Causes of the American Revolution

Causes of the American

Revolution Part 1

1763 to 1783

Essential Question:Attempts to control people without giving them any

say, may lead to resentment and conflict.

How did British action against the colonies lead

to revolt?

Proclamation of 1763 and the Sugar Act of 1764

• Proclamation Line drawn along the

Appalachian Mts. to limit westward settlement

• Sugar Act created tax on Sugar, wine, and

coffee.

Significance: First laws and Tax forced on

Colonies without representation in

Parliament and Colonists feel violation of

their Rights as English Citizens

Proclamation of 1763

Stamp Act 1765• Any printed material had to be on paper stamped

with an official stamp sold by an official paper seller.

• Stamp Act Congress: Delegates from Colonies met

and decided to boycott British goods and to send a

PETITION to King George III

Significance: Colonists meeting and getting

organized in their protesting.

It worked! Parliament REPEALED the Stamp Act in

March 1766.

The Quartering Act 1765• More soldiers sent to the colonies

to enforce laws/taxes and to keep

order

• The law required colonists to house

(quarter) British soldiers and

provide them with food and other

things they needed

• Colonists saw it as another tax.

Significance: Colonists refuse to

follow law and Parliament cancels

self-government in New York.

Townshend Acts 1767

• Parliament created a tax on imported tea, glass,

paper, paint, and lead

• COLONISTS RESPONSE TO TOWNSHEND ACTS

– Colonists BOYCOTTED British goods again and

more public protests.

– Colonies sent petitions to King George and to

Parliament

• Townshend Acts were repealed in 1770

Significance: Colonists even more organized.

Samuel Adams stepping in as opposition

leader. Women Play major role in Boycott

Townshend Acts

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

• Samuel Adams leader of protest group: Sons of

Liberty

• Organized protests against British actions

• They organized communication between the colonies:

COMMITTEES OF CORRESPONDENCE.

• Often times actions were extreme and ended violently

• Patriot women helped in the boycotting of British

goods

– made homemade goods to sub in.

9 Stripes Flag of the Sons of Liberty

Samuel Adams

PROPAGANDA • information, ideas, or rumors that

are spread to hurt OR help a group,

a person, or an idea.

• A type of message aimed at

influencing the opinions or

behavior of people.

Imagine yourself to be a part of this scene. In your journal free write about the following things: What do

you see, hear, feel, and smell?

The Boston Massacre March 5, 1770

• British soldiers fire into a crowd of colonists who

had been harassing. 5 Colonists are killed.

• Samuel Adams and Paul Revere use the event as

PROPOGANDA.

• Paul Revere’s picture is sent all over the Colonies

with the title “The Bloody Massacre.”

• The images stir up some hatred and resentment

against King George, Parliament, and the British

Troops in the Colonies.

Significance: Great propaganda to persuade

Neutralists against the British, not so effective.

Tea Act 1773 • In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act that

– Lowered the cost of British tea = cheaper than

smuggled tea. The British tea was still taxed.

– Colonists could only by British tea

• Colonists were outraged.

• On December 16, 1773, Colonists disguised as

Indians boarded the ships and “unloaded” 90,000

pounds of tea!

Significance: First act of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

Willingness to break the law to protest

against the government.

Tea Act and the

Boston Tea

Party

Intolerable Acts 1774• Laws were supposed to punish Massachusetts for

the Boston Tea Party:

– Boston Harbor was closed; Mass. Lost self-

government = under British control; More British

troops sent to Boston to enforce laws

• Colonists protested and boycotted even more.

• Other colonies sent supplies to Massachusetts

• Virginia calls for a meeting of ALL the colonies to

find a solution to the issues with Great Britain.

Significance: Colonies unite even more behind

Boston and agree to meet to solve issues

together

Intolerable Acts