Historian A: Bernard Bailyn – Economic Perspective

"Bernard Bailyn argues that economic factors, such as the desire to control trade and protect colonial economic interests, were central to the revolution. He emphasizes that the colonists resented British taxation policies because they threatened their economic independence and prosperity. Bailyn suggests that these economic grievances fueled widespread unrest and resistance, ultimately leading to revolution. He highlights that economic self-interest was a key motivator for colonial leaders and ordinary colonists alike, who sought to preserve their economic freedom from British interference."

Historian B: Gordon S. Wood – Social Perspective

"Gordon Wood contends that social and political ideas, particularly the emerging belief in liberty and republican values, played a crucial role in causing the revolution. He stresses that the colonists' identity as a distinct social group, with a desire for self-governance and personal freedoms, motivated their opposition to British authority. Wood emphasizes that the slogan 'No Taxation Without Representation' encapsulated a broader social demand for political participation and respect. He argues that these social and ideological factors were just as important as economic grievances in sparking revolutionary sentiment."