Causes
The American revolution was not a result of one single event, but rather a series of issues that pushed the colonies to a breaking point.
These many events and problems can be broken down into 3 categories: Political, Economic and Social problems.
Political issues:
The colonists, although English citizens were not allowed to have representatives in parliament and therefore had no say in the laws that were passed. They had to pay taxes to the King, but had no say in how much or how these were to be spent. This “taxation without representation” made the colonists feel like they were being treated like children, or second class citizens.
In order to pay for the Seven Years War, the King needed to raise taxes. As the war was fought to protect the colonies from the French, the King believed they should have to pay the increase in taxes. Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which forced colonists to buy stamps to put on goods bought to show ownership. This is very similar to our GST in Canada. This proved very unpopular and the colonists united in refusing to buy the stamps and attacking those who did. This was eventually revoked, but replaced with the Tea Act, which placed a tax on tea, the most poplular drink. So upset were the colonists, that a rebel group called the Sons of Liberty, disguised themselves on December 16th, 1773 and boarded and English ship in the Boston harbor. In protest, they dumped 346 chests of tea into the Harbor in an event that would be known as “the Boston Tea Party.
Furious, the King wanted to punish the colonists and passed the 5 Intolerable Acts.
Boston Port Act – the port was closed until the tea was paid for
MAssachussetts government act – all gov’t officials in the colony of Massachussetts be replaced with English officials.
Quartering Act – colonists were to pay for the food and housing of British soldiers
Administration of Justice Act – all trials were to be held in England
Quebec Act – prevented the colonies from expanding west into the Ohio Valley
The colonists were helpless to stop England, as they had no representatives to speak for them in London.
Economic problems
An increase in taxes where they would not see any benefit. Essentially the King was taking money out of their pocket and using it in London. Colonies were forced to buy goods, like Sugar and Tea, only from English companies, which cost more money. All goods could only be brought to the colonies on English ships. No matter where they turned, the King and Parliament were squeezing money out of the colonies, and they were helpless to stop them.
Social problems.
The colonists were being treated like children, used for their money and natural resources, but having no say in how the empire was to be run. They were second class citizens and when they made their displeasure known, the king would increase the number of soldiers in the colonies to keep them in line. To cut down costs, they passed the Quartering Act, which forced colonists to have soldiers stay in their houses and pay for all of their food etc.
The American revolution did not start as one single event, but was rather a series of events that piled up, eventually breaking the backs of the colonists and pushing them to the point of no return.
The American revolution was not a result of one single event, but rather a series of issues that pushed the colonies to a breaking point.
These many events and problems can be broken down into 3 categories: Political, Economic and Social problems.
Political issues:
The colonists, although English citizens were not allowed to have representatives in parliament and therefore had no say in the laws that were passed. They had to pay taxes to the King, but had no say in how much or how these were to be spent. This “taxation without representation” made the colonists feel like they were being treated like children, or second class citizens.
In order to pay for the Seven Years War, the King needed to raise taxes. As the war was fought to protect the colonies from the French, the King believed they should have to pay the increase in taxes. Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which forced colonists to buy stamps to put on goods bought to show ownership. This is very similar to our GST in Canada. This proved very unpopular and the colonists united in refusing to buy the stamps and attacking those who did. This was eventually revoked, but replaced with the Tea Act, which placed a tax on tea, the most poplular drink. So upset were the colonists, that a rebel group called the Sons of Liberty, disguised themselves on December 16th, 1773 and boarded and English ship in the Boston harbor. In protest, they dumped 346 chests of tea into the Harbor in an event that would be known as “the Boston Tea Party.
Furious, the King wanted to punish the colonists and passed the 5 Intolerable Acts.
Boston Port Act – the port was closed until the tea was paid for
MAssachussetts government act – all gov’t officials in the colony of Massachussetts be replaced with English officials.
Quartering Act – colonists were to pay for the food and housing of British soldiers
Administration of Justice Act – all trials were to be held in England
Quebec Act – prevented the colonies from expanding west into the Ohio Valley
The colonists were helpless to stop England, as they had no representatives to speak for them in London.
Economic problems
An increase in taxes where they would not see any benefit. Essentially the King was taking money out of their pocket and using it in London. Colonies were forced to buy goods, like Sugar and Tea, only from English companies, which cost more money. All goods could only be brought to the colonies on English ships. No matter where they turned, the King and Parliament were squeezing money out of the colonies, and they were helpless to stop them.
Social problems.
The colonists were being treated like children, used for their money and natural resources, but having no say in how the empire was to be run. They were second class citizens and when they made their displeasure known, the king would increase the number of soldiers in the colonies to keep them in line. To cut down costs, they passed the Quartering Act, which forced colonists to have soldiers stay in their houses and pay for all of their food etc.
The American revolution did not start as one single event, but was rather a series of events that piled up, eventually breaking the backs of the colonists and pushing them to the point of no return.