Causes of the american revolut
Causes of the american revolutThe American Revolution, also known as the United States War of Independence, was an uprising by which 13 of Britain's colonies gained political independence. By the middle of the 18th century, differences in life, thought, and economic interests began to grow between the colonies and Britain, the mother country. The French and Indian war caused considerable war debts in Britain, and as a means of generating revenue, Britain implemented taxes within the colonies. The colonists felt that these taxes were unfair. Although the colonies were still technically a part of the British nation, the views and opinions they expressed to the Parliament were ignored. This lack of representation and respect further developed the colonists� feelings of isolation and separation from Britain. Having an almost completely self-governed society, they resented the restrictions placed on them in the form of taxes and trade restrictions, and so began their political rebellion. Thus, the American Revolution began as an economic conflict, but soon developed into a passionate dispute over personal rights and political liberty.
One of the first of many seeds of the American Revolution was the Stamp Act. This act forced the colonists to purchase and use specially stamped paper for all official documents, deeds, mortgages, newspapers, and pamphlets. Passed in 1765, the Stamp Act was designed to raise revenue in order to pay for not only the over 140 million pounds of war debts left over from the French and Indian War, but also for a share of the cost of maintaining a permanent force of 10,000 British troops to prevent conflict between the colonists and the Native Americans. Also in 1965, the British passed the Quartering Act, which forced colonists to provide stationed British soldiers with quarters, food, and transportation. These acts caused almost total undisputed opposition among the colonists, who believed them to be a violation of their rights. The colonists also believed the Stamp Act was a violation of the right of English subjects not to be taxed without representation. One month before the Stamp Act was to go into effect, riots organized by the Sons of Liberty broke out and prevented British-appointed stamp vendors from assuming their posts. The Stamp act continued without success for one year, proving to do nothing but encourage illegal smuggling within the colonies, bringing trade between Britain and the colonies to a standstill. In March of 1766, British parliament repealed the act due to the demands of economically depressed British merchants, not the colonists' objections to taxation. This repeal, however, left Britain's financial problems unresolved.
In order to resolve their financial problems, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, which imposed taxes on lead, glass, tea, paint, and paper that was imported from Britain. Passed in 1767, these taxes were based on urgings from Charles Townshend. Once more the colonists protested strenuously. The Sons of Liberty formed violent protests against customs officials, merchants agreed to not import British...
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