American Revolution Causes

Causes of the American Revolution

• Proclamation of 1763: Forbidden American colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Mountains, leading to resentment towards British rule.
• Taxation without representation: British imposed taxes on colonists without giving them representation in Parliament, violating their rights as Englishmen.
• Boston Massacre (1770): Tensions between British soldiers and American colonists escalated into violence, killing five colonists.
• Boston Tea Party (1773): Colonists dressed as Native Americans boarded British ships and threw tea into the harbor to protest taxation.

Events of the American Revolution

• First Continental Congress (1774): Delegates from 12 colonies met to coordinate a unified response to British rule.
• American Revolutionary War (1775-1783): Colonies declared independence and fought against British forces, with the help of France.
• Declaration of Independence (1776): Written by Thomas Jefferson, it formally declared the 13 colonies independent states.
• Surrender at Yorktown (1781): British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered, marking a decisive American victory.

Key Figures

• George Washington: Led the Continental Army to victory and became the first President of the United States.
• Thomas Jefferson: Author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States.
• Patrick Henry: Famous for his "Give me liberty or give me death" speech, urging colonists to take a stand against British rule.
• Benjamin Franklin: Diplomat, statesman, and scientist who helped secure French support for the American cause.

Outcomes of the American Revolution

• Treaty of Paris (1783): Officially ended the war and recognized American independence.
• United States Constitution (1787): Established the framework of the federal government and the principles of the American system.
• New Nation: The American Revolution created a new nation, founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, and individual rights.

Causes of the American Revolution

• The Proclamation of 1763 restricted American colonists from settling beyond the Appalachian Mountains, sparking resentment towards British rule.
• The British government imposed taxes on colonists without giving them representation in Parliament, violating their rights as Englishmen and leading to widespread discontent.
• Tensions between British soldiers and American colonists escalated into violence during the Boston Massacre in 1770, resulting in the deaths of five colonists.
• The Boston Tea Party in 1773 saw colonists dressed as Native Americans board British ships and throw tea into the harbor to protest taxation.

Events of the American Revolution

• The First Continental Congress in 1774 brought together delegates from 12 colonies to coordinate a unified response to British rule.
• The American Revolutionary War lasted from 1775 to 1783, with the colonies declaring independence and fighting against British forces, aided by the French.
• The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, formally declared the 13 colonies independent states.
• The American victory at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, where British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered, marked a decisive turning point in the war.

Key Figures

• George Washington led the Continental Army to victory and became the first President of the United States.
• Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence and later became the third President of the United States.
• Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech in 1775 urged colonists to take a stand against British rule.
• Benjamin Franklin was a diplomat, statesman, and scientist who helped secure French support for the American cause.

Outcomes of the American Revolution

• The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially ended the war and recognized American independence.
• The United States Constitution, established in 1787, created the framework of the federal government and enshrined the principles of the American system.
• The American Revolution resulted in the creation of a new nation, founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, and individual rights.