Editor’s note: Today, reluctantly, I posted a podcast review of the rose-colored “Patriot’s History of the United States” just to show how tyranny can be papered over.
Now I wish to make amends by exposing the lies about the Boston Tea Party engineered by a smuggler named John Hancock.
This podcast and briefing text summarizes key arguments and findings from the essay, "Tricked on the Fourth of July" by Gary North. It discusses the motivations, consequences, and historical interpretation of the American Revolution. North argues against celebrating the Fourth of July, asserting that the American Revolution was based on misleading claims of British tyranny.
North cites historical data, particularly from Alvin Rabushka's work, to demonstrate that colonial tax burdens under British rule were minimal—around 1% of national income—and significantly lower than those in Britain itself.
Furthermore, the essay contends that post-Revolutionary America experienced a tripling of taxes, soaring debt, and severe monetary inflation, leading to hardships like those at Valley Forge due to failed price controls.
Gary North concludes by suggesting that the Revolution was not about legitimate grievances but rather economic self-interest, as evidenced by figures like John Hancock, whose smuggling profits were threatened by reduced British tea taxes.
Main Themes:
The central thesis is a revisionist view of the American Revolution, arguing that it was not a necessary struggle against tyranny but rather a costly and largely unwarranted upheaval. The author challenges conventional historical narratives by presenting evidence suggesting that American colonists enjoyed significant freedom and low taxation under British rule, and that the Revolution ultimately led to worse economic and social conditions for many.
British Taxation was Minimal and Colonial Freedom was Extensive:
A core argument is that British imperial taxation on the American colonies in 1775 was remarkably low.
Low Tax Burden: "Not counting local taxation, I discovered that the total burden of British imperial taxation was about 1% of national income. It may have been as high as 2.5% in the southern colonies."
Significant Tax Gap: Citing Alvin Rabushka's work, the author highlights that "British tax burdens were ten or more times heavier than those in the colonies."
Unparalleled Freedom: The author asserts that "the freest society on earth in 1775 was British North America, with the exception of the slave system. Anyone who was not a slave had incomparable freedom." Furthermore, Great Britain itself was the "second freest nation on earth."
The Declaration of Independence's Claims of Tyranny are False:
The author directly refutes the Declaration of Independence's portrayal of King George III's actions.
Misleading Assessment: Referring to Jefferson's declaration of "repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States," North states, "I can think of no more misleading political assessment uttered by any leader in the history of the United States. No words having such great impact historically in this nation were less true."
Absence of Tyranny: The author explicitly states, "There was no British tyranny, and surely not in North America."
Negative Economic Consequences of the Revolution:
The text details severe economic repercussions following the Revolution, contrasting them sharply with the pre-Revolutionary period.
Tripled Tax Burden: "Historians have written that taxes in the new American nation rose and remained considerably higher, perhaps three times higher, than they were under British rule." This was due to increased national defense needs and other expenses.
Soaring Debt and Hyperinflation: The Revolution led to a "debt burden soar[ing] as soon as the Revolution began." This was exacerbated by monetary inflation, which "wiped out the currency system."
Failure of Price Controls and Supply Shortages: The attempt to implement price controls in 1777 to curb inflation for army supplies led to a "debacle."
"The prices of uncontrolled, imported goods then went sky high, and it was almost impossible to buy any of the domestic commodities needed for the Army."
Many farmers "refused to sell their goods at the prescribed prices" or "sold their farm products stealthily to the British in return for gold."
This directly contributed to the suffering at Valley Forge, as described by George Washington: "we have no less than two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight men now in camp unfit for duty, because they are barefoot and otherwise naked… unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place, this army must inevitably be reduced to one or other of these three things: starve, dissolve, or disperse in order to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can."
The Authoritarian Nature of Revolution and the Fate of Loyalists:
The source touches on the inherent authoritarianism of revolution and the overlooked perspective of Loyalists.
Revolution as Authoritarianism: Quoting Frederick Engels, "A revolution is certainly the most authoritarian thing there is; it is the act whereby one part of the population imposes its will upon the other part by means of rifles, bayonets and cannon -- authoritarian means, if such there be at all."
Loyalist Exodus: "After the American Revolution, 46,000 American loyalists fled to Canada. They were not willing to swear allegiance to the new colonial governments. The retained their loyalty to the nation that had delivered to them the greatest liberty on earth."
Self-Serving Motivations of Some Revolutionaries (e.g., John Hancock):
The author suggests that economic self-interest, rather than purely ideological concerns, played a role for some key figures.
Hancock's Motivation: "That the largest signature on the Declaration of Independence was signed by the richest smuggler in North America was no coincidence."
Tea Party's Economic Impact: The Boston Tea Party is characterized as "a well-organized protest against lower prices stemming from lower taxes," specifically because Parliament's tax cut on British East India Company tea undercut smugglers' profits, including Hancock's.
6. The "Victors Write History":
The author concludes by noting that the prevailing historical narrative is shaped by the winners.
No Treason for Victors: "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason."
Historical Distortion: This implies that the true costs and questionable justifications for the Revolution have been obscured by the triumphant narrative.
Most Important Ideas/Facts:
Extremely Low British Colonial Taxes: British imperial taxation was estimated at 1% to 2.5% of national income, significantly lower (10x or more) than in Britain itself.
Colonial America as the "Freest Society": Pre-Revolutionary British North America, excluding slavery, offered unparalleled freedom.
Post-Revolutionary Tax Hike: Taxes tripled in the new American nation compared to British rule.
Economic Chaos (Inflation, Price Controls, Debt): The Revolution led to rampant inflation, a worthless currency (Continentals), and failed price controls that exacerbated the suffering at Valley Forge.
The Declaration's "Tyranny" Claim is Debunked: The author asserts this claim was verifiably false.
Loyalist Perspective: A significant number of Loyalists (46,000) fled to Canada, choosing continued allegiance to Britain due to the liberty they perceived.
John Hancock's Financial Motive: The Boston Tea Party is framed as an act against lower tea prices that threatened Hancock's smuggling business.
In essence, Gary North's "Tricked on the Fourth of July" argues that the American Revolution was a deeply misguided and economically destructive event, founded on exaggerated claims of tyranny, which ultimately diminished the liberty and prosperity of American citizens, at least in the short term.
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