-
Sugar Act
It is the economic cause of American Revolution. Prime Minister George Grenville got Parliament to pass the Sugar Act of 1764, the first law ever passed by Parliament to raise tax revenue in the colonies for England. The Sugar Act increased the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies. -
The Quartering Act
It is an economic cause of American Revolution. The Quartering Act of 1765 required certain colonies to provide food and quarters for British troops. -
The Stamp Act
It is the economic and social cause. In 1765, Grenville imposed a stamp tax on the colonies to raise revenue to support the new military force. This stamp tax, known as the Stamp Act, required colonists to use stamped paper to certify payment of taxes on goods like newspapers, legal documents, and diplomas.
It was abolished on 18 March 1766. -
The Townshend Act
It is an economic cause. In 1767, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts. They put a light import tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea.
Lord North, the prime minister of Britain, was forced to persuade Parliament to repeal the Townshend revenue duties. -
The Boston Massacre
It is the social cause. On March 5, 1770, a crowd of 60 townspeople attacked 10 redcoats and the redcoats opened fired on the civilians, killing/wounding 11 of them. The massacre was known as the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Tea Party
It is a social cause.
In 1773, the British East India Company was overstocked with 17 million pounds of unsold tea. If the company collapsed, the London government would lose tax revenue. Therefore, the London government gave the company the exclusive right to sell tea in America (at a discount). On December 16, 1773, a band of Bostonians, disguised as Indians, boarded the ships and dumped the tea into the sea. (Boston Tea Party) -
the Intolerable Acts
It is a political cause.
In 1774, Parliament punished the people of Massachusetts for their actions in the Boston Tea Party. Parliament passed laws, known as the Intolerable Acts, which restricted colonists' rights. The laws restricted town meetings and required that officials who killed colonists in the line of duty to be sent to Britain for trial (where it was assumed they would be acquitted of their charges). -
the Boston Port Act
It is the political cause. Parliament punished the people of Massachusetts for their actions in the Boston Tea Party. Parliament passed laws, the Boston Port Act. It closed the Boston harbor until damages were paid and order could be ensured. -
The Quebec Act
It is a political cause. The Quebec Act was also passed in 1774, but was not apart of the Intolerable Acts. It gave Catholic French Canadians religious freedom and restored the French form of civil law. The American colonists opposed this act for a variety of reasons: it angered anti-Catholics; it extended the land area of Quebec. -
the First Continental Congress
It is a political cause.
In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to respond to colonial grievances over the Intolerable Acts. 12 of the 13 colonies (excluding Georgia) sent 55 men to the convention.
The creation of The Association was the most important outcome of the Congress. It called for a complete boycott of British goods: nonimportation, non-exportation, and non-consumption. -
the "Lexington Massacre"
It is a political cause. In April 1775, the British commander in Boston sent a detachment of troops to Lexington and Concord. Their plan was to seize stocks of colonial gunpowder and to capture the "rebel" ringleaders, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Because of this, the British realized that they had a war, rather than a rebellion, on their hands. -
The Articles of Confederation
It is a political cause.
The Articles of Confederation was adopted in 1781. It was the first written constitution adopted by colonists.
