Causes of The American Revolution
Katie Holme 1763 - 1776
Navigation Act
The Navigation Acts started on 1650. The purpose of the Navigation Act was to put the theory of mercantilism into play. The navigation act included certain items to be shipped only within the English empire. Goods also neede to be shipped through England before anywhere else. Along with the Navigation Act, came the Sugar Act. The Sugar Act forced colonists to pay for mor costly sugar.The impact of the navigation act was negative amongst the settlers. As a result increased resentment against England.
The Proclomation of 1763
The Proclomation of 1763 was created after the French and Indian war. The Proclamation of 1763 was an act that did not let colonists settle west of the Appalachian Mountains and gave the Indians right to the land. This proclamation was issued by King George III to avoid further conflict and tension with the Native Americans. The proclamation angered the colonists who were unhappy because they fought for the land.
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act taxed all paper in the colonies. It was created to pay of debt from the French and Indian war and to fund to protect the colonies. In response the Committee of Correspondence protested the act by boycotting and putting the Sons of Liberty into play. The Stamp Act Congress was a group that discussed the repealing of the Stamp Act. To put this into play they sent a letter to King George III. As a result he repealed the act, but sent more troops to the colonies.
Quartering Act
Since England sent more troops to the colonies they passed a Quartering act. The Quartering act gave blank search warrants to soldiers and required colonists to clothe, feed, and house them. As a result the colonists became angry with the act because it was very costly to house a solider and thought it was unfair. The Writs of Assistance were another name for the blank search warrants the soldiers owned.
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were laws that taxed glass, tea, paper, and other items. The purpose of the Townshend Acts was to pay for military costs due to the Quartering Act. Colonists started to boycott and protest once more. The Daughters of Liberty were another group who protested the act. They protested by making their own cloth instead of buying British cloth which was more expensive. The Sons of Liberty also continued there acts of protests and violence by attacking the homes of British officials and tax collectors.
Boston Massacre
As a result of the growing population of British soldiers in the colonies, Colonists grew angry. The Boston Massacre all started when angry colonists started to argue with British soldiers. The Mob grew out of hand and shots were fired, several people died. Samuel Adams responded to the Boston Massacre as a propaganda to influence the colonists opinions. John Adams on the other hand represented the soldiers in trial. He did this to demonstrate the colonists value their right to a a trial.
Tea Act & Boston Tea Party
The Tea Act was a law that only allowed British East India Company to sell tea to the colonies. The colonists were unhappy with this act. Even though it made the cost of tea lower, they had to pay an import tax. The Sons of Liberty responded to the act by disguising as Native Americans and illegally dump thousands of pounds of tea overboard ships and into the harbor.
Coercive Act (Intolerable Acts)
The Coercive Acts were created due to the Boston Tea Party. The acts were created to make colonists pay for tea and to keep the colonists from planning any other rebellions. The colonist called the laws Intolerable Acts because they were so harsh. The four laws that were enforced were stopping all trade from Boston, not allowing town meetings, gave Britain control, and gave strength to the Quartering Act. The other colonies responded to these acts by bringing goods to Boston which also sparked a revolutionary spirit.