American Revolution
Causes
Road to Revolution
At this point in history (the 1700’s)
● The 13 Colonies are a part of the British Empire.
● The 13 Colonies are prospering -colonists have more wealth than a large part of the
rest of world, including other parts of the British Empire.
● For the most part people in the 13 Colonies have more freedom than other parts of the
British Empire. And they pay less taxes….
● Countries like Spain and France are constantly fighting wars with each other and the
British Empire to gain more wealth and territory.
Map of the British Empire in 1756
French And Indian War
● The war is between France and the British Empire. Native Americans (Indians) fought
on both sides of this war; however more fought alongside the French.
● Also called the 7 years war because it lasted from 1756 to 1763.
● This war was fought all over the world, not just in North America.
● George Washington helps start the war when he leads troops from Virginia into
disputed territory and defeats a force of French troops and Native Americans on May
28, 1754.
● Benjamin Franklin proposed a plan for a unified government of the 13 Colonies
called The Albany Plan of Union.
Albany Plan of Union
This Map shows the territory each country claims before the French and Indian War.
This is a map of North America after
The French and Indian War.
Results of the French and Indian war
● France loses most of its territory in the New World (see previous maps).
● British win the war but now have lots of debt because of the war.
● British soldiers who fought in the 13 colonies go home and tell people about how
much better the colonists live than people in England.
● British Empire must keep troops in the 13 Colonies to protect colonists from Native
American Tribes.
● British also make a law blocking colonists from moving west onto Native lands - The
Proclamation of 1763
● Because of this the British decide to begin taxing the Colonies….
Proclamation Line of 1763
Triangular Trade and Navigation Acts
● The 'Triangular Trade' was so-called because it was three-sided, involving voyages
from:
○ England to Africa
○ Africa to the Americas
○ The Americas back to England
● Trade between the Colonies and England was controlled by laws called Navigation
Acts.
○ Colonists could only trade certain things with England, not other countries.
○ All goods had to go through an English port so taxes could be taken out.
○ Goods to and from the Colonies had to be shipped on British ships.
○ Colonists smuggled in goods and illegally bought things from other countries.
Triangular Trade
American Revenue Act of 1764
● Known as the Sugar Act.
● Actually cost less than previous tax.
● Placed a tax on goods from countries other than England.
● However, smuggling to get around the tax became a serious crime.
● Smugglers cargoes could be taken away if you broke the law.
● If caught breaking the law your trial would be held far from your home.
● Was repealed and replaced by another, lesser tax in 1766.
Stamp Act of 1765
● This placed a tax on any printed materials- newspapers, legal documents, even
playing cards.
○ Called the Stamp Act because you had to buy special paper with a stamp on it.
○ This was a small tax, but colonists did not like it.
○ Because of protests this law was repealed in 1766.
Townshend Acts
● Five laws aimed at the 13 Colonies passed in 1767.
● One law put taxes on certain items imported into the Colonies.
● Another reduced the tax on Tea but required you to buy it from a certain company.
● Courts to try smugglers were set up by a third law.
● All of these laws were aimed at showing the Colonists that England still controlled
them.
● Protests and boycotts against these laws became widespread.
● One of these protests became deadly…..
The Boston Massacre
This engraving made by Paul Revere makes the “massacre” look like the British
soldiers fired on purpose. In reality the soldiers panicked when confronted by an
angry mob who began throwing rocks and other things at them.
Boston Tea Party
On the same day as the Boston Massacre Parliament repealed all the Townshend Acts
except for the tax on tea. In response men led by the Sons of Liberty boarded ships in
Boston Harbor and threw chests of tea overboard.
● Tea was very important to the colonists, it was their preferred drink that had caffeine.
● The “Tea party” lasted three hours.
● The amount of tea thrown into the harbor was 45 tons and would be worth a million
dollars in US money today.
● Many Colonists, including George Washington and Ben Franklin, thought that the tea
party was bad because of the trouble that it caused and the damage to personal
property.
● To punish the Colonies England passed 5 laws that came to be known as the Coercive
Acts. These are also known as the Intolerable Acts.
No Taxation without Representation
This became the motto of colonists who thought the taxes were unfair. It began with a
group called the Sons Of Liberty, in particular a man named James Otis.
Sons of Liberty
● The name comes from a speech made in the British Parliament by Irishman
Isaac Barre.
● He referred to the American colonists as "sons of liberty" when arguing
against the passage of the Stamp Act.
● The Sons of Liberty had to arrange secret meetings or they might get arrested
by British soldiers.
● The Sons of Liberty sometimes used very harsh tactics to intimidate officials
of the British Government.
James Otis wrote a pamphlet in which he said people had rights given by God and not by a
King. Many people in the Colonies read this and agreed with this idea.
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
● April 18, 1775 - The British learn that the Colonists are hiding weapons in Concord,
Massachusetts and send soldiers out in the night to capture them.
● The colonists find out what is happening and send out three men on horses to warn
the Militia. Paul Revere is the most famous, but he is actually captured and does not
finish the trip.
● At dawn on April 19, the British Army arrives in Lexington and finds a small group
of militia waiting for them. The British tell them to leave……
● And someone, nobody knows who, fires. Eight militia men are killed.
● On the way back to Boston 250 British soldiers are killed or wounded as colonists
attack them all along the march.
This is referred to as “The shot heard round the
world”...
