Causes for the American Revolution

1. Causes for the American Revolution

2. 10 Causes for the American Revolution There are several other "causes" for the American Revolution that are not mentioned below--speeches, organizations--these just happen to be the most concrete and agreed upon (and the ones mentioned in our text). • Navigation Acts • 7 Years' War/French and Indian War • King George's Proclamation Line • Sugar Act • Stamp Act • Declaratory Act • Townshend Act • Boston Massacre • Tea Act/Boston Tea Party • Intolerable Acts

3. Pre-Chapter 5 Causes for the Revolution (i.e., what you should already know) • Navigation Acts (17th century) • British rules and regulations placed on colonial trade aimed to maximize profits and protect England's economy from foreign competitors (a part of mercantilism) • benefited the Crown at the expense of the colonies • 7 Years' War/French and Indian War (1763) • War fought over territory/New World presence involving the French and their Indian allies versus the British, colonists and their Indian allies • British won the war and gained new territories--Florida, Canada, land west of the Appalachian Mountains--racked up enormous post-war debt • start to tax colonists • King George's Proclamation Line (1763) • Imaginary line running north and south along the Appalachian Mountain range that could not be settled unless authorized by the Crown • made sure Britain received payment for land purchased in newly acquired land • settlers weren't allowed to settle west/purchase land

4. Chapter 5 Causes for the Revolution (i.e., what you probably didn't already know) • Sugar Act (1764) • Parliament reduced the tax on molasses in an effort to stop smuggling/boost revenue at the same time created a tax on sugar, wines, coffee • hurt colonial business; tax imposed without colonial input • Stamp Act (1765) • Parliament, in an effort to raise money for British soldiers stationed in the colonies, put a tax on all "legal/official" documents--newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, etc.--anyone printing anything on paper not "stamped" would be tried by the courts • leads to Stamp Act Congress • tax imposed without colonial input • Declaratory Act (1766) • Parliament revokes Stamp Act--colonial boycotts started hurting British business--but states they have authority to impose any law on colonies "in all cases whatsoever." • Parliament makes brash statement, no colonial input

5. Chapter 5 Causes for the Revolution (i.e., what you probably didn't already know) • Townshend Act (1767) • Series of taxes/rules placed on colonies in order to raise money for the Crown • tax on paper, paint and glass • increased British soldier colonial presence; tax imposed without colonial input • Boston Massacre (1770) • An event that took place on the streets of Boston between a "mob" of angry colonists and British soldiers resulting in the death of 5 colonists • leads to 8 soldiers being tried with 2 being found guilty of "manslaughter"--had the letter "M" branded on their thumbs • first major instance of British aggression towards colonists; Paul Revere's engraving of incident reaches all colonies; colonists upset with presence of British soldiers/the fact they "got off easy" • Tea Act (1773) • In an effort to help the East India Company, Parliament passes act that allows East India tea to be sold in colonies for a large discount • East India Company was hurting financially • discounted tea hurts local merchants, no colonial input • Boston Tea Party (1773) • Colonists dressed as Indians board ships carrying East India tea and threw tea into the Boston Harbor • tensions escalate; implementation of Intolerable Acts

6. Chapter 5 Causes for the Revolution (i.e., what you probably didn't already know) • Intolerable Acts (1774) • Series of rules placed on colonies, especially Massachusetts, in order to restore order and British authority • forbid MA town meetings without approval • closed down Boston harbor • allowed British officials to go to elsewhere to be tried (e.g., another colony, Britain) • colonists must house British soldiers if need be (Quartering Act) • tensions continue to grow; rules imposed without colonial input Other causes worth mentioning.... • Speeches • Patrick Henry, Virginia House of Burgess 1775, "Give Me Liberty" • Literature • Thomas Paine, 1776, Common Sense • Organizations • Sons of Liberty, 1765 • Rallying Cries • "no taxation without representation"