To Separate Or Not? The Thirteen Colonies Prior To Independence

Inconceivable! For most of us, it seems inconceivable that the colonists would not separate from Great Britain. For many of the colonists at the time, separation seemed inconceivable!

The Case Against Separation The case against separation can be made from at least three factors: – Biblical – Political – Practical

Biblical Case Against Separation Romans 13:1-2: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (ESV)

Biblical Case Against Separation Romans 13:3-5: 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. (ESV)

Biblical Case Against Separation Romans 13:6-7: 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (ESV) 1 Peter 2:17: Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (KJV)

Biblical Case Against Separation The Biblical case against separation is probably the strongest argument against the colonies declaring independence. The Biblical case for resistance to established authorities must be made. The question that must be asked is: “Were the British authorities forcing the colonists to sin?”

Political Reasons Against Separation The Colonists were, and always had been, British citizens. The government under the King was a legitimate government, having been in place for 150 years. Financial inconvenience does not nullify the duties of citizenship

Political Reasons Against Separation Protection: Colonial forces did not fare very well in the French and Indian War without British protection. George Washington was particularly adept at losing battles.

Political Case Against Separation British taxpayers paid almost the entire cost of defending the colonies during the French and Indian War. Britain’s war debt from the Seven Years’ War was app. 150 million pounds (280 million dollars).

Political Case Against Separation With very few ways to reduce this massive war debt, much of it incurred to defend colonial citizens, Britain sought for the colonists to contribute toward the expenses of their protection. Even if Britain were able to collect the taxes levied by the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, etc., the majority of the cost of protecting and defending the colonies would be paid for by British taxpayers. However, even these efforts met with popular uprisings and civil disturbances.

Political Case Against Separation “Taxation without representation” is the charge that is often made concerning the illegitimacy of British taxation of the colonies. However, the colonists did have a representative with the King in the colonial governor.

Practical Case Against Separation Separation would most likely involve fighting against the greatest fighting force in the world with undertrained and underequipped soldiers. This puts a strain on the just war criterion of “reasonable prospect of success.”

Practical Case Against Separation The colonies had to unify to secure their independence. However, such a union had been untried, and past efforts to persuade the colonies to cooperate (for example, Ben Franklin’s Albany Plan) had not succeeded.

Practical Case Against Separation While the colonists were concerned about protecting their liberties, loyalists and undecideds were also British citizens. Would they be able to protect the liberties of those who did not share their point of view?

Is Separation Conceivable? So far, we have seen the case for the colonies not to separate. However, are there still weighty reasons to separate?

Pro-Separation? Is the desire of “the people” (not any angry individual or mob) to “alter or to abolish” a government destructive of rights and to “institute new government” that will bring about “their safety and happiness,” a violation of Romans 13?

Declaration of Independence For the pro-independence people, the Declaration of Independence makes a very strong case for separation from the British government.

Practical Reasons If separation is the right thing to do to protect one’s lives and the lives of their loved ones, do we need to know the outcome or the possibilities of success to be compelled to do the right thing?