Causes of the Amercican Revolution
Henry Coats 1763-1776
Description of the American Revolution
The American Revolution was when colonists in America revolted against Britain to obtain freedom. The reason the colonists decided to revolt was because King George III had created Acts that restricted the colonists trading and success. The colonists created several groups to rebel against the British rule such as the Sons of Liberty, and the Daughters of Liberty. The Acts did things like faced colonists to house British soldiers, tax paper goods and other trade items, and forced colonists to only trade with Britian. The colonists did send a letter to King George in order to help King George understand their situation and possibly retreat from taking advantage of the colonists. The King defused and in turn sent more troops to the Colonies which eventually led to the American Revolution.
Navigation Acts - (1650-1700s)
The Navigation Acts forced the colonists to only trade with Britain. The colonists had to use British ships for trade and they could only buy and sell products from or to Britain. These restrictions made the colonists and they became very resentful towards Britain.
Proclamation of 1763
This act completely restricted the colonists from going west over the Appalachian Mountains. King George did this because he didn't want to start a disagreement with the native and possibly lose more soldiers and colonists in a war. The colonists became even more rebellious after this because they had just fought in a war in order to get that land and now the couldn't even use it.
Stamp Act - (1765)
The Stamp Act taxed all paper goods and forced colonists to buy a stamp so that they could send letters or do anything with with paper. The colonists retaliated buy boycotting paper goods to show Britain that they couldn't control them. The Acts main purpose was to collect money so that Britain could pay of its debt from the French and Indian War.
Quartering Act - (1765)
The Quartering Act forced colonists to allow troops to live in their homes and forced them to feed them provide them with clean clothes and basically became the troops slaves. The colonists were mostly fed up with the fact that the troops had no search warrants and taking care of them was very costly. King George did this because he thought it would save money if the troops could live with the colonists.
Townshend Acts - (1767)
The Townshend Acts taxed many household necessities like paper, tea, oil, glass and paint. Because most colonists were poor the boycotted most of the taxed goods to get by. King George did this as another alternative to pay off the debt from the French and Indian War. The colonists started questioning the Kings rule and the colonists became more rebellious towards the British.
Boston Massacre - (1770)
The Boston Massacre was what set off the colonists and started the beginning of the American revolution. It started when a colonists began arguing with a British soldier and a crowd formed and began throwing things at the British soldiers. After one of the British slammed the butt of his rifle into a colonist the colonists were outraged and the British opened fire on the crowd of colonists. Five colonists were killed during the shooting.
Tea Act and Boston Tea Party - (1773)
The Tea Act put a tax on tea and forced the colonists to only buy tea from Britain. This made the colonists furious. This led the colonists to start the Boston Tea Party. A group called the Sons of Liberty threw 342 crates if tea off the harbor in Boston dressed up as natives.
Coercive Acts (Intolerable) - (1774)
The Intolerable acts outlawed all Self-Government among the colonies. It also closed the Boston port so no goods left Boston. There were four laws as a result of this, no trade between Boston and Britain, it gave Britain more control over the colonies, there were no town meetings, and it also strengthened the Quartering Act. This was an effort to make colonists pay for Britain's Tea and also was an effort to stop further colonist attacks.