Factors Leading to Colonial Rebellion in 1776

One of the factors contributing to rebellion in 1776 was the restriction of civil liberties. The liberties of the colonies were limited beginning in 1650 with the passage of the Navigation Acts. Britain believed in mercantilism, the idea that a country’s wealth was measured in gold and silver and wealth was power, this put a damper on the economy of the colonies. The colonies were only to trade with Britain and any colonist thought to be smuggling was guilty until proven innocent. This injustice infringed on the basic liberty of innocent until proven guilty. Years later, Britain passed the Proclamation of 1763 which said that colonists could not move west of the Appalachian Mountains. The proclamation restricted the liberty of pursuit of happiness and angered many colonists. Colonists were outraged at the fact that they were not all

Parliament began placing a series of taxes on the colonies beginning in 1764. The Sugar Act was enacted that year, it was the first law passed by Parliament to raise money for Britain through taxation in the colonies. Britain was raising money to help pay off some of its debt from the French and Indian War. The Sugar Act taxed sugar, molasses, silk, wine, coffee, and indigo. This act hurt colonial trade and forced the colonists to protest. Eventually the taxes were substantially lowered and colonial protest eventually died down. Shortly after this, in 1765 Parliament passed the Stamp Act. It was imposed by Lord Grenville and required that a stamp be placed on all official documents such as playing cards, newspapers, and marriage licenses, to show that a tax had been paid. The Stamp Act was the first direct tax imposed on the colonists, in reaction to the act they formed the Stamp Act Congress which met in October of 1765 in New York City. Twenty-seven delegates from nine colonies met and wrote a declaration of rights and grievances begging both Parliament and the king to repeal the Stamp Act. More important than the congress was the adoption of the nonimportation agreements which once again called for a boycott of British goods. These agreements united the American people for the first time. Colonists also formed the Sons of Liberty, the men in this group would torture the stamp agents to no avail. Finally in 1766, Parliament was forced to revoke the Stamp Act. Due to the taxes placed on the colonies by Parliament, the colonists reac

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