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Thesis
The Road to the Revolution in America was paved with many different events, and leads one to question, what it is that was the catalyst for the American Revolution? That catalyst were the British infringements on the ideologies of the American Colonists. Their belief of what was right and wrong, drove the American people to fight for their freedom and liberty. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union, was the plan suggested by Benjamin Franklin during the Albany Congress. This plan proposed that the colonies be under the rule of a more centralized government. The plan was adopted by the representatives, but the colonies themselves rejected it because they didn't believe that it gave them enough freedom. -
Albany Plan of Union (Continued)
The colonies rejection of this plan demonstrate the beginings of their lust for freedom. They believed that they needed independence and also believed that this particular plan did not give them enough freedom. The colonists ideoligies are begining to take shape, and tell the world that they want freedom.
http://www.u-s-history.com/
"The Albany Plan for a Confederation of Colonies." Inside American History.Abingdon/Cambridge: Helicon, 2007. History Study Center. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was the first war that had begun in the new world. Ultimately the British, and the colonists won this war, but it opened the colonists eyes. The once indestructible British army had been proven weak by a bunch of savages (Indians). It caused the colonists to rethink their allegiance their motherland. After the war was won, America saw no immediate threat to them, all they saw was land an opportunity. -
French and Indian War (Continued)
So it was when Britain started taxing and restricting the colonists that they think of breaking away. The British ignore the colonist basic, and natural rights, and do not even give them a chance to speak for themselves. This behavior warrants one reaction, revolution. http://www.u-s-history.com/ -
Battle of Qubec
The Battle of Quebec was a very important battle fought during the French and Indian war. It was fought between the British army and the French army outisde of Qubec. British troops led by James Wolfe, successfully resisted the advancing French troops, led by Marquis de Montcalm. This battle eventually led to the fall of Montreal the next year, and ultimately, it led to the British wining the war. http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-of-quebec-1775.htm
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h787. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris 1763 ended the French and Indian War. Under the terms of the treaty, France gave up all its land in North America, which helped to end the military threat to the colonists. The British had wished to end this war, because it caused large amount of military expenditures, which ultimately led Britain to falling into debt. The end of the French and Indian War led to two major things occurring in the colonies. -
Treaty of Paris (Continued)
One was that, due to the lessened military threat from other countries in North America, the colonies felt less reliant on the British military. This new-found self-reliance caused the colonies to question whether they needed the British at all. The second major event that occurred, was colonial taxation due to the debt that the war had created. This unwanted taxation only angered the colonists, who were not even represented in the British parliament. The colonists saw these as injustices. -
Treaty of Paris Sources
Rosenfeld, Susan. Enclyclopedia of American Historical Documents. Vol. 1. New York City: Facts on File, 2004. Print. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/paris763.asp -
Proclamation of 1763 (Continued)
The colonists of America thought that this proclamation was undermining their basic rights, to land and freedom. The colonists thought the British had no right to control them and ultimately, this was just another brick being laid in America's road to revolution. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/proc1763.asp -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was created to stop the colonists from expanding westward past the Appalachian Mountains. This proclamation was created for several reasons, one was to help avoid conflict with the Native Americans. Another reason for this proclamation was to make sure that the colonists would stay on east coast, so the colonists could be contribute to the British mercantile system. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 was an update to the Molasses Act of 1733. The updated law stated that there would be a three pence tax on non-British sugar and molasses, that the list of taxable goods would increase, and very strict exporting laws, especially on iron and lumber. Protests against the taxation arose quickly, as the colonist believed that the British should not be allowed to tax them. -
The Sugar Act (Continued)
The colonists had no representation in the British parliament, and therefore thought it unfair of the British to tax them, and boycotts against British goods began. It was during these protests that the phrase, "no taxation without representation" was chanted. "Sugar Act." The Encyclopedia of British History. Abingdon/Cambridge: Helicon, 2007. History Study Center. -
The Quartering Act
At the end of the French and Indian War the British built up troops in North America to protect to colonists from any residual Indian and Frenchmen threats. This Act said that the colonies had to provide for the basic needs of each British soldier stationed within its borders. Some of these basic needs were, bedding, cooking utensils, firewood, beer or cider and candles. The colonists were made unweary by the British army. -
The Quatering Act (Continued)
Some believed that the British were there to enforce unpopular pieces of legislation passed in Britain. Many colonists wondered why they had to serve the soldiers that were protecting them from an enemy they did not fear. The colonists felt they were being used for Britain's gain, and that they were not respected by the British government, which led to further friction between the two. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h641.html
"Quartering Act." Helicon Encyclopedia of World History. -
Stamp Act Congress Source
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Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress met in New York on October 7th, nine colonies arrived. The representative reviewed, and went over and approved a 14-point Declaration of Rights and Grievances. This declaration stated that the colonies should only be taxed by their own assemblies. The Congress found particular problems with the stamp act, and viewed it as a violation to their rights. The Stamp Act Congress was another example of the colonies coming together to solve a common goal. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed in March of 1765 and became effective in the colonies on November 1, 1765. The act stated that it was necessary to use stamped paper for legal documents, diplomas, almanacs, broadsides, newspapers and playing cards. The stamp on these pieces of paper would prove that the tax had been paid for and the revenue collected from this tax went directly to the support of the British soldiers. Lawyer and businessmen were the most upset by this new tax. -
