Causes of the Revolution
The American Revolution was an open conflict between the united thirteen colonies and Great Britain in 1775. The war began when the colonies cannot tolerate the way British are treating them. They were treating the Americans like animals because British felt that the colonies were created to be used as slaves to the king. On the other hand, Americans felt that they deserve all the rights of English men. Slowly overtime, the road to revolution built slowly when many events fed the growing desire of the thirteen colonies for independence. The following are the major events that led to the revolution:
- French and Indian war in 1754 to 1763 is a war between Britain and France ended with the victorious British deeply in debt and demanding more revenue from the colonies. With the defeat of the French, the colonies became less dependent on Britain for protection.
- The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. While Britain did not intend to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order.
- The Sugar Act in 1764 raised revenue by increasing duties on sugar imported from the West Indies.
- The Stamp Act required tax stamps on many items and documents including playing cards, newspapers, and marriage licenses.
- In 1767 the Townshed Act were passed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea. Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax leading to more troops in Boston.
- The Boston Massacre was the colonists and British soldiers openly clashed in Boston.
- The Tea Act is passed to assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America.
- The Boston Tea Party occurred in 1773 in which a group of colonists disguised as Indians dumped tea overboard from three ships in Boston Harbor.
- In 1774 the Intolerable Acts were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and place restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor.
- In 1774 The First Continental Congress was form in response to the Intolerable Acts, 12 out of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia September to October, 1774. One of the many results of this was the creation of The Association calling for a boycott of British goods.
- In April 1775, British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed. At Concord, the British troops were forced to retreat with the lost of 70 men. This was the first instance of open warfare.
- The Second Continental Congress was form again but this time all 13 colonies were represented at this meeting in Philadelphia beginning May 1775. The colonists still hope that their grievances would be meet by King George III. George Washington was named head of the Continental Army.
- In 1775, Bunker Hill is where the major victory for the Colonists resulted in George III proclaiming the colonies in rebellion.