Most Influential Factors Leading To The American Revolution

The American Revolution all stemmed from a myriad of events, which over time spread revolutionary thoughts and ideas in the minds of the colonists. When started, Britain had complete control over all of the colonies, but over time the colonies began to establish their own ways to survive and prosper. They faced the challenges of Indians, disease, and religious differences in the beginning, but once they overcame most of these without Britain’s help, the colonist began to establish a sense of independence. Many different causes lead to the revolution, but all of the built up anger stemmed from Britain’s imposed laws. These laws were the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Intolerable Acts. In addition to these is the Boston massacre, one of the most influential moments of the revolution.
The first of Britain’s political invasion in the colonies was the Sugar Act passed in 1764, shortly followed by the Stamp Act in 1765.
For years, the colonist had been smuggling alcohol from other nearby countries for reasonably cheap prices. Even though the laws in most colonies were against smuggling alcohol, the courts usually let those people go who were caught because the judges also loved their cheap booze. However, when Britain passed the Sugar Act, they started cracking down on smuggling, angering the now sober colonists. In addition to stunting their alcohol consumption, they decreased the taxes on British goods, almost forcing the colonies to buy British goods. This taxation without a reason made the colonist incredibly upset at Britain. The Stamp Act was passed a year later causing the colonist’s sense of revolution to increase. This act was set into place by Britain to make extra money off of the colonist. It worked by forcing the colonist to buy a special stamp for any written material. Again, the taxation without reasoning enraged the colonist even more, growing the sense of revolution in the
colonists. The Boston Massacre was one of the most inspiring and influential events in the growth of the revolutionary mindset. On the fifth of March in 1770, five innocent civilians were killed by British soldiers on account of the soldiers feeling threatened by the colonists. That day the colonist were frustrated at the soldiers and Britain because of the increasing and unwarranted amount of troops in America. These enraged colonists were then open fired upon without warning when trying to protest, leaving three dead on site and two others to die later that day. Joseph Warren addresses this incident by saying that if “we complain, our complaints are treated with contempt” and that “if we humbly offer to submit the matter to the impartial decision of reason, the sword is judged the most proper argument to silence our murmurs!” (105). He says that no matter if the colonist stand up or submit they are only met by aggression or ignored. The Boston Massacre caused much tension between the colonist and the British, and gave the colonist a reason to begin to strike back. The Intolerable acts were a collection of laws enacted by the British including the Quartering Acts, the Quebec Act, and the Massachusetts Government Act. The Quartering Acts forced the colonists to house and take care of British soldiers in their own home. They were essentially forced to house and take care of those who they are fighting against for freedom. In addition to this was the Quebec Act which expanded the boundary of Quebec and allowed those who lived there to be Catholic. This really upset the colonist, as their traditions and lifestyles had been passed down from the original colonists who were strong Puritans. The idea of founding a new land was for the Puritans to have a place where they can practice their own religion. Edmund Burke warns England when he says that “The people are protestants; and of that…this kind of persuasion is not…favorable.” (116). The Massachusetts Government Act took away power from the colonist and allowed the British more power in the Massachusetts government. These Intolerable Acts were some of the final straws for the colonist causing them to finally attempt to stand up and fight back.
One of the most influential leaders of the revolution was John Adams, backed with the help of his wife Abigail Adams. Throughout the revolution they sent letters back and forth discussing the events in Philadelphia, where John was, and Massachusetts, where Abigail was. In these letters they discuss the colonist in their final moments before the revolution begins. John reveals that “Great Britain has at last driven America, to the last step, a complete separation for her, a total absolute independence, not only of her Parliament but of her crown, for such is the Amount of Resolve of the 15th” (128). This shows that the final straw has been drawn and that the Americans are finally willing to fight back.
All of these previously described events show the causes of the revolution against Britain. The colonist were forced to conform to Britain, and the British stretched their power too far until the colonist decided to take back their own liberty and revolt for their freedom.