Causes of the American Revolution

Causes of American Revolution

Period: Jan 1, 1763 to Apr 19, 1775

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

After the French and Indian War the Proclamation of 1763 was passed. It was a document that stated the colonists were not allowed to pass the Appalachian Mountians. England was in debt and could not afford to pay for more land after the war. This created tension between England and the colonies and the colonists refused to abide to this.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

The Sugar Act as a three cent act on sugar, coffee, indigo, and certain types of wine. This was enacted without the consent of colonists. This lowered the taxt on molasses. Although it lowered the tax on molasses, more money was collected in the long run. This is because the tax collectors were stricter with collecting.The Sugar act is one of the first taxes which led to the Americaan Revolution.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

This act was passed by parliament and it puts taxes on printed items in the colonies. This was done without the consent of the colonies. This is important because it was the first time Parliament had imposed a direct tax in the colonies.

Quartering Act

Mar 24, 1765

After the French & Indian War Britain maintained a standing army in the colonies. With this act colonial assemblies were required to house these soldiers. The colonists were not fine with this and this led to the Boston Massacre.

Declaratory Acts

Mar 18, 1766

This act repealed the Stamp Act, but it asserted Parliament's rights to rule the colonies as they pleased. Britain had made laws to keep control over the colonies. The colonists had become more alarmed and fearful of the british government.

Townshend Acts

Jun 29, 1767

These were import taxes on many goods coming into the colonies from Britain. These supported royal officials in the colonies and removed the responsibility of the colonial assemblies. They were unpopular so all of them were removed except for the one on tea.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

It was the killing of five colonists by British soldires. It was caused by tensions in the colonies when the first Royal troops appeared i the colonies. This is considered to be one of the first massacres in America. This made tensions between the colonies and Britain worse.

Tea Act

May 10, 1773

This was created to save the East India Tea Company. Britain imposed taxes on tea to gain more money for the tea company. This was one of the last acts passed before the American Revolution. It eventually led to the Boston Tea Party and showed that the colonists wanted freedom back.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This was a effect of the Tea Act placed on the colonies. Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Indians and boarded British ships. When they boarded the ships they threw 342 chest of tea overboard the ship and into the Boston Harbor. England heavily taxed the colonies after this to pay for the destroyed tea.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 18, 1774

These acts were origionally called the Coercive Acts. The Intolerable Acts were put onto the people of Massechusets. With the profit from the Intolerable Acts, England planned to make the moeny back taht they lost from the Boston Tea Party.