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What Caused the Revolutionary War?
There were many events throughout the 18th century that led up to and caused the American Revolution. All of these events involved Britain trying to obtain greater control over it's American colonies and to use them to pay off the nation's debt. The colonists stood up for what they believed in, wanting equal representation and fair treatment, and ultimately, freedom from their mother country. -
What Caused the American Revolution (part 2)
The colonists believed the British were taking away their natural rights of life, liberty, and property, and were fed up with all of Britains controlling rules and regulations they were forcing upon the colonists, which fueled, or caused, the American Revolution. -
Albany Plan of Union
June 28th, 1754 (first draft)- July 10th, 1754 (adopted final version) (plan was never carried out) The Albany Plan of Union was a plan in which the British colonies in North America unified under a centralized government, including all but Delaware and Georgia. The first draft of the Union was written on June 28th, 1754 by the union committee in the Albany Congress. The Albany Plan of Union was adopted on July 10th, 1754. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cp/90611.htm -
Albany Plan of Union (part 2)
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However, the plan was never carried out, because of the lacking support from the colonists, who believed that the plan would limit their authority and territorial rights, and rejected it.
The Albany Plan of Union, although a failure, was a very important step in America's history, marking the start of the division between colonial North America and Britain, the mother country. In addition, the plan paved the way for future unions, and was very important in American history. -
French and Indian War (part 1)
July 3rd, 1754- February 10th, 1763 (Treaty of Paris went into effect) The French and Indian war was one in numerous wars during the 17th and 18th centuries between France and Britian. The war was fought in the New World, which made it very unique. Both countries were fighting for military and trading advantages in North America, which were obviously very beneficial for them. http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=498 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cp/90615.htm -
French and Indian War (part 3)
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As a result, France lost almost all of its land in North America, which was gained by Britain. Also, the Native Americans lost power, in losing the advantage of being able to have European powers (ex. France and England) fight one another.
The French and Indian War is very important in American history. It eliminated the threat of the French for the colonists, allowing them to expand westward. -
French and Indian War (part 4)
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Also, Britain did not have full control over the former French lands, adding to the division between the colonists and Britain. -
French and Indian War (part 2)
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Although the French seemed to have the advantage at first, the English overpowered them and came out on top.
The French and Indian War was called so because the Native Americans, or Indians, fought with the French against England. When the British won the war, there were unfavorable results for both the French and the Indians.
Also called the Seven Years' War, the French and Indian war came to an end on February 10th, 1763, upon the signing of the Treaty of Paris. -
Battle of Quebec (part 2)
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Also called the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the battle marked the beginning of French's loss of power in North America, specifically in Canada, when they were defeated by Britain. -
Battle of Quebec
The Battle of Quebec occurred on September 13th, 1759, and was a part of the French and Indian War. In the battle, the British and the colonists were fighting against the French and the Canadians.
Although it only lasted one day, the Battle of Quebec was very significant in the American Revolution. http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-of-quebec.htm -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was put into effect on February 10th, 1763. It ended the French and Indian war, between the French and the British. The treaty is very important in the American Revolution, As a result of it, France lost nearly all of its land in North America, which was gained by Britain. This was significant because it eliminated the French threat for the American colonists, allowing them to settle westward. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cp/90615.htm -
Treaty of Paris (part 2)
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It was also significant because it put Britain in enormous debt after fighting in a war. This led to Britain taxing the colonists in order to pay off the debt, ultimately leading to the colonists' split from the mother country. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was put into effect by Britain on October 7th, 1763. The proclamation prohibited the colonists from settling in the frontier. This angered the colonists, feeling that their "prize was snatched away from them," creating tension between the colonies and Britain. The proclamation also established the four new colonies of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Grenada. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/proc63.htm -
Proclamation of 1763 (part 2)
