What do you believe caused the American Revolution?Jot down some ideas at the top of your paper

and be ready to discuss

1754-1763Larger imperial conflict between France

and EnglandEnglish and French colonists moving into

each others’ territories- Ohio River ValleyDespite the victory, brought trouble for

BritainExpense- unwelcome taxes on the coloniesLimitation of westward expansion

Created unity and separation from EnglandNo aristocracyWidespread property ownershipReligious diversityRelative lack of povertyLack of urban developmentLack of deferenceSlavery

1754Plan to place British North American

colonies under more centralized leadership

Feared possibility of attackAdopted but never implementedFirst American political cartoon published

by Benjamin Franklin just before

Began 40 years before the revolutionMolasses Act- 1733- taxed rum, molasses and

sugar- protecting English economic interestsColonists- protested and largely ignored (smuggling)British Response- Sugar Act

Iron Act- 1750- limit colonial iron manufacturingFrench and Indian WarProclamation Line of 1763- prevented colonial

expansion past the Appalachians - stationed 10,000 troops to enforce. Colonists- angered because of investments; largely

ignoredBritish Response- Quebec Act- further limitation

Sugar Act- 1764- taxed wine, coffee, textiles, dye- attempts to stop smugglingColonists- protests- felt it violated English rightsBritish enforcement- protecting economic interests

Stamp Act- 1765- required purchased stamp for all legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards, etc. First direct tax- broke principle that only local

government could impose taxesColonist response- boycotts, violence and protestsBritish- unresponsive to colonial complaints

Money spent in French and Indian WarBritish tax burden

Quartering Act-1765- requires colonial governments to provide housing for British troopsColonists- frustration- indirect tax, didn’t think

they needed protectionBritish response- influx of troops to enforce

taxes and stabilize frontierThe Townsend Acts- 1767

Glass, lead, paint, paper, tea- revenue funded colonial governorsColonists- boycotts, harassment, nonimportation actsBritish response-1768- Additional troops arrive in

the colonies to enforce taxes

March 5, 1770Mob of American colonists gathered at the

Custom’s House- protesting British troops presence

British soldiers fired on the crowd, killing 5, injuring 3

Colonial Reaction: Anger at direct act of violence- put soldiers on trial

British Response: No longer allowed colonial courts to try British citizens/officers

1773- Parliament passes Tea Act- bi-pass American wholesale merchants

December 16 1773- colonists disguised as Indians threw 342 crates of tea into Boston Harbor

British responded harshly- Coercive (Intolerable)Acts- closed Boston harbor, required that British officials be tried in England, forbid town meetings, etc.

People of other colonies rushed to Boston’s defense- sending supplies to ease burden of blockade

Other colonies formed provincial congresses to discuss action against England

First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia- September 1774Began organizing nationally against England

British Colonel Thomas Gage sends troops to seize rebel supplies at Concord, Massachusetts.

Patriots get word- The Ride of Paul Revere Revere and Dawes sent warnings throughout the

countrysideRevere was captured, Dawes prevented from

reaching Concord, but the word got throughNext morning April 19, 1775- British arrive at

Lexington- face 70 minutemenNo one knows who fired the first shot- “Shot heard

round the world”British Response- deployment of full military force