America in 1783 was an illustration of economic self-obsession, and of a selfish people interested solely in money, than it was a portrayal of moral idealism, or a people struggling for righteousness. All endeavors during this era were motivated by money, the desire to gain wealth, and the greed to protect one’s prosperity already attained. This notion is concluded from the manner in which Americans at this time were motivated and their related actions.One specific way that America delineated this concept is that the essential cause for the American Revolution was the colonists’ will to be freed from British taxes. The taxes were in fact reasonable, until the colonists began to defy the system by smuggling, and it was then that the king and parliament had to become more severe in handling the colonies. It was fair for Parliament to legislate the colonies, but apparently, taxation was something apart from legislation in the minds of the colonists. “No taxation without representation” was the American cry, but the British reply was that members of Parliament represent all English citizens throughout the empire. It was true that no other British colonies had representation in parliament, nor was any other colony rebelling against taxes to the extent of the Americans. Americans were so intensely passionate about their cause that they fought and risked their lives on the battlefield to be free from British taxation. This attitude of freeing oneself from taxes and holding individual prosperity as a first priority was continued in postwar times. When the colonies, now an independent nation, began to establish government, they would not allow the instrument of government - namely, the Articles of Confederation - to have the power to tax, and therefore no real power to legislate because sufficient funding was lacked. The Confederation Congress also could not regulate commerce and so states began to issue tax laws for go...
