Causes of the American Revolution

Study Notes

Causes of the American Revolution

Taxation Without Representation

Colonists opposed British taxes imposed without their consent.
Key taxes included the Stamp Act (1765) and Townshend Acts (1767).
British justification: Need for revenue to pay off war debts and defend the colonies.
Colonists argued that only their own assemblies could tax them, encapsulated in the slogan "No taxation without representation."

Boston Tea Party

Protest against the Tea Act of 1773, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales.
On December 16, 1773, colonists, dressed as Mohawk Indians, boarded ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
Event signified growing unrest and organized colonial defiance against British authority.

Intolerable Acts

Passed in response to the Boston Tea Party in 1774.
Included the Coercive Acts, aimed to punish Massachusetts:
- Boston Port Act: Closed Boston Harbor until dumped tea was paid for.
- Massachusetts Government Act: Restricted town meetings and elections.
- Administration of Justice Act: Allowed trials of British officials to be held in Britain.
United the colonies in opposition to British rule.

French and Indian War

Conflict from 1754 to 1763 between British and French forces in North America.
Resulted in significant British debt, leading to increased taxation of the colonies.
Treaty of Paris (1763) ceded French territories in North America to Britain.
Colonists gained military experience and began to see themselves as distinct from British governance.

Colonial Resistance Movements

Organized efforts by colonists to oppose British policies.
Key groups included:
- Sons of Liberty: Activists who led protests and acts of rebellion.
- Committees of Correspondence: Networks for communication among colonies about threats posed by Britain.
Encouraged unity among colonies and laid groundwork for revolution through cooperative actions.

Taxation Without Representation

Colonists objected to British taxes levied without their consent, including the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts.
The British justified these taxes by citing the need for revenue to pay off war debts and defend the colonies.
Colonists countered that only their assemblies had the authority to tax them, famously summarized as "No taxation without representation."

Boston Tea Party

Demonstrated colonial opposition to the Tea Act of 1773, which granted the British East India Company a tea monopoly.
On December 16, 1773, colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
The event signified escalating colonial defiance against British rule.

Intolerable Acts

Enacted in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party.
Included the Coercive Acts, a set of punitive measures targeting Massachusetts:
- The Boston Port Act closed Boston Harbor until the cost of the lost tea was repaid.
- The Massachusetts Government Act restricted town meetings and elections.
- The Administration of Justice Act allowed trials of British officials to be held in Britain.
The Intolerable Acts united the colonies against British authority.

French and Indian War

A conflict between British and French forces in North America lasting from 1754 to 1763.
The war resulted in significant British debt, leading to increased taxation of the colonies.
The Treaty of Paris (1763) ceded French territories in North America to Britain.
The colonists gained military experience and developed a growing sense of identity separate from British governance.

Colonial Resistance Movements

Organized efforts by colonists to oppose British policies.
Key groups included:
- Sons of Liberty: Activists leading protests and acts of defiance.
- Committees of Correspondence: Networks for communication among colonies regarding threats posed by Britain.
These movements fostered unity among the colonies and laid the groundwork for revolution through collaborative action.

Description

Explore the key factors that led to the American Revolution, including taxation without representation, the Boston Tea Party, and the Intolerable Acts. Understand how these events fueled colonial anger and defiance against British rule, ultimately paving the way for independence.