Rise To Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution

This section lays out the moving pieces that will eventually synchronize and launch England and America into war: the realization of colonists like John Adams and Ben Franklin that England cannot be reasoned with, the indifference of the king and his ministers to the grievances of his subjects, the arrogance of men like Gage who underestimate the resolve of the colonies, and England’s willingness to use force to suppress all protest, legitimate or not. England’s response—or lack thereof—to the colonies’ grievances highlights the theme of The Privilege and Abuse of Power, as England assumes that its standing as the world’s global power means that it can unfairly tax the colonies following its own war with France. Soon, revolution will take hold, and The Tension of Conflicting Identities will be at the forefront. For example, men like Thomas Hutchinson, loyal to the crown, cannot envision any course beyond the status quo. In his estimation, the king has the right to levy taxes however he sees fit simply because he is the king. By placing such absolute authority with one man and ignoring the plight of millions, Hutchinson demonstrates a complete inability to foresee the coming tide. His actions are reactive, compensating for the perceived weakness of his predecessor. By ruling with an iron fist, however, he places his loyalties with a monarch 3,000 miles away rather than with the people he is supposed to represent. Through Thomas Hutchinson, the worldview of mighty England, a global conqueror, is explored as perhaps the safer bet between the two opposing sides. As such, it is not just tradition that influences loyalists but also history. Through years of monarchal rule, England was the leading global power; however, the colonies come to embody The Radical Concept of Self-Government, as their path is uncharted, pushing against hundreds of years of history, and therefore proof, of England’s power. Therein lies the fundamental—and irreconcilable—difference between the two sides, representative government versus monarchy, a difference that will lead to massive bloodshed.

The events in Boston Harbor also represent a breaking point in the colonies, as they disguise themselves as Mohawk peoples and enter the Dartmouth to dispose of the British tea. The ship’s captain’s response demonstrates an equal desire for peaceful resolution: He wants to return to England with his crew, and he will ignore the colonies’ involvement. This provides an example of British people who comprehend the colonists and their power because they have seen it. Meanwhile, the king and his closest advisors lack this experience of witnessing the colonies or feeling the growing senses of unity and patriotism to a more local community, indicating the severity of alienation amongst British leadership from daily life.

England’s mindset is quite telling in its dealings with the colonies. Hutchinson sees himself as the stern parent disciplining unruly children. His predecessor, Francis Bernard, is “hapless,” far too lenient: “Any young child understands that he can only go as far as the parent will ultimately allow” (124). This condescension is a serious part of the chasm separating the two sides. England refuses to entertain the notion that its subjects can govern themselves without the oversight of the monarchy. The colonies, however, push back at England, desperate for independence and eager to prove their self-sufficiency. As each side pushes harder, the other side digs in, refusing to give ground. When Hutchinson’s letters are published, the colonists see evidence of oppressive tactics. England sees only an egregious invasion of privacy. That distance—moral, ethical, political—ensures that the conflict will escalate before any sense of justice can be restored.

In England, intense focus on Ben Franklin demonstrates a lack of strategy and preparation on behalf of the king’s privy council. Having never dealt with colonies that not only pushed back but also had the ability to organize and plan counterattacks, the privy council and the king lash out at Franklin, the representation of the colonies. They fail to see that negotiation with someone like Franklin—who is far more open to peaceful resolution and negotiation than many colonists despite also knowing the inevitability of war—is to England’s advantage, and trying to corner Franklin into submission is a fruitless tactic, as he does not truly represent the colonies regarding The Tension of Conflicting Identities. Franklin is a worldly man who, within the text, does not represent this budding American identity that will ultimately unify and empower the colonies. By attempting to dictate without considering an American identity, or dismissing it as an uncivilized, less noble identity than that of England, they fail to comprehend their opponent, which leads to their downfall.