Stamp Act (Continued)
Throughout the uproar over the tax, a pamphlet was published, The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved, "that proclaimed the unconstitutionality of taxation by agencies in which the colonies were not represented." The colonists are demonstrating that they believe their ideologies are being violated. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/stampact.htm -
Repeal of the Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was repealed on March 17, 1766, after longs debates in parliament. The American protests of the taxation had played a very little part in the decision to repeal the Stamp Act, but the boycott of British goods did. The Americans learned that they did have some power over the British, and that fighting for their rights could sometimes turn out in their favor. http://www.historycarper.com/resources/docs/stamprep.htm
http://www.publicbookshelf.com/ -
Declaratory Act
The repeal of the Stamp Act came with the Declaratory Act. The Declaratory Act says that, the parliament in Britain has the full power and authority to make laws and legislation for the American Colonies. This was another attempt by Britain to control the colonies. This law only further angers the colonists, who are tired of being treated like children, and want to be in charge of their own people. Rosenfeld, Susan. Enclyclopedia of American Historical Documents. Vol. 1 -
Townshend Act (Continued)
Britain was afraid of a breakdown of law and order, so they sent in their troops. Tensions were high, and the unavoidable happened, the Boston Massacre. "Townshend Acts." Helicon Encyclopedia of World History. Abingdon/Cambridge: Helicon, 2007. History Study Center. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were acts passed in early 1767. The purpose was to raise revenue to pay for royal judges and governors stationed in America. The acts added a light import duty to the cost of glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. The American colonists viewed the Townshend Acts as another attempt at controlling them. Colonists did not take the tax seriously, and found they could procure cheap smuggled tea rather easily, which caused the smuggler to increase their business. -
Boston Massacre
On the 5th of March, in Boston Massachusetts, sixty townspeople surrounded ten redcoats. The townspeople taunted, and hit the redcoats, who, without orders, fired into the crowd. The redcoats killed or wounded eleven people. The American people viewed this as an attack, not just on there own friends and family, but also an attack on their fight for liberty and freedom. Anger and hatred arouse from the colonists, who are now being pushed to the brink of revolution. -
Boston Massacre Sources
James Otis.The Annuals of America,Vol.2,1755-83. Chicago:Encyclopedia Britiannaia,1926-87,pp 84-86.http://www.bostonmassacre.net/ -
Boston Tea Party
The colonists had finally been pushed to the breaking point, they were past vocal protests, the needed to do something. They took a direct approach to showing the British how they feel about the taxes. The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16th, 1773. Fed up with the taxes being forced upon them, a group of Boston colonists boarded a ship carrying tea, and dumped it into the Boston Harbor. -
Boston Tea Party (Continued)
This was a major step toward revolution for the colonists, and caused the British to further mistrust the colonists. To try an quell the rebellion brewing in the colonies, Britain responded with the Intolerable Acts, which further pressed the colonists towards revolution. "Eyewitness to the ‘Boston Tea Party’." Inside American History. Abingdon/Cambridge: Helicon, 2007. History Study Center. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The battles began when General Thomas Gage sent seven hundred British soldiers to destroy weapons and ammunition in Concord Massachusetts. The colonists had heard news that their weapons and ammunition were in danger. The first shots of the revolution were shot in Lexington. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord (Continued)
The British defeated the small number of militia men they faced, and then moved towards Concord, where they faced several hundred American militia men, who were able to drastically damage the British troop. The British retreat to Boston where the recuperate, and rethink their original assumption that it will be an easy won war. http://www.wpi.edu/ -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts are a series of laws passed in 1774, by Britain, for their colonies in North America. These acts came about because of the Boston Tea party, and cause outrage in the colonies. The Acts that were passed were, The Boston Port Act, The Massachusetts Government Act, The Administration of Justice Act, The Quartering Act, and the Quebec Act. -
Intolerable Acts (Continued)
The colonists viewed these acts as violations against their natural rights, constitutional rights, and they saw the acts as threats to their liberty. These acts prompted the colonies to form the First Continental Congress. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/intolerable.htm -
Quebec Acts
The Quebec Act was a piece of legislation that was passed to enlarge the boundaries of Quebec. The colonists thought that this law was passed to antagonize and punish them, but that was not its original intent. The act permitted the practice of Roman Catholicism by the French inhabitants, and provided Quebec with a council and governors. This act was suppose to help set up a government framework for the former
French colony. "The Quebec Act, 1774." English Historical Documents 1714-1783. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall on September 5th, 1774. The meeting was driven by the closing of the port in Boston, due to the Boston Tea Party. The Congress wanted to present to the king, and to parliament their Declaration of Rights and Grievances. The congress also discussed the Intolerable Acts, and voted to stop off colonial trade if the acts were not abolished. -
The First Continental Congress (Continued)
They discussed how to deal with any new policies of the British government, and what their beliefs and rights were as American Colonists. This congress was a large step towards revolution, before, America had know that their rights and beliefs were being violated, but now, they had been brought together and discussed how to deal with these situations. The First Continental Congress made Britain feel uneasy, and it further heightened the tension between America and Britain. -
First Continental Congress Sources