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Finally, the Proclamation of 1763 stated that Native Americans were now protected by England, and Indian lands that were occupied by colonists must be abandoned. This is significant because it raised tensions once again, and the colonists did not obey this new law. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was passed by Britain on April 5th, 1764. The act reduced the tax on molasses "from six pence to three pence per gallon," modifying the previous Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733. The Sugar Act also created taxes on other goods such as sugar, coffee, and wine, and "regulated export of lumber and iron." http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sugaract.htm -
Sugar Act (part 2)
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The Sugar Act is significant in the American Revolution because, similarly to other acts passed by Britain during the 18th century, it angered the colonists. They thought that they were being treated unfairly, and shouldn't be taxed without being represented in Parliament in England, giving meaning to the phrase, "no taxation without representation!" It disrupted the colonists' economy, and added to the growing tension between American and Britain, leading to revolt. -
Stamp Act
March 22nd, 1765- May 1st, 1766 The Stamp Act was passed by Parliament on March 22nd, 1765. It placed a tax on stamps for the colonists, and was an effort by Britain to control and govern the colonists in America. It required many documents used by the colonists like newspapers and legal documents to have stamps on them. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/stampact.htm http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/stamp.htm -
Stamp Act (part 2)
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This was a direct way Britain tried to make money off of the colonies in order to repay their debt from the French and Indian War. The colonists obviously did not like this, and it increased tension. The act was repealed on May 1st, 1766. -
Quartering Act
March 24th, 1765- March 24th, 1767 The Quartering Act was passed by Britain on March 24th, 1765. It was enacted in an effort to support British troops in the colonies. Under the act, colonists were required to provide supplies and accomodations for the troops, to meet their needs for food, housing, and munitions. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/quartering.htm http://www.manhattanrarebooks-history.com/quartering_act.htm -
Quartering Act (part 2)
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The Quartering Act was not well received by the colonists. This was because the troops were in North America to enforce Britain's new taxes and policies, controlling the colonists. Thus, it didn't make sense for the Americans to be supporting something that was hurting them. After much resentment for this act, it was amended by Parliament on March 24th, 1767 -
Stamp Act Congress
October 7th, 1765 (convened) The Stamp Act Congress was a group of delegates from nine of the thirteen colonies that met on October 7th, 1765. They met in opposition of the recent Stamp Act that went into effect in March of that year. At the congress's meeting, the delegates planned "tempered resistance to the new tax." http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1221.html -
Stamp Act Congress (part 2)
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They approved the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which argued that Britain's taxing of the colonies was unjust, and that taxation should only come from the colonists' "own assemblies."
The Stamp Act Congress was important in the American Revolution because it was an effort by the colonist to solve some of the problems going on at the time. This congress lasted one day, the day that it convened. -
Repeal of the Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was repealed by Parliament on March 18th, 1766. This was a direct result of the colonists' boycotting of English goods in response to the Stamp Act.
The act's repeal was significant in the American Revolution because it was the first colonial victory over Britain. This showed the colonists that their efforts could pay off- an important aspect of the revolution. http://www.manhattanrarebooks-history.com/repeal_of_stamp_act.htm -
Declatory Act (part 2)
The Declatory Act was important in the American Revolution because it showed how Britain was trying to maintain control of their colonies. It also gave them absolute power over the colonists. This would inevitably increase tension between them, adding to the revolution. -
Declatory Act
The Declatory Act was put into effect by Parliament on March 18th, 1766. It was enacted in order to make Britain seem strong and controlling to the colonists, because they repealed the Stamp Act on the same day, making them seem weak. The Declatory Act gave Parliament the right to make laws that "would bind the colonists 'in all cases whatsoever.' " http://www.bookrags.com/research/the-declaratory-act-arrl-04/ -
Townshend Act
June 29th, 1767- March 5th, 1770 The Townshend Act was enacted by Parliament on June 29th, 1767. It gave England more power over America. With the Townshend Act, Britain could tax the colonists for items such as paint, glass, lead, tea, and paper. This was significant because it obviously raised tensions greatly. http://www.mrnussbaum.com/history/townshendact.htm http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/town.htm -
Townshend Act (part 2)
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In response to the Townshend Act, the American colonists again boycotted British goods. Britain had to keep the colonists under control, and repealed the Townshend Act on March 5th, 1770. -
Boston Massacre (part 2)
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In the commotion, "Fire!" was yelled by one of the men; it is not known who said it. When they heard this, the British troops open fired into the crowd.
