Causes of the American Revolution

Hering's AP10 Review

General Cause: After a series of clashes with the British government, a majority of American colonists and their leaders became convinced that they would be better off independent from Great Britain.

I. Economic Clash

A. Taxation (see overheads)

1. Stamp Act (1765)

2. Townshend Revenue Act (1767)

3. Tea Act (1773)

B. Trade Policy

1. Mercantilism

2. Navigation Acts

3. Writs of Assistance

4. “Customs Racketeering”

5. Gaspee Incident (1772)

C. Land Policy

1. Pontiac's Uprising

2. Proclamation of 1763

3. Quebec Act (1774)

D. Currency Policy

1. Currency Act of 1764

2. Trade Deficit causes currency shortage in colonies

II. Political Clash (Who has the power?)

] King George III comes to power (1760)

] Imperial Reorganization (1763, away from salutary neglect)

] Virtual Representation vs. Actual Representation

] Second Continental Congress (1775)

] Paine's Common Sense (1776)

] Declaration of Independence (1776)

III. Military Clash

] Quartering Act of 1765, 1774

] Boston Massacre, 1870

] Lexington & Concord, 1775

] War for Independence (1775-1781)

Key Event: Stamp Act (1765)

Britain, heavily in debt, expected the colonists to pay a portion of the colonial defense and administrative costs. The Stamp Act was the first direct (internal) tax designed to raise revenue.

Reaction:

] Resistance to this Act was widespread. Colonists:

1) intimidated tax collectors and royal officials,

2) formed the Sons of Liberty (a group led by Sam Adams who organized protests),

3) denounced the taxes through their elected assemblies,

4) held the Stamp Act Congress in New York which attracted leaders from 9 colonies, and

5) boycotted British goods (non-importation).

] In 1766, the Stamp Act was repealed. At the same time, parliament passed the Declaratory Act which stated its power to make laws for Americans in ALL cases.

Key Event: Townshend Duties (1767)

The Revenue Act was designed to raise money through external taxes (duties paid by merchants) on imported glass, paint, lead, paper, and tea. The revenue would pay royal officials in America (colonial assemblies had previously paid their salaries).

Reaction:

] John Dickinson's "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania," pointed out that the duties violated the "no taxation without representation" theory, but urged a moderate response.

] The Massachusetts legislature passed a Circular Letter urging other colonial assemblies to pass resolutions calling for the repeal of the acts.

] Britain reacted harshly, threatening the legislature and sending troops. Colonists turned to again non-importation which kept about 40% of British imports out of the colonies.

] Tension between Bostonians and British troops resulted in the "Boston Massacre" shortly before the repeal of most of the Townshend Duties.

] In 1770, Parliament repealed most of the Townshend duties. It kept the tax on tea as a symbol of its power.

] Although non-importation collapsed, non-consumption of tea limited its sales to 1/6 of what was expected.

Key Event: Tea Act (1773)

The Tea Act of 1773 eliminated the import duties on Indian tea entering Britain in the hope to save the East India Company. This reduced the price of tea in the colonies below the smuggled competition.

Reaction:

] Colonists resisted the cheap tea because the tax remained in place.

] In Boston, a ship of tea was landed and duties would have to be paid on its cargo. Rather than accepting the tax, 50 men dressed as Indians boarded the ship and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor.

] Britain responded harshly to the Tea Party by passing the Coercive Acts.

] Boston Harbor was closed until the tea was paid for. Massachusetts's charter was revoked resulting in a less democratic government. Empty private buildings could be requisitioned for troops.

] At the same time, the unrelated Quebec Act was passed which further alienated colonists.

] Delegates from 12 colonies formed the First Continental Congress. They met on Sept. 5, 1774 to discuss a response to the Coercive Acts.

] The Congress supported the Suffolk Resolves which declared the colonies owed no obedience to the Coercive Acts and that defensive measures should be put in place.

] A complete boycott was also announced—the Continental Association.

] Under General Gage, Britain sought to seize arms held at Concord. This led to a skirmish at Lexington and fighting at Concord. The War for Independence began on April 18, 1775.

Key Event: Second Continental Congress Meets, 1775

On May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress began meeting in Philadelphia. This is the congress that will declare independence.

Reaction & Events:

] The Congress votes to establish an American Continental Army and appoints George Washington commander.

] The congress still hopes to reconcile with Great Britain. They send the Olive Branch Petition that contains three demands:

1) Declare a cease-fire

2) repeal the Coercive Acts

3) negotiations to guarantee American rights

] The petition arrived the same time as news of the Battle of Bunker Hill in which the Red Coats suffered heavy losses. In no mood to negotiate, the King and parliament declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion.

] In January of 1776, Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense which helps colonists break their emotional ties to the King. It sold more than 100,000 copies in 3 months.

] Independence is Declared on July 4, 1776. The Declaration is written by Thomas Jefferson.