Causes of the American Revolution

By elizabethlundeen

  • The Navigation Acts

    Laws passed by the British Government that put restrictions on colonial trade, which angered colonists. It told colonial merchants that they could not use foreign ships to send their goods, even if it was cheaper.

  • The Proclamation of 1763

    The Proclamation of 1763 was at the end of the seven years war. The British had just won and King George III appointed the Proclamation, which banned American colonists from settling west of Appalachia

  • The Sugar Act

    The sugar act did many different things to the colonists, it reduced taxes on molasses and sugar so people were less likely to smuggle or steal it.

  • The Stamp Act

    The Stamp Act was a tax imposed on all of the American colonists and it required them to pay tax on every piece of printed paper they used.

  • The Townshend Acts

    The Townshend Acts were a series of laws passed by the British government. These laws placed new taxes and took away importation freedoms from the colonists. (lead, paint, lead, tea, etc.)

  • The Boston Massacre

    British soldiers shot and killed several people while being harassed in a mob.

  • The Boston Tea Party

    Members of the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Mohawk Indians and dumped crates of tea in the Boston Harbor.

  • The First Continental Congress

    The First Continental Congress was made up of delegates from the thirteen colonies, met in 1774 in reaction to the Coercive Acts.

  • The British Boston Blockade

    Also known as the Boston Port Act was passed by the British Parliament in November of 1774. This act closed the port of Boston and demanded the colonists to pay for tea dumped into Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party.

  • Common Sense

    Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776, which challenged the authority/royal monarchy of the British Government.

  • Lexington and Concord

    It was a battle between the British and the people of Boston. These battles constituted the first military conflicts of the American Revolution.

  • Second Continental Congress

    The Second Continental Congress was when the establishment of the Continental Army. They made George Washington General of the army. This was important because it was the first step in showing the British that America needs independence.

  • Olive Branch Petition

    The Olive Branch Petition was the final petition made to try and reach peace with King George III.

  • The Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and was adopted at the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776. This was an official act taken by all of the Thirteen American Colonies declaring independence from British Rule.