American Revolution Causes and Importance
Question: Discuss the causes of the American Revolution. Which cause was most important? Why?
Mariah Gutierrez
History 1301
Professor Harris
September 29, 2013
The American Revolution was a major war within America that got the United States their independence and showed others that they were not a weak nation. There were many causes that lead up to this war and had a great effect on it. The first war we see is the French and Indian War (1754-1763), also called the Seven Years War; this war was fought between the French and the British over territory.1 The British were defeated by the French and therefore became an ally with the Indians, bringing them into the war.2
Next, the Stamp Act of 1765 was placed on the colonist by the crown. This act had forced the colonists to pay taxes to the colonial government for every printed document they used.3 The colonist found this very offensive not because the tax was overwhelming, but because they thought that the government was not doing it for the right reasons. They felt that it should be as a means to help bring in money, not to raise money. Following the Stamp Act of 1765 came the Townshend Act (1767). The British government was looking for a way to gain money back from the French and Indiana War and since the Stamp Act did was not effective, they needed a new way to bring in money. The Townshend Act was a taxation that they placed on the colonists for any imports such as: glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. The colonists rose against this and began to stop getting imports from the British, boycott. In 1770, the Townshend Act was repealed except for tax on tea.4
The Boston Massacre followed the Townshend Act in 1770. British soldiers were put in Boston to help keep order within the city, yet the people felt them as a threat. The massacre broke out because a young man began to insult a soldier and was then hit in the ear by a rifle.5 The man began
Mariah Gutierrez
History 1301
Professor Harris
September 29, 2013
The American Revolution was a major war within America that got the United States their independence and showed others that they were not a weak nation. There were many causes that lead up to this war and had a great effect on it. The first war we see is the French and Indian War (1754-1763), also called the Seven Years War; this war was fought between the French and the British over territory.1 The British were defeated by the French and therefore became an ally with the Indians, bringing them into the war.2
Next, the Stamp Act of 1765 was placed on the colonist by the crown. This act had forced the colonists to pay taxes to the colonial government for every printed document they used.3 The colonist found this very offensive not because the tax was overwhelming, but because they thought that the government was not doing it for the right reasons. They felt that it should be as a means to help bring in money, not to raise money. Following the Stamp Act of 1765 came the Townshend Act (1767). The British government was looking for a way to gain money back from the French and Indiana War and since the Stamp Act did was not effective, they needed a new way to bring in money. The Townshend Act was a taxation that they placed on the colonists for any imports such as: glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. The colonists rose against this and began to stop getting imports from the British, boycott. In 1770, the Townshend Act was repealed except for tax on tea.4
The Boston Massacre followed the Townshend Act in 1770. British soldiers were put in Boston to help keep order within the city, yet the people felt them as a threat. The massacre broke out because a young man began to insult a soldier and was then hit in the ear by a rifle.5 The man began
Bibliography: (accessed September 22, 2013). History. “Boston Tea Party”. http://www.history.com/topics/boston-tea-party. (accessed September 22, 2013). History. “Stamp Act”. http://www.history.com/topics/stamp-act. (accessed September 22, 2013). History. “Townshend Act”. http://www.history.com/topics/townshend-acts. (accessed September 22, 2013). U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian. “French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War, 1754-63” War. (accessed September 22, 2013).