American Mythology, Part III: "A Democratical Phrenzy"
As I mentioned earlier, one of the main purposes for any unified system of mythology is to affirm and justify a culture's history and experiences. The Japanese mythology was put together into a cohesive whole for reasons that had to do with (among other things of course) justifying Imperial rule over the island nation, setting up the Imperial line as descendents of the sun goddess, Amaterasu.
Similarly American history has been twisted and exaggerated into a kind of mythology that justifies the origin of our nation (albeit a much more recent origin than that of most other nations). In reality, the American Revolution (or "War with Britain", or "War for Independence" as it was called at the time) was probably equally justified as the American Civil War (or "War Between the States" or "War of Rebellion" as it was called); perhaps even less so.
The question at hand is not whether America should have declared independence and become an independent nation. I believe that it should have, and I believe that this country is much better off today than it would have been under British rule. I believe that the early Americans (although they would never have called themselves "Americans," since that would be rudely encroaching on a term that rightfully applied to all residents of North and South America) did the right thing in breaking from England and starting their own country. However, the issue I'm trying to address is that they apparently did not feel so adamant about the issue, as they repeatedly had to exaggerate and fabricate in order to justify their actions.
One thing that is a myth is that Americans were fighting in order to secure their freedom. In 1776, Americans were the freest people in the world. The American Revolution therefore was not fought to secure our freedom but to preserve it.
The whole issue of "taxation without representation" was a bit far-fetched. Most British citizens who actually lived in Britain did not have representation in Parliament. Why should the colonists have a right many British themselves did not have?
On to the taxation. Americans were lightly taxed during this period, paying much less than their British cousins did (which was fifty times as much). Moreover, Americans hardly ever payed their taxes anyway, so it wasn't that big of a deal. The Stamp Act taxes were never collected at all. The most interesting part of this is that all the hated tax bills that were levied against the colonists were done so solely for their own protection. With the same logic, and with as much justification, a modern American citizen might refuse to pay taxes and dismiss it as tyranny. Why all the exaggeration, then?
It is because the colonists were not really as comfortable with the idea of breaking with the British as we are taught to believe. Many of the patriotic quotes that are attributed to this time period in fact were never uttered, at least not by those they were attributed to; a sampling of these being: "Taxation without representation is tyranny," "If this be treason, make the most of it," or "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death". All these famous quotes were fabricated in order to ease the colonists' worries and doubts over declaring independence from Britain. Most Americans at this time would never dream of such a thing, and were fiercely loyal to Britain. It is worth noting that the Declaration of Independence indicts not the British nation, but only "the present king of Great Britain". The Continental Congress insisted that "we mean not to dissolve the union which has so long and happily subsisted between us," and swore to "cheerfully bleed in defense of our Sovereign in a righteous cause."
For now, that will do to be going on with. If you think this is as interesting as I do, you can read Bill Bryson's Made in America, for a much more in depth account of this and other American myths (although he analyzes them with the intent of uncovering the truth of history, rather than separating fact from myth).
Similarly American history has been twisted and exaggerated into a kind of mythology that justifies the origin of our nation (albeit a much more recent origin than that of most other nations). In reality, the American Revolution (or "War with Britain", or "War for Independence" as it was called at the time) was probably equally justified as the American Civil War (or "War Between the States" or "War of Rebellion" as it was called); perhaps even less so.
The question at hand is not whether America should have declared independence and become an independent nation. I believe that it should have, and I believe that this country is much better off today than it would have been under British rule. I believe that the early Americans (although they would never have called themselves "Americans," since that would be rudely encroaching on a term that rightfully applied to all residents of North and South America) did the right thing in breaking from England and starting their own country. However, the issue I'm trying to address is that they apparently did not feel so adamant about the issue, as they repeatedly had to exaggerate and fabricate in order to justify their actions.
One thing that is a myth is that Americans were fighting in order to secure their freedom. In 1776, Americans were the freest people in the world. The American Revolution therefore was not fought to secure our freedom but to preserve it.
The whole issue of "taxation without representation" was a bit far-fetched. Most British citizens who actually lived in Britain did not have representation in Parliament. Why should the colonists have a right many British themselves did not have?
On to the taxation. Americans were lightly taxed during this period, paying much less than their British cousins did (which was fifty times as much). Moreover, Americans hardly ever payed their taxes anyway, so it wasn't that big of a deal. The Stamp Act taxes were never collected at all. The most interesting part of this is that all the hated tax bills that were levied against the colonists were done so solely for their own protection. With the same logic, and with as much justification, a modern American citizen might refuse to pay taxes and dismiss it as tyranny. Why all the exaggeration, then?
It is because the colonists were not really as comfortable with the idea of breaking with the British as we are taught to believe. Many of the patriotic quotes that are attributed to this time period in fact were never uttered, at least not by those they were attributed to; a sampling of these being: "Taxation without representation is tyranny," "If this be treason, make the most of it," or "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death". All these famous quotes were fabricated in order to ease the colonists' worries and doubts over declaring independence from Britain. Most Americans at this time would never dream of such a thing, and were fiercely loyal to Britain. It is worth noting that the Declaration of Independence indicts not the British nation, but only "the present king of Great Britain". The Continental Congress insisted that "we mean not to dissolve the union which has so long and happily subsisted between us," and swore to "cheerfully bleed in defense of our Sovereign in a righteous cause."
For now, that will do to be going on with. If you think this is as interesting as I do, you can read Bill Bryson's Made in America, for a much more in depth account of this and other American myths (although he analyzes them with the intent of uncovering the truth of history, rather than separating fact from myth).