otis was asked to represent several business men against the crown, in support of British rights and against the Navigation Acts.  In agreeing to do so, Otis was risking at best, the loss of position and employment and at worst, the accusation of Treason.  But seeing the injustice, he took the case.  During the trial, he delivered an eloquent five-hour argument before the Superior Court in Boston.  Otis raised the doctrine of Natural Law underlying the rights of citizens and argued that such writs, even if authorized by Parliament, were null and void.

In attendance at court that day was a young attorney, John Adams, who would later cite this moment as the first scene in the first act of resistance to oppressive British policies.

Sam Adams was also in attendance and left inspired to form the Committees of Correspondence, a citizen coalition group for connecting Liberty minded Colonists and help educate each other on the truth in the face of government media propaganda.  The Sons of Liberty were the action group birthed out of the inspired members of the Committees of Correspondence.

I would argue that Obamacare is our Generations “Writs of Assist” That the Tea Party and events like this are Our version of the “Committees of Correspondence” and that we have yet to see our true “Son’s of Liberty” movement