Causes of the American Revolution

  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War timelineThere were many effects that came from the French and Indian war. Some included a huge death toll, resources were being used up, and it was very expensive. Land, debt, and a native problem, were all key things we received from the war.
  • Period: to

    Causes of American Revolution

  • Proclamation of 1763

    Proclamation of 1763The Proclamation of 1763's purpose was to protect the settlers and natives from killing each other. An imaginary line was created down the Appalachians Mountains to separate them. Most people were already moving across the borderline, although, some people obeyed it.
  • The Stamp Act

    The Stamp ActThe Stamp Act was the law, taxing all paper products such as playing cards, newspapers, certificates, licenses, etc. Colonists repsonded by tearing tax collector's homes down, tar and feathering them, and overall violence towards the tax collectors. Eventually, the Stamp Act was repealed by the Parliament. A famous quote that came from this act was, "NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION".
  • The Quartering Act

    The Quartering ActThe Quartering Act was a law passed by the Parliament. The Parliament threatened to remove the colonies power of self-government, if they did not provide food and shelter for the troops. The colonists each had to house a troop and replenish their food. The troops had to get jobs for themselves.
  • Townshend Duties

    Townshend DutiesThe Townshend Duties were a tax on all British goods. Its purpose was to raise money in the colonies to pay off debt. Colonists protested by boycotting British goods, hoping for the Parliament to repeal. All taxes were eventually repealed except for the tea tax.
  • The Boston Massacre

    The Boston MassacreThe Boston Massacre started when an American colonist began harrassing a Redcoat by throwing snowballs and cursing at him.More Redcoats came to help their ally. An angry mob gathered and a fight broke out. As violence increased, redcoats began shooting into the crowd out of "self defense", and five colonists fell deadThis was portrayed as the redcoats at fault, although they claimed it was a matter of self defense.
  • Tea Act

    Tea ActThe Tea Act was a continuation of the Townshend Duties, although only tea was taxed. The colonists had two choices. Either they pay more money for tea from smugglers, or they could pay less and the money would go to England.
  • The Boston Tea Party

    The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party was when the colonists boycotted the tea. Many men disguised as Indians jumped on the incoming boats filled with 348 boxes of tea. They broke the locks, took out the tea, and threw it overboard. Many colonists were proud of what they've done, although some were nervous about England's punishment ahead.
  • The Intolerable Acts

    <ahref='http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/intolerable.htm' >The Intolerable Acts</a>The Intolerable Acts was a series of laws made by the Parliament. believed that after these laws were passed, colonists would give up. Instead, the colonies united and sent a letter to King George saying to recognize their rights and consider their complaints. After the king ignored their letter, the colonists stole guns and gun powder, preparing to fight. The two most important laws were the closing of the Boston Harbor, and the banning of all self-government in Massachusetts.
  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

    Battles of Lexington and Concord. Feeling they have been stolen, the British army traveled to Concord. Meanwhile, another spy told the colonists about Britain's plan. Hearing this news, the colonists moved the guns and gun powder again. The Minutemen attempted to stop Britain at Lexington, but the British easily won and kept moving toward Concord. Once they reached their destination, a fight broke out again
  • Siege of Boston

    Siege of BostonHenry Knox proposed the idea to go Ticonderoga and steal cannons to George Washington. This was a dangerous mission that Washington thought was in impossible. When Henry Knox returned, Washington was astounded by the 120 cannons. George Washington used trickery and cannons to remove the British from the hill. They evacuated to Canada.
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Battle of Bunker HillThe Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breeds Hill. The continental army was able to fight off the British twice. The third time, the colonists were defeated and had to retreat. This was considered a win and a loss because they killed twice as many British soldiers but gave up their higher ground.
  • Olive Branch Petition

    Olive Branch PetitionThe Continental Congress sent King George III a petition to declare peace. In return King George called them traitors. Angry, the colonists came to the conclusion that they must become independent or they were slaves.
  • Thomas Paine's Common Sense

    Thomas Paine's Common SenseThomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense. Paine convinced colonists that independence was sensible and the key to a brighter future. Instead of the colonists needing Britain, he stated Britain needed the colonists. Common Sense was what led to the colonies' independence.
  • The Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of IndependenceThomas Jefferson wrote the document in Philadelphia in 1776. It was revised after the first draft, taking out the issue of slavery due to financial reasons. The purpose of this document was to declare independence from Britain.
  • Battle for New York

    Battle for New YorkIt was a series of battles that occured on New York and Long Island between August and November of 1776. Since the continental army got defeated several times, George Washington learned that they could not beat Britain in an open battle.
  • The Crisis

    The CrisisThomas Paine yet again, wrote an inspiring pamphlet. It told the soldiers that the only reason they were abandoning the war was because they were losing. He specifically said, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
  • The Battle of Trenton

    The Battle of TrentonThe Continental Army surprised the Hessians while sleeping off their Christmas feast. Almost immediately, the Hessians surrendered and Washington took 868 prisoners without losing one of his men. This completely changed the colonists perspective of the war.
  • Battle of Saratoga

    Battle of SaratogaThe Continental Army defeated the British at Saratoga. This convinced the French and eventually the Spanish to fully commit to the war. That commitment gave the colonist a huge advantage.
  • Valley Forge

    Valley ForgeVally Forge was the birthplace of the American army. They were trained, got organized, and became professional. The army was tested against the British and came out of it as a fighting machine.
  • Battle of Monmouth Courthouse

    Battle of Monmouth CourthouseThis battle was the only time George Washington won in European style warfare.
  • Southern Campaigns

    Southern CampaignsDuring the battles of Savannah and Charles Town, the British invaded the south, captured the southern ports, and conquered most of Georgia. This was because they felt there were more loyalists in the south and thought they would join them and overtake the patriots.
  • Battle of Yorktown

    Battle of YorktownThe American and French troops bombarded Yorktown with cannon fire, turning its buildings to rubble. Lord Cornwallis, head of all British troops, had no way out. He surrendered a force of 8000-12000 men on October 19, 1781.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of ParisTreaty of ParisThe Treaty of Paris was made of mulitple conditions that had to be followed. Three major ones were that the United States would be independent, their boundaries were from the Mississippi River in the west, Canada in the north, and Spanish Florida in the south, and the United States could fish off of Canada's Atlantic Coast. A few others that have not been mentioned were on the Treaty itself. The British nor the Americans fully lived up to the Treaty's term's.