Causes of the American Revolution

1660: The Navigation Acts British Action: Colonial Response: Designed to keep trade in England and support mercantilism – The idea that colonies should provide resources to make the mother country rich. Colonists could only trade goods with England All colonial ships must stop in a British harbor before going to another country (taxed) Colonial Response: Ignored them (profitable to trade with other countries) Salutary Neglect- Britain basically ignored the colonies They had bigger problems

The French and Indian War French Empire collided with British Empire Also known as 7 Years War Competing in America over Ohio River Valley

Treaty of Paris, 1763 Ended French and Indian War Britain Claimed all land east of the Mississippi Proclamation of 1763 Banned all settlement west of Mississippi (to ease tensions with Native Americans) Americans were outraged and ignored the proclamation

Britain’s New Policy for Colonial America The French and Indian War ENDED Salutary Neglect (the policy where England left the colonies alone) Britain needed Americans to help pay their debt from the French & Indian War Started to enforce the Navigation Acts Passed new taxes

New Taxes 1764: The Sugar Act 1765: The Quartering Act British Action: Increased tax on textiles, wine, coffee, indigo, and sugar Colonial Response: Colonial merchants protested 1765: The Quartering Act British Action: Colonists were forced to keep troops in their homes Colonial Response: Did not want a permanent British military force

22 March, 1765: The Stamp Act British Action: Taxed all documents, newspapers, and playing cards by forcing colonists to place a special stamp on the items Direct tax Colonial Reaction: Sons of Liberty Harassed stamp distributors Boycotted (a collective refusal to use, buy or deal with) English goods Stamp Act Congress issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances (9 legislatures)

Repealed Colonists won this round…but Britain passed the Declaratory Act, proclaiming British rights over the colonies, on the same day they repealed the Stamp Act.

1767: The Townshend Acts British Action: Colonial Reaction Put tax on goods such as paper, glass, paint, and tea Revenue raised would be to pay salaries of British officials in the colonies Colonial Reaction Organize new boycott of goods Protest “No taxation without representation” Demonstrations and clashes between colonists and soldiers

March 3, 1770: The Boston Massacre 5 Americans killed accidently shot and killed while protesting in Boston

10 May, 1773: Tea Act Parliament repealed Townshend Acts except for the tax on tea Tea from England was not taxed at all…only American tea was taxed Was designed to help the East India Tea Company which was struggling economically

Dec. 16, 1773: Boston Tea Party The Sons of Liberty, dressed as Indians, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act

Coercive/Intolerable Acts Punished Boston for the Tea Party Closed the port until the tea was paid for Crippled the city economically Banned all public meetings Allowed British officials to search American property without cause

1774: First Continental Congress (9-5 thru 10-26) 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 Start of the revolutionary war

“Common Sense” Pamphlet issued by Thomas Paine (Jan 10, 1776) Argued that Independence was the only option that made sense It was absurd for an island to rule a continent. America was not a "British nation"; it was composed of influences and peoples from all of Europe. Even if Britain were the "mother country" of America, that made her actions all the more horrendous, for no mother would harm her children so brutally. Being a part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary European wars, and keep it from the international commerce at which America excelled. The distance between the two nations made governing the colonies from England unwieldy. If some wrong were to be petitioned to Parliament, it would take a year before the colonies received a response. The New World was discovered shortly before the Reformation. The Puritans believed that God wanted to give them a safe haven from the persecution of British rule. Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and did not consider the best interests of the colonists in governing them.

The Second Continental Congress May 10, 1775 to March 1, 1781 After L&C and Common Sense colonies made the move for independence NC was first in line 20 May, 1775: Mecklenburg Resolves Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) first county to declare independence 12 April, 1776: Halifax Resolves NC became the first state to authorize a colonial declaration of independence 4 July, 1776: Members of the 2nd CC signed the Declaration of Independence The 2nd CC ran the war effort and drafted a constitution for America (Articles of Confederation)