The term "massacre" is argueably misused in the name of this event. In reality, only three colonists were killed and eight were wounded (two of them also died later.) Paul Revere's famous engraving of the scene exaggerated the event greatly, just fueling the colonial hatred towards Britain. -
Boston Massacre (part 3)
The Boston Massacre was incredibly significant in the American Revolution. It contributed greatly to the tension between America and Britain. Despite the fact that the soldiers were found to be innocent that they fired in self defense, the "massacre" was a crucial piece in the colonists' minds. The fact that British soldiers on the colonists' land killed some of their people for supposedly "no reason" added to the hatred of Britain and fueled the revolution. -
Boston Massacre (part 4)
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Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5th, 1770, and lasted just one day. Prior to the massacre, Britain had stationed troops in the colonies, in an effort to better control them. The colonists were obviously not happy with their mother country, and on March 5th, decided to take their anger out on group of British soldiers in Boston. That night, a crowd of people formed, harassing the soldiers verbally with insults and physically by throwing snowballs at them. -
Boston Tea Party (part 3)
This event was very significant in the American Revoltion. Colonists applauded what had been done, while the British were obviously infuriated. It truly sparked the revolution, and showed the American colonists they could go up against Britai, fighting for what they believed in. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16th, 1773. At this time the colonists were very aggravated with Britain, and though they should not have to pay taxes, without be represnted. Because of this, Parliament repealed all of the Townshend Acts except the tax on tea. Britain tried to get the colonists to pay taxes on the tea, as it was a staple item in colonial life, showing Parliament's power to tax them by doing so. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm -
Boston Tea Party (part 2)
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However, the colonists did not fall for this trick. On December 16th, a group of about 200 colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded three ships from the East India Tea Company docked in Boston harbor, and dumped the tea they carried into the harbor. -
Intolerable Acts (part 2)
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One thing that the British did as a part of the Intolerable Acts was close the Boston port, until the colonists paid for all the tea they ruined. The Quartering Act was also part of the Intolerable Acts, requiring colonists to provide accomodations for British troops in America. Also, the Quebec Act is often considered part of the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were passed by Parliament on March 18th, 1774. Also called the Coercive Acts, they were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party, and were supposed to punish Boston. Britain thought that this would set an example for the other colonies, as they all disobeyed the mother country's rules. http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/INTOLER.HTM http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761579222/Intolerable_Acts.html -
Intolerable Acts (part 3)
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The Colonists simply refused to put up with all of the rules and regulations Britain impsed upon them, including the Intolerable Acts. As with all of the other major events affecting the American Revolultion the Intolerable Acts increased tension, and sparked the revolution. -
First Continental Congress
The First Contintental Congress was a group of delegates from all of the colonies except Georgia. It convened on September 5th, 1774 in Philadephia's Carpenter Hall. At this meeting, the congress aimed to solve some of the problems and correct some of the wrongdoings of Britain, and get heard in London. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h650.html -
First Continental Congress (part 2)
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The First Contintental Congress went on to take many major actions, including Suffolk Resolves, Galloway Plan of Union, The Association, and Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
The First Continental Congress was so significant in the road to the American Revolution because it set out to right the wrongs that had occurred to far between Britain and the colonists, and tried to get the Americans heard by the British back in London. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord (part 2)
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The British casualties were greater than that of the colonists', and thus began America's Revolutionary War.
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was extremely crucial in the American revolution. The battle truly began the American Revolutionary War, and was recognized by all of the colonies as so. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was a one day battle that occurred on April 19th, 1775. On the morning of the 19th, British troops and the colonial milita men met at Lexington Green. After they were fired at, the colonists retreated, but then followed the British troops to Concord, where the rest of the battle took place. http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/The_Great_Republic_By_the_Master_Historians_Vol_II/thebattle_de.html -
Quebec Act (part 2)
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The Quebec Act was significant in the American Revolution because once again, it angered the colonists, causing tension between them and the British. This was because they believed that the Indian lands that Quebec obatined with this act was rightfully theirs. The American colonists considered the Quebec Act part of the Intolerable Acts. -
Quebec Act
May 1st, 1775 The Quebec Act was passed by Parliament on May 1st, 1775. It explaned Quebec, one of Britain's colonies, and "instituted French civil law within it." Overall, the act failed to solve the issue regarding the colony's conflicting French and English speaking populations. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006592 http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_461511101/Qu%C3%A9bec_Act.html
