There are many ways to define tyranny. The Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines tyranny as "an arbitrary, despotic government; esp: rigorous, cruel and oppressive government." Many people tend to associate the British with tyranny in relation to the Revolutionary War but perhaps that assumption needs a second glance. The British, up until 1763, governed the colonies through a policy of "salutary neglect." Although they had strict trading laws in place, it was not until this time period of necessity and debt that they truly enforced these laws. In fact, the internal colonial government was just as much of, if not more, a tyranny then the British.
The colonial ruling class was made up almost solely of the wealthy and educated upp
As you can see the way the upper-class choose to rule over the people during the time of the Revolutionary War can be fairly described as a tyranny. Their methods were so self-seeking that very few of the poorer classes felt any kinship to these oppressive leaders, furthering the disunity that had handicapped the colonies for so long. It was not until Patrick Henry's eloquent speeches and Thomas Paine's Common Sense that those with power found a way to reach the lower dregs of society and relieve class tensions.
er class that governed the colonies in a virtual tyranny. The distribution of wealth in the colonies was extremely uneven, creating huge class divisions. In the early 1770's the top 5% of Boston's taxpayers controlled 49% of the city's taxable a
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