The Colonists Love for Freedom

The Colonists Love for Freedom:

The immigrants loved freedom more than the citizens of England did. They were more aware of the system of democratic rule and freedom than their British compatriots. The imprint of this awareness is manifest in the first Magna Carta (1618) of Virginia in which it has been insisted that “The settlers will enjoy all the privileges of freedom and franchise like the natives of England.” It was a very significant, fundamental principle. In the Bills of Rights of Maryland and Pennsylvania, it was provided that the local laws should be formulated on the basis of consensus. The moment the British immigrants landed in the new continent, they started administering it according to the provisions of law and constitution- “they had their own legislative assembly, representative rule and recognized individual rights ensured by the civil law. Thus, from the early period of the formation of colonies, the system of autonomy was prevalent, which developed gradually.” In the beginning, the British Emperor recognized their administration system. The influence of the public representatives grew so much, particularly in economic matters that they deprived the Governor of his pay in certain cases.

A liberal atmosphere dominated the American colonies because of autonomy which had lasted there for a long time. That is why the colonies took it to be an encroachment of their rights and freedom when the British government endeavored to levy taxes and exercise control over the business in American colonies after the Seven Years’ War. In fact, the spirit of freedom had matured in America within a period of one and a half-century. The War of Independence which started in 1776, was not a sudden event. In the words of American President Jefferson, “The real beginning of the Independence War of USA took place in 1620 when Virginia was granted the right of delegating its representatives.”