(EQ2) To what extent were colonists already independent prior to the Declaration of Independence?

Prior to the Declaration of Independence, the relationship between America and Britain was pulling apart rapidly, but still had major themes uniting colony and parent. Socially, America experienced a wave of freedom, with aristocracy becoming increasingly sidelined as town hall meetings grew in the northern colonies. Politically, a general fervor of Lockes idea of a social contract grew, though unbeknownst to the colonists and completely unintentional. Economically, colonists enjoyed much more capitalistic policies. Also worth noting, though it was not a big player in disputes, is that America also had a much greater degree of toleration in all aspects, especially religious. The social structure looked very similar to that of Britains from an external view, with aristocrats at the head, leading government positions and a mass of people below them constituting the hoi polloi. However, this was hardly true under scrutiny. Although they had little say directly, many colonists had a policy of forcing the local governments hand, often with monetary means, or the lack therefore of them, in reference to the policy of withholding salaries. Also, unlike in Britain, in which a person was born and died in the same class, mobility within the colonies was easily obtained, and was augmented by the looser economic polices. Also, there was a great deal of African Americans living in the colonies, though they were extremely sidelined, they constituted an important part of the population that would become more prominent in the years following independence. Another group of people that were missing, or more so, expelled from England were the indentured servants. Although a large portion of them were convicts, many were simply

down on their luck and needed a fare over. After finishing their duration, they became an important and potent source of labor for the colonies, as most wished simply to create their own humble living with farming. This farmer class of people, not just limited to postservitude peoples gave the colonies a strong backbone which fostered with the fertile soul, the sudden freedom from restrictions on land and an intense desire to get ahead gave the colonies an important difference from the generational farmers of rocky and desolate England. Politically, there was not too much that the colonies could do to make serious reform; they were disunited and the king still had absolute rule over them. However, they did begin to experiment with their own forms of government, especially in the Puritan north, where town meetings were held with great reverence because of their ability to create level playing grounds and a fair method in which to levy ideas. Some colonies did manage to have their royal counterparts move in their favor usually with coercive means such as the withholding of salaries until certain concessions were made. These combined ideas lead to a sort of feeling that was a weak root of the Social Contract created by Locke. It was never fully evinced, but the people of America were feeling that they had the right to be fully represented as a recognized identity, and that these rights were being violated, especially in economic policies. The polices that began to be levied on the colonies were highly infuriating to the colonists because they felt that they were being taxed without representation, an idea rebuffed by Parliaments virtual representation. One of the most prime examples of this colonial rage is the Stamp Act. During this new development in taxation, colonists were not outraged by the taxes themselves, which were pointed at daily good and affected

Americans unilaterally, but were upset because they had no say in the creation of them, or the legal abolition of them. Another aspect of economic difference was the idea of land ownership. Land in England was in short supply and expensive, while in the colonies, it was the opposite story. This also led to political developments, as land was a major requirement for voting. All in all, the state of the colonies was still closely attached to mother England, but obvious tears were starting to form at the seams. It seemed that the chasm between the two lands, long ignored and considered only a minor barrier, was beginning to show that isolation breeds independence.