Causes of the American Revolution
By: Alec Busceme 1763-1776
Navigation Acts
In 1650s, These were set by England so colonies couldn't trade with each other. This came after England left the colonies alone for 150 years. The colonist were upset because that was a major part of their economy. Along with the Navigation Acts the Sugar Acts came into effect In 1765. It taxed sugar and other items. This started the American rebellion against the Mother Country England.
The proclamation of 1763
In 1763, The England continued to gain more control of the colonies. The Native American stayed westward and English didn't want the colonists to get into fights with the Native American. The colonists felt robbed because they fought for that land.
The stamp acts
In 1765, British than began to tax them more to make up the debt of the war. The tax was on anything made out of paper. This mainly effected the rich but they convinced the poor to boycott with them. This fueled the colonist rebellion even more. They began to boycott and didn't buy goods that were taxed from the stamp act.
Quarting acts
In 1765 Once the stamp act riots were over. Britian wanted to regain control. To do this they sent in even more troops to the Americas. They then made the Quarting Acts the colonist had to house and feed the soldiers as if they were their children. It showed the British Soldiers had more rights than the Colinist in the Mother Country's eyes.
Townshed acts
In 1767, The British then taxed even more goods. Such as tea, glass, paper, and other products. The daughters of liberity made their own cloth instead of Britiish cloth to avoid getting taxed. Britian reliased this upset the colnist so repeal all of the items except tea.
Boston Massacare
On one night on March 5,1770, 5 colonist were shot and killed by British Soldiers. The colonist taunted soldiers and they finnally broke and opened fire. The first death was a black man. All people interprated it differentally, for example some used it as propaganda, which evantually spread to all the colonies. While some choose to represent the soldiers in the trial.
Tea Act & Boston Tea Party
In 1773, the Tea Act was passed making the BEIC a monopoply of tea. This caused the colonist to be outraged because they had to pay british import taxes. Many people boycotted by doing things such as making their own tea, not unloading tea, and Merchants sell tea to the colonists. While others illegally dumped 342 crates of tea into the Harbor.
Coericive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
In 1774, the coericive acts were passed, which colonist called the Intolerable Acts. This was British response to the Boston Tea Party. They included four major laws that was enforced Boston port was closed down, No more town meetings, Britian gained control of the colony, and strengthed the Quartering Acts. The colonist began to rebel more
Causes of the American Revolution Summary
To sum it up the British pushed America to its breaking point with all the taxes and mistreatment. This all led up to the American Revolution where America claimed freedom from england. Propeganda was a social cause of this with others. The english economic policies failed to respect the colonist and made them suffer for englands action. Which made the colonist feel like they were below English citizens. So yes I do think it was justified for america to claim freedom.