Towards Independence: Causes of the American Revolution

Navigation Acts• Passed in the 1660, restricted the trade of

goods to anyone other than England. This created a FAVORABLE BALANCE OF TRADE for England.– England is Exporting (sell) more goods than

it is importing (buy)

–Mercantilism - Colonies are to support the mother country.

How would this contribute to the forming of colonies?

French & Indian War

• War between the British and French over control of the colonies

• Between 1754 & 1763, the British government started taxing the colonists to help pay for the war.

• Spawned a period of Salutary Neglect between England and the Colonies• England was so concerned with the war that they left

the colonies alone to govern themselves. They did not try to regain control until after the war was over.

Controlling the Colonies

The Proclamation of 1763:

– British passed this statement that prohibited Colonists from moving West of the Appalachian Mountains.

– The red line is the Proclamation line

Stamp Act (1765) • Placed a tax on ALL materials printed on paper

(newspapers, pamphlets, cards etc.)– All printed goods had to have a special stamp on it – In response to this tax, many colonists cried for “no

taxation without representation”– Stamp Act seemed to hurt the freedom of speech

won in the John Peter Zenger Case of 1734– Stated you could print whatever you wanted as

long as it was true!

Boston Massacre Background1770• By the late 1700’s the British government

was very alarmed by colonial protests.• Britain sent regiments of soldiers to keep

order.• Colonists provoked a British regiment, and

they killed five colonists.• As word spread through the colonies, it

became known as the Boston Massacre, a violent confrontation between British soldiers and colonists.

Protest against Britain

• Boston Tea Party in 1773

• Members of Sons of liberty disguised as American Indians boarded British ships in Boston and dumped their tea in the harbor to protest the tea tax.• What is a Protest? What are some different

types of protest?

British response to Boston Tea Party

• Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts):• Passed to punish the colonists for the Boston

tea party.• Made colonists pay back the lost tea

• Implemented the quartering Act

• Closed the Boston harbour

• Stopped town meetings.

• Quartering Act: 1765• Under this act, if asked, colonists were required by law to

provide temporary housing and food to British soldiers.

– The colonists considered this an unwanted intrusion of their privacy

Other Causes of the American Revolution

• Common Sense- Written by Thomas Paine arguing for independence.

• Writs of Assistance- Search warrants that allowed soldiers to search whatever, whenever they wanted

• First continental congress- Appealed to the King about the taxation and lack of representation

• Second continental congress- drafted the declaration of independence.

The Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence• Signed July 4, 1776 by second continental

congress• Explained why the American Colonies were separating

from Great Britain

– Listed many abuses the colonies suffered under the British king

John Hancock of Massachusetts was the first to put his name down. He did it with a big, bold signature, "so the king doesn't have to put his glasses on," he said.

Fifty-six men signed their names on the Declaration of Independence.

4 parts to the Declaration of Independence1. Preamble (purpose)

IntroductionExplanation of Separation from England

2. Declaration of RightsGeneral theories of GovernmentPeople are born with Natural RightsOrigin of government was a social contract

3. Grievances**Largest SectionCharges against King George III

4. Declaration of IndependenceGoal was to preserve peace, but forced towards independence

• Thomas Jefferson knew just what to say, and he said it in a way that inspired people all

over the world.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

What does this mean?