Causes of the American Revolution

Causes of the American Revolution

• Proclamation of 1763 limited colonial expansion, causing discontent.
• Intolerable Acts were punitive measures in response to Boston Tea Party, closing Boston's port and reducing assembly powers.
• Stamp Act imposed direct taxes on colonists, fueling resentment towards British governance.
• Mercantilism aimed to boost national wealth through trade imbalances, disadvantaging colonies.
• Lack of Representation in Parliament led to revolutionary sentiments, encapsulated in the slogan "No taxation without representation."
• British economic policies post-French & Indian War imposed heavy burdens on colonies.

Key Figures

• John Adams was a prominent advocate for independence and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He became the second U.S. President.
• Samuel Adams was a leader in colonial rights, founded the Committees of Correspondence, and played a part in the Boston Tea Party.
• Benjamin Franklin was an influential statesman who gained French support for the revolution.
• Crispus Attucks is recognized as the first casualty of the Boston Massacre and is considered the first martyr of the Revolution.
• King George III ruled from 1760-1820, exerting significant control over the colonies, which led to perceptions of tyranny after rejecting the Olive Branch Petition.
• Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and became the third U.S. President.
• Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense, advanced arguments for independence and rallied public support.

Major Events

• Lexington and Concord marked the start of armed conflict in 1775, as colonial militias confronted British troops attempting to seize arms.
• The Battle of Saratoga in 1777 was pivotal, resulting in French military support for the colonists.
• The Battle of Yorktown in 1781 saw British General Cornwallis's surrender, effectively ending the conflict.
• Valley Forge was the site of the Continental Army's winter encampment (1777-1778), marked by severe hardship and significant troop losses, yet served to unite and train the army.

Conclusion of the War

• The Treaty of Paris (1783) concluded the Revolutionary War, formalizing American independence and establishing territorial boundaries stretching from Canada to Florida and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.

Explore the key events and figures that fueled the American Revolution. This quiz covers significant legislative acts, economic policies, and influential leaders like John Adams and Samuel Adams. Understand the impact these elements had on the push for independence.