Causes of the American Revolution

1660: Navigation Acts British Action Colonial Response All colonial ships must stop in a British harbor before going to another country Certain products like tobacco and sugar could only be exported to England Colonists profited by building more ships Led to Salutary Neglect(relaxed enforcement for continued loyalty) Salutary Neglect led the colonists to begin to ignore laws

French & Indian War 1754-1763 British Action Colonial Response Treaty of Paris left British with ownership of the Ohio River Valley Proclamation of 1763 – colonists would not be protected west of the Appalachian Mountains War is expensive!!! Britain ended up with huge debt Increased independent spirit among colonies Colonists continued to clash with Native Americans west of Appalachians

Writs of Assistance Designed to crack down on colonial smuggling British Action Colonial Response Designed to crack down on colonial smuggling Search warrants that allowed British officials to search any place, seize anything at any time Bye Bye Salutary Neglect!!!! Outraged merchants – especially those in Boston

New British Policy Towards Colonial America Develops Place the colonies under strict British political and economic control Make the colonies respect and obey British law Make the colonies pay their part in maintaining the British Empire (remember the debt from the French & Indian War)

1764: Sugar Act British Action Colonial Response Cut the tax on molasses but raised it on other goods such as textiles, wine, coffee, indigo, and sugar Smuggling cases were decided by a British judge rather than a jury Incentive: Judges received 5% of any cargo they deemed to be smuggled First time a tax had been passed to raise revenue rather than regulate trade Colonial merchants protested the increased duties (taxes on imports)

1765 Quartering Act British Action Colonial Response Purpose: to keep troops in the colonies and reduce the cost Colonists forced to keep British troops in their homes Colonists did not get along with army and did not want them there permanently

1765: The Stamp Act British Action Colonial Response Taxed all documents, newspapers, and playing cards by forcing colonists to place a special stamp on the items Direct tax on individual colonists, not just merchants Sons of Liberty formed (protest group led by Sam Adams) Harassed stamp distributors Boycotted English goods Stamp Act Congress issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances – British Parliament lacked authority to impose taxes on colonies

Stamp Act: British Response Parliament repealed the Stamp Act Boycotts so successful not one stamp was ever sold Passed the Declaratory Act – asserted Parliament’s right to make laws that “bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever”

1767: The Townshend Acts British Action Colonial Response Put tax on goods such as paper, glass, paint, and tea Revenue raised would be to pay salaries of British officials in the colonies Organize new boycott of goods Demonstrations and clashes between colonists and soldiers Women get involved in protests by not buying any British goods

March 3, 1770: The Boston Massacre http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of- us/videos/boston-massacre What Happened?

1773: Tea Act British Action Colonial Response Allowed the East India Tea Company to sell tea without the tax to make it cheaper. The had been hurt badly by the colonial boycotts Other Colonial Tea merchants had to pay high taxes Dec. 16, 1773: Boston Tea Party http://www.history.com/topics/ american-revolution/american- revolution-history/videos/the- sons-of-liberty-and-the-boston- tea-party

Spring 1774: The Intolerable Acts British Action Colonial Response: 1774: First Continental Congress Designed to punish the colonists for Tea Party Closed the port at Boston No town meetings allowed in Massachusetts – Boston under military rule Trying to isolate Massachusetts, but only strengthened the colonies unity Met in Philadelphia All colonies had representatives except Georgia Divided on the issue of declaring independence Sent Declaration of Rights and Grievances to King George III Defended colonies’ right to run their own affairs Supported the protests in Massachusetts

April 19, 1775 Shot heard round the world fired at the Battle of Lexington & Concord Start of the Revolutionary War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZMmPWTwTHc