This essay traces the sociological attitudes of the American
colonists throughout the pre-revolutionary period, as well as
the American
Revolution itself. Included are the reactions to British injustices such as the stamp act, sugar act, and quartering act, as well as more general trends in the thinking of the
colonists. The paper also examines the way the colonists used John Locke's ideas to justify their actions. In addition, it traces how some colonial newspapers looked at the crisis, and the influence they had. This paper is a comprehensive examination of the emotions and attitudes of the colonists that led to and spurred on the American revolution.