Commentary The American colonists proved their patience with King George III. He proved their patience could run out. It was approximately 12 years between the first act issued by his Highness across the Atlantic and the first shots fired across Lexington and Concord. The King and Parliament had made clear their disdain for the colonists, who were surely no more recipients of the rights of Englishmen than any other subjugated specimen in the British Empire. They would be taxed without their consent. They would house British soldiers without their consent. They would purchase their goods from Britain without their consent. They would do as the King and Parliament pleased “in all cases whatsoever” without their consent. The colonists had reached their boiling point, and the age of reason declared the Crown absolutely unreasonable. As Samuel Adams so clearly stated, “Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First, a …