No one knew it at the time, but on July 5, 1770, America was one day less than six years away from declaring independence. Looking back from 2020 with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, it might appear that the patriotic push toward protest, rebellion, revolution, independence, victory, and the constitutional foundation of a new democratic republic was almost inevitable. But might things have gone differently if different choices were made and different actions taken at different points along the way? The answer, of course, is “yes.” Asking “what if?” leads to all sorts of alternative historical scenarios and outcomes.
The July 5, 1770 Maryland Gazette includes a short piece of advice addressed to King George III’s ministers, the men largely responsible for the sad state of affairs between the Mother Country and her American colonies at the time. Writing in late April, the unnamed English author laid out a concise four-point prescription “to recover the lost Affection of the Colonies, to restore our Trade, save this Kingdom an immense Expence, their Successors and the Country infinite Uneasiness and Reproach, and secure to themselves immortal Honour.”
The genius of the advice is in its step-by-step simplicity:
1. Bring British soldiers home from America. If a need arises, ask the colonies for help; they’ve answered the call before.
2. Repeal the taxes needed to pay for keeping a British army in America. Trade with the colonies will be restored.
3. Get rid of customs officials once the taxes are repealed.
4. Stop putting Americans on trial for commercial regulations no longer in force.
We know now that the British government didn’t follow this advice when it was offered in 1770, nor did it take significant corrective action through the next several years. But what if it had? How might the path of history from 1770 to 1776 and beyond have taken a different route? Speculating can be a fun intellectual exercise, but there’s no way to follow the course of the road not taken.
You can read the entire July 5, 1770 issue of the Maryland Gazette starting here: https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc4800/sc4872/001281/html/m1281-1066.html
Glenn E. Campbell
HA Senior Historian
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