Causes of the

American

Revolution

I. Long Term Causes

A. Enlightenment in Europe during

1600 and 1700s

B. people left England

1. went to “New World” (North America)

2. forced to

follow King’s

religion,

economic

opportunity,

punishment

II. 13 Colonies (land controlled by another country) in North America

A. Controlled by British

B. Established to supply resources (something used to stay

alive or to increase wealth) to Britain & sell British goods

(products sold for money) in America

C. British Parliament set laws for colonies

D. each colony had its own legislature

1. Made additional

laws for colony

STOP!!! Break it down…

• Why did Britain set up the American

Colonies?

• Did the colonists (people living in the

Colonies) have any control over what

happened in their colony?

III. Seven Years’ War (1756 – 1763)

A. Fought for control of land in North America

B. Treaty of Paris ended war

1. Great Britain gained French land

2. 1763 - Great Britain became world’s

greatest colonial power

C. Stamp Act 1765

1. British needed money to pay

for war & military in N. America

2. Anything printed had to have

stamp showing tax was paid

3. 1766: Repealed (take away)

after violent opposition

to British

STOP!!! Break it down…

• Why was the War fought?

• What was the result of the War?

IV. American Revolution (major change)

A. Parliament passed taxes on non-British goods

1. Colonists smuggled (illegally brought in) products

2. British searched homes for illegal items

3. Colonists mad B/C not treated as equal to British citizens

4. “no taxation without representation”

a. colonists want to say what taxes they pay to gov

5. Boston Massacre

a. 5 colonists killed

b. Anti-British propaganda

c. British repeal (take away) all taxes

except tea tax

What the heck…

is propaganda?

What do you think this is?

What the heck…

is propaganda?

Using information to

control or direct

what you think or do

B. Tea Act of 1773

1. Made British tea cheaper than American tea

C. Boston Tea Party - 1773

1. Colonists seized (took control of) British tea & dumped it

into harbor

D. Intolerable (not acceptable) Acts

1.Violated traditional English rights

a. weren’t allowed a trial by jury

b. Forced to quarter (give a home to) British soldiers