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Causes of the American Revolution
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End of the French and Indian War
The French lost the city of Quebec to the British. Without Quebec the French could not defend the rest of their land. In February 1763 the French surrendered to the British. At this point the colonists considered themselves loyal British subjects but the next event to come made them reconsidered their loyalty to England. -
The Proclamation of 1763
After the French and Indian War King George III knew that he couldn't control all the people in the colonies if they moved more west into the territory they had just won. So, he declared that no one could settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. Most people just ignored the law though because it was impossible to enforce it and since some people had already settled west of the Appalachian Mountains. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act declared taxes on sweet things such as sugar and molasses. Many people refused to buy molasses and sugar after the tax was declared which is called boycotting. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act declared that colonists all had to buy an additional stamp for wills, newspapers and even playing cards! Colonists protested by burning papers with stamps and tar and feathered British officials for their protest of this tax. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act declared that colonists had to house and feed British soldiers if they came knocking. The colonists protested and said their rights had been violated and some just refused to let the soldiers stay. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act declared taxes on importing goods and the Writs of Assistance allowed British soldiers to search ships. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the death of five colonists. The picture drawn by Paul Revere doesn't show the whole truth though. The British Captain, Thomas Preston, is shown to be telling his soldiers to fire though he said he didn't. Also, the colonists don't have weapons in the picture but they actually had clubs, stones and other small weapons. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act of 1773 declared that tea was to be taxed 3 more pennies a pound and only to be imported from the British East India Company. More money on the tea didn't really bother the colonists it was more that they didn't have a say in this act. Also, this act put colonial tea merchants out of business. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party took over three hours. 116 people particapated in the "party" and 90,000 pounds of tea in 342 crates were thrown overboard. The Sons of Liberty organized it and dressed as Native Americans so no one would regconize them and so they wouldn't get hanged. That tea they destroyed cost a lot of money. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Parliament passed four laws in response to the Boston Tea Party. They barracaded Boston Harbor, held all trials in England, stopped Town Meetings, and enforced the Ouartering Act. The British called them the Coercive Acts but the colonists called them the Intolerable Acts. -
First Continental Congress
56 representatives from the colonies met to discuss the Intolerable Acts. A very famous quote was made at the meeting by Patrick Henry, "The distinctions between New Englanders and Virginians is no more. I am not a Virginian I am an American." -
Paul Revere's Ride
Paul Revere rode his horse to Boston, Lexington, and other towns to warn people that the redcoats were coming. He was also helped by two other people who aren't quite as famous as Paul Revere because they weren't in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem only about Paul Revere. -
Lexington and Concord
This is the first battle of the Revonlutionary War and the kick-off of it. It was the first time that is was soldiers versus soldiers. 8 people were killed. The British were heading to Concord to seize muntions but luckily Paul Revere warned the colonists. This battle is called the "The Shot Around the World" because it had a huge impact on the world.
