Causes of the American Revolutionary War
What were the political and economic factors that caused the American Revolution?
Causes of the American Revolutionary War
There were several political and economic factors that ultimately caused the American Revolutionary War. The events were chronological and one event led to another. Political factors included the question of whether the British Parliament had the right to impose taxes on the colonists. Economic factors included the need for Parliament to impose taxes (as a result of the French and Indian War) and the power of the colonists to boycott British goods and force Parliament to repeal laws
There were several political and economic factors that ultimately caused the American Revolutionary War. The events were chronological and one event led to another. Political factors included the question of whether the British Parliament had the right to impose taxes on the colonists. Economic factors included the need for Parliament to impose taxes (as a result of the French and Indian War) and the power of the colonists to boycott British goods and force Parliament to repeal laws
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was fought between France and England over lands in the Ohio River Valley, which both the French and the English had claimed. In 1763 the British won the war and gained control of these lands. But as a result of the war, the British gained a large debt. The British Parliament decided that the American colonists should pay this debt since the British had been defending their land. The British Parliament then changed its policy in the colonies. Before the French and Indian War, the British government ignored what was happening in the colonies and let the colonists govern and tax themselves. After the French and Indian War, the British Parliament began to pass a series of laws that changed the relationship between the colonial assemblies and Parliament. The colonists believed it was the right of their colonial assemblies to impose taxes, not the right of the King or Parliament. The colonists resisted these policy changes.
The French and Indian War was fought between France and England over lands in the Ohio River Valley, which both the French and the English had claimed. In 1763 the British won the war and gained control of these lands. But as a result of the war, the British gained a large debt. The British Parliament decided that the American colonists should pay this debt since the British had been defending their land. The British Parliament then changed its policy in the colonies. Before the French and Indian War, the British government ignored what was happening in the colonies and let the colonists govern and tax themselves. After the French and Indian War, the British Parliament began to pass a series of laws that changed the relationship between the colonial assemblies and Parliament. The colonists believed it was the right of their colonial assemblies to impose taxes, not the right of the King or Parliament. The colonists resisted these policy changes.
The Stamp Act
In 1765 the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act placed a tax on all papers, such as legal documents and newspapers. The colonists refused to pay this tax. They protested with the cry “no taxation without representation.” The colonists did not have any representation in Parliament. Therefore, they had no voice in Parliament. They also did not want representation in Parliament because they were so far away and knew they would be outvoted. Colonists only wanted to be governed by their own colonial assemblies, not by the King and Parliament. Colonists then organized a Stamp Act Congress, which sent a petition to the King. This petition declared a boycott on all British goods. The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.
In 1765 the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act placed a tax on all papers, such as legal documents and newspapers. The colonists refused to pay this tax. They protested with the cry “no taxation without representation.” The colonists did not have any representation in Parliament. Therefore, they had no voice in Parliament. They also did not want representation in Parliament because they were so far away and knew they would be outvoted. Colonists only wanted to be governed by their own colonial assemblies, not by the King and Parliament. Colonists then organized a Stamp Act Congress, which sent a petition to the King. This petition declared a boycott on all British goods. The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.
The Sons and Daughters of Liberty
As a result of the Stamp Act in 1765, colonists organized a secret group called the Sons and Daughters of Liberty. The Sons and Daughters of Liberty was an organization of American colonists who wanted to protect the rights of the colonists and fight the unfair taxes imposed by the British government. They were not afraid to protest and fight the British Parliament. Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry were some of the leaders of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty.
As a result of the Stamp Act in 1765, colonists organized a secret group called the Sons and Daughters of Liberty. The Sons and Daughters of Liberty was an organization of American colonists who wanted to protect the rights of the colonists and fight the unfair taxes imposed by the British government. They were not afraid to protest and fight the British Parliament. Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry were some of the leaders of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty.
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws passed in 1767 by the British Parliament that imposed a tax on all British imports to the colonies. Some of these imports included glass, lead, paint, paper and tea. The colonists protested these taxes by boycotting all British imports to the colonies. By 1770 the British Parliament had repealed all aspects of the Townshend Acts except the tax on tea.
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws passed in 1767 by the British Parliament that imposed a tax on all British imports to the colonies. Some of these imports included glass, lead, paint, paper and tea. The colonists protested these taxes by boycotting all British imports to the colonies. By 1770 the British Parliament had repealed all aspects of the Townshend Acts except the tax on tea.
The Tea Act
In 1773 Parliament passed the Tea Act. The Tea Act was not a tax. The Tea Act gave the British East India Company exclusive rights (a monopoly) to sell tea for a cheap price in the colonies, because the East India Tea Company had financial problems. Parliament wanted to help the company avoid bankruptcy. Colonists were already boycotting tea because of a tax imposed under the Townshend Acts. Even though most of the Townshend Acts had been repealed because of a successful colonial boycotts, the tax on tea stayed.
In 1773 Parliament passed the Tea Act. The Tea Act was not a tax. The Tea Act gave the British East India Company exclusive rights (a monopoly) to sell tea for a cheap price in the colonies, because the East India Tea Company had financial problems. Parliament wanted to help the company avoid bankruptcy. Colonists were already boycotting tea because of a tax imposed under the Townshend Acts. Even though most of the Townshend Acts had been repealed because of a successful colonial boycotts, the tax on tea stayed.
The Boston Tea Party
The Sons and Daughters of Liberty were afraid that the availability of cheap tea would make their boycott of tea less effective. To protest the Tea Act, one night in 1773 hundreds of colonists dressed up as Native Americans and dumped an entire shipload of tea overboard into the Boston Harbor. This event is known as the Boston Tea Party. Parliament was greatly angered by this protest. The Boston Tea resulted in the Parliament passing what the colonists called the Intolerable Acts.
The Sons and Daughters of Liberty were afraid that the availability of cheap tea would make their boycott of tea less effective. To protest the Tea Act, one night in 1773 hundreds of colonists dressed up as Native Americans and dumped an entire shipload of tea overboard into the Boston Harbor. This event is known as the Boston Tea Party. Parliament was greatly angered by this protest. The Boston Tea resulted in the Parliament passing what the colonists called the Intolerable Acts.
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were passed in 1774. The Intolerable Acts closed Boston Harbor and took away the right of the colony of Massachusetts to govern itself. The British named these acts the Coercive Acts because they were designed to coerce, or force, the colonists to pay for the dumped tea. Parliament also wanted the colonists to recognize that they had the right to make tax laws for the colonies, not the colonial assemblies. At first, colonists formed Committees of Correspondence to communicate their situations to each other. Then, they sent delegates to a Continental Congress in order to address the problem of the Intolerable Acts. The First Continental Congress established a boycott on all trade with Great Britain and sent a petition to the King. The Continental Congress also advised American colonists to arm themselves. This eventually led to the battle of Lexington and Concord and the start of the American Revolutionary War.
The Intolerable Acts were passed in 1774. The Intolerable Acts closed Boston Harbor and took away the right of the colony of Massachusetts to govern itself. The British named these acts the Coercive Acts because they were designed to coerce, or force, the colonists to pay for the dumped tea. Parliament also wanted the colonists to recognize that they had the right to make tax laws for the colonies, not the colonial assemblies. At first, colonists formed Committees of Correspondence to communicate their situations to each other. Then, they sent delegates to a Continental Congress in order to address the problem of the Intolerable Acts. The First Continental Congress established a boycott on all trade with Great Britain and sent a petition to the King. The Continental Congress also advised American colonists to arm themselves. This eventually led to the battle of Lexington and Concord and the start of the American Revolutionary War.
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Documents
4-3.1_causes_of_the_arw_iet.pdf |
4-3.1_causes_of_the_arw_iet.doc |
Sources
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/The_Victory_of_Montcalms_Troops_at_Carillon_by_ Henry_Alexander_Ogden.JPG
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/O%21_the_fatal_Stamp.jpg
Image 3: https://rampages.us/lyonjp/wp-content/uploads/sites/12039/2016/02/71099_5176855919_3753877_n.jpg
Image 4: http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2013/12/townshend-acts-hero-AB.jpeg
Image 5: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Boston_Tea_Party_Currier_colored.jpg
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Image 8: http://bakermiddleschoolushistory.wikispaces.com/file/view/timeline1.png/374589564/timeline1.png
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/The_Victory_of_Montcalms_Troops_at_Carillon_by_ Henry_Alexander_Ogden.JPG
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/O%21_the_fatal_Stamp.jpg
Image 3: https://rampages.us/lyonjp/wp-content/uploads/sites/12039/2016/02/71099_5176855919_3753877_n.jpg
Image 4: http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2013/12/townshend-acts-hero-AB.jpeg
Image 5: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Boston_Tea_Party_Currier_colored.jpg
Image 6: http://hafnerushistf.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/9/9/42995125/106525522.jpg
Image 7: http://mrbakke5.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/4/4/25447905/732304_orig.jpg
Image 8: http://bakermiddleschoolushistory.wikispaces.com/file/view/timeline1.png/374589564/timeline1.png