HW Due 9/27 Causes of the Revolution - a partial list

HW-Pick and describe what you believe to be the 5 most important causes of the American Revolution!

You will be requaired to use these cause with your group in class!

For over one hundred years the 13 colonies belonged to their mother country.  In 1776 the colonies declared their independence from England.  This action officially started the Revolutionary War.  What were the many causes of this separation and war?  What people, movements and ideas led the colonists to believe they should be free?  What British actions made the colonists angry enough to be rebel?  What American actions and words led to war? In the end it was a complicated combination of causes, ideas and people that started the war and led to the permanent separation from England.  Below are just some causes of the Revolution.  Please check your notes, handouts and textbooks for more specific information about these causes.  Each cause will require internet and book/library research to fully explain.  Please do not copy my words, use them as a guide to get you started.

Long term - Ideas, People, Movements that lead to the desire for more freedom

Magna Carta (1215) – An agreement between king and nobles, first step in guaranteeing rights of people.  It protected certain rights (mainly of the nobles), guaranteed legal procedures, and bound the king to the law.  It was a small step toward spreading freedoms to more people in society.

Glorious Revolution (1689) – The English Parliament throws out the king when he refuses to respect their rights.  It was the start of the modern English parliamentary democracy: never again would the king hold absolute power.  The Bill of Rights that was written during this time became one of the most important documents in the political history of Britain.

English Bill of Rights (1689) – Limited the power of the king, guaranteed more rights to British citizens and authority to the people through the Parliament.  Because Americans saw themselves as British citizens they believed the English Bill of Rights should apply to them in America. 

Salutary Neglect – (lasted until 1763) England allowed the colonies to take care of much of its own business and did little to enforce trade rules.  Local government decisions were usually controlled by the individual colonies.  As long as England continued to profit from the triangle trade it left America alone.  Americans liked this freedom and were angry when King George III became more involved in their lives and did not respect colonial laws and customs as he did with Parliament.  

Great Awakening – (1740) A religious revival that included people from all classes and races in the colonies.  It spread the idea that all people are equal before God.  In a shared experience colonists saw they could control their own religious lives and be united under God, without needing the king.  Independent churches and colleges started at this time were not under the authority of the Church of England.  These ideas directly challenged the power of the king and Parliament.    

Enlightenment/Scientific Revolution – Philosophers and scientists worked to understand the laws of society and nature.  They believed they could make the world a better place and that all people had rights that should be protected.  Some like John Locke believed government could be improved and corrected by thinking people.  It started people thinking about new ways of living.    

John Locke – The colonists read his ideas about government.  Locke believed that government depended on the people for its survival.  If a government (king) did not protect the life, liberty and property of its people the people had the right to replace the government with something new.

British actions that angered the colonists

Mercantilism – trade rules that made the British very rich. The colonies were told to trade with England, use English ships, buy expensive English manufactured products, and pay extra taxes on products not made in England.  These rules helped many colonists but angered some who wanted to trade with other countries and develop factories in America.  Although these rules were in place for 100 years they were not strictly enforced until 1763. 

Proclamation of 1763 – King George stopped settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.  Colonists were angry because it meant they could not have more land and British soldiers would remain in the colonies.  The English were angry because the colonists did not want to pay the debts for the French and Indian War and for protection of the colonies by English troops.

Sugar Act (1764) – tax on sugar products and many other items people used every day.

Stamp Act (1765) – Tax on paper products and official documents like marriage licenses.

Townshend Acts (1767) – closed down the government in NY until they agreed to house British troops, put taxes on imports of glass, paper, lead and tea.

Declaratory Act (1766) – This Act stated that Parliament had total authority to govern the colonies.  The rules made up by the Parliament must be obeyed without complaint.  Colonists who were used to participating in government and making their own laws became very angry and refused to obey.

Writs of Assistance  (1767)– This made it legal for British soldiers to search colonial homes and businesses for smuggled goods.  Colonists were angry because their right to privacy was being destroyed. 

Boston Massacre  (1770) – tensions between colonists and British soldiers result in violence, 5 Americans killed.  Many Americans blame the British soldiers for the deaths and want them out of the colonies.  

Tea Act (1773) – demanded that all tea come from England and that it be taxed

Intolerable Acts (1774) – Closed Boston Harbor, stopped colonies from communicating with each other, forced colonists to allow British soldiers to live their homes.  All of these things angered the colonists because their businesses were being hurt, their right to free speech was being limited, and their homes were being invaded. 

Olive Branch Petition Rejected (1775) – King ignores American Continental Congresses attempts to keep peace and remain loyal during the period before the Declaration of Independence.

American actions and words that led to separation and war

Peter Zenger (1735) – Court rules that freedom of the press allows him to speak against English governor.  Colonists are less afraid to speak out against England.  Free speech is protected.

Albany Plan of Union (1754) – Ben Franklin believed that by working together the colonies would soon be more powerful.  They could more easily defend themselves against the French and Native American tribes and eventually stand up for themselves and get England’s respect.  Although this plan failed it started the colonists thinking about working together.  (“Join or Die” snake cartoon)

Boston Tea Party (1773) – Colonists who are angry over the Tea Act dump over 300 chests of British tea into the harbor (Sons of Liberty).  This bold destruction of British property angered the King.  More troops were sent and Parliament demanded trails for those responsible.   

“No taxation without representation” – colonists demanded the right to be represented in Parliament.  As English citizens they had the right to have a say in the governments laws and taxes.  (Today we vote for representatives in Congress and they speak for us) Because colonial requests were usually ignored they began to refuse to pay taxes or buy goods from England.    

Boycotts – some colonists did refuse to buy British goods, this hurt the British economy.  For example, the Daughters of Liberty made their own clothing so they would not have to buy British dresses.  Others stopped buying from stores that imported British tea, furniture and china. 

Propaganda – stories, pictures, and posters created by the colonists that told only the colonists side of the story.  The British were shown to be destroying colonist’s lives, liberty, and property.

Sons of Liberty - They formed protest marches, smuggled goods, harassed and frightened tax collectors, tarred and feathered British officials, destroyed British property and worked to turn American against the English.  They called themselves patriots attacking those loyal to the king.

Patrick Henry – He was one of many influential people who urged colonists to resist the British.  In his famous speech he said, “give me liberty or give me death”.  Strong words like these left no room for peace negotiations; either get free from England or die trying.

Thomas Paine – Wrote pamphlets like Common Sense that explained the reasons that Americans should rebel against England.  His clear arguments persuaded many colonists to revolt.

Continental Congress – An illegal group of representatives from the colonies that came together to deal with British and eventually stand up to them.  It created a Continental Army and sent the Declaration of Independence to the King.  The Declaration was the official start of the Revolution.