The Causes of the American Revolution
Between 1763 and 1776 many actions opposed by the British government initiated antagonism and protest within the American colonies, eventually leading to a war for independence. Many factors lead to this war. The main causes were political, economic and military issues. In the years 1754-1763 a war between France and Britain arose in the Americas. The French and Indian War, also known as the “Seven-Year War, was fought to decide which of Britain or France would become the stronger power in North America, each side relying on its colonists and Indian allies to fight. Although the British had won the war, the end of the French and Indian War however had resulted in large debt that the British Parliament decided would be repaid by a raise in taxes on the colonies, being as they were the primary beneficiaries of the successful prosecution of the war. Taxes were imposed on a number of items, including legal documents and tea. Stamps were issued to be affixed onto the legal documents and newspapers. Beginning in 1765, protests at the taxes and stamps began to mount in the colonies. As stated in Document 2 by Sir Thomas Whatley, “They should contribute to the Preservation of the Advantages they have received.” This only originat
Following the French and Indian War a greater, more significant war was bound to come. The American Revolutionary War was not only fought because of military problems, but economic problems as well. As a result of the French and Indian War, many taxes were enforced upon the colonies. In June 1767 the English Parliament decided to cut British land taxes. In order to make up for the difference and to continue to finance their troops in the Colonies, Charles Townshend, the British Treasurer, promised he would tax the colonists. Unlike the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts created a tax on goods the colonists imported, such as paper, red and white lead, glass, paints, and tea shipped from England. In document 1, John Hancock is referring to the Townshend Acts when he states, “Taxes equally causing harm to the commercial interests of the Parent country and the colonies, are imposed upon the people without their consent.” In their defense, the colonies objected to these acts because they stipulated taxation without representation, which they saw as unconstitutional. In addition to the Townshend Acts, Parliament passed another act allowing British soldiers to be stationed in the colonist’s houses. The Quartering Acts required colonies to provide provisions and barracks for British troops. If colonies did not provide shelter, authorized royal government would confiscate inns and vacant buildings for use by the army. The colonists saw this as an invasion of privacy. It also increased their budge
Some topics in this essay:
American Revolution,
Boston Massacre,
Townshend Acts,
British Parliament,
Quartering Acts,
Stamp Act,
,
Thomas Whatley,
Indian War,
Preservation Advantages,
townshend acts,
french indian,
indian war,
french indian war,
boston massacre,
stamp act,
war fought,
war taxes,
sir thomas whatley,
legal documents,
people loyalists,
parliament decided,
war french indian,
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Approximate Word count = 1012
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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