Causes of the

American

Revolution

I. Long Term Causes

A. Enlightenment in Europe during 1600

B. people emigrated from England

1. immigrated to “New World”

2. forced to follow reasons for emigration

King’s religion, push vs pull factor

economic

opportunity

II. 13 Colonies in North America

A. Controlled by British

B. Established to supply resources to Britain &

sell British goods in America

C. British Parliament

set laws for

colonies

D. each colony had

its own legislature

1. Made additional laws for colony

III. Seven Years’ War (1756 – 1763)

A. Fought for control of land in North America

B. Treaty of Paris ended war

1. 1763 - Britain became world’s

greatest colonial power

C. Stamp Act 1765

1. British needed money to pay

for war & military in N. A.

2. Anything printed had to have

stamp showing tax was paid

3. 1766: Repealed after violent

opposition to British

IV. Colonist’s complaints

A. Parliament passed taxes on non-British goods

1. Colonists smuggled products

2. British searched homes for illegal items

3. Colonists mad-not treated = to British citizens

4. “no taxation w/o representation”

a. _______________________________

5. Boston Massacre

a. Anti-British propaganda

b. British repeal all taxes

except tea tax

B. Tea Act of 1773

1. Made British tea cheaper than American tea

C. Boston Tea Party - 1773

1. Colonists seized British tea & dumped into harbor

D. Intolerable Acts / Coercive Acts

1.Violated traditional English rights

a. weren’t allowed

a trial by jury

b. Forced to

quarter British

soldiers

Took 342 cases

Coercive Acts 1774