Colonists' Sense of Unity Before the Revolution

By 1775, the colonists living in the thirteen colonies were tired of the unjust treatment of the English crown. They wanted their own government and their own taxation, one that was not controlled by authorities overseas. The colonists developed a very strong sense of their identity and unity as Americans by establishing intercolonial committees as well as creating an unified opposition of the English laws and acts. The intercolonial committees first began developing in Virginia, with the House of Burgesses and went as far north as New York and Philadelphia. Local men of power listened to the colonists’ dismays and spread the word all throughout the colonies. The more the colonists shared their dissatisfaction with the English crown, the more they became unified and saw each other as Americans, the residents of a new country. The unified opposition of English laws and acts came into the light in 1773 when the British East India Company gained control of the American tea business. The colonists didn’t like the taxes imposed so they revolted against the English tea company. In many cities along the coast of the Atlantic, tea cargo was burned and destroyed to protest the taxes. This was achieved through unity and identity of the American people, who stood up for their beliefs. They agreed on taking action against the English crown and from then on, the American motto was developed, ” United we stand; divided we fall”.