Causes of the American Revolution TEKS/SE 8.4a- Analyze causes of the American revolution, including mercantilism and British economic policies following the French and Indian War 8.4b- explain the role played by significant individuals during the American Revolution, including Samuel Adams and King George III

The beginning of the end of the colonies. . . The British colonists in America had fought alongside their mother country in the French and Indian War. With the British victory and the acquisition on the Ohio River Valley from France, the colonists dreamed of settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

But. . . With a large debt left over from the war, and angry natives on the other side of the mountains, the King could not afford to protect the colonists from western natives. He issued the Proclamation of 1763, disallowing all settlements west of the Appalachians

Those rascally colonists. . . Many colonists, feeling as though they earned the right to the land, moved anyway, ignoring the King’s Proclamation. The rebellious attitude in the colonies was emerging

Wait, the king’s broke? Wars cost money, and after seven years of fighting the French, the king owed a lot of cash. He, along with Parliament, felt that the colonists should repay the debt, since the war was on their soil.

Salutary neglect For over a century, the colonies had been running their own affairs, and Britain had little involvement in the colonial governments. This was known as salutary neglect Your Highness, we wish to pass this law. . . Yeah, whatever, I’m busy watching the Hills.

The end of salutary neglect Now Parliament was going to put taxes directly on the colonists.

Colonial Taxes In 1764, Parliament passed the first tax, The Sugar Act. Which, as you might guess, taxed sugar.

Colonial Reaction: This tax mainly affected merchants, so reaction was mild. Some merchants began to smuggle, or sneak in, goods to avoid the tax.

2. The Stamp Act In 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp Act. This Act required colonists to buy a stamp for all paper they used.

The Colonists are FURIOUS!!! Colonists had been paying taxes to their colonial governments, and were cool with it. But they had no representatives in Parliament, and they felt that the Stamp Act was unjust.

Colonists Protest While some protested through words, many, such as the “Sons of Liberty,” protested violently.

Parliament backs down After months of protests, Parliament repealed, or cancelled, the Stamp Act.

3. The Townshend Acts To pay for British troops stationed in the colonies, The Townshend Acts put a duty, or tax, on imported goods from Britain (glass, paint, paper, tea, etc.)

The official beverage of the Sons of Liberty! SAM ADAMS steps up! Sam Adams, a leader of the Sons of Liberty, led