Struggle for Independence
The Struggle for American Independence: The Boston Massacre
In this episode, I cover the Boston Massacre, the culmination of the violence that took place between 1768-1770 as a result of British occupation of Boston. Both Tory and patriot reactions are covered, and the stark contrast in testimony between multiple perspectives...
The Struggle for American Independence: A Standing Military Presence
In this episode, I articulate the historical reasons that standing military forces were considered despotic in the British tradition, and why the British constitutional system warded against them explicitly. I cover the military occupation by British forces in 1768,...
The Struggle for American Independence: Parliamentary Sovereignty
In this episode, I cover the Parliamentary Sovereign doctrine and articulate why it is so integral to the entire struggle between the colonies and crown. Taxation was the flashpoint between colonists and the British government, but a deeper issue was underneathย ...
The Struggle for American Independence: The Townshend Acts
In this episode, I cover the Townshend Acts, the crafty attempt by Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Townshend to enact taxes which would allay some of the colonists’ arguments against parliamentary taxation. Introduced here is John Dickinson, a lawyer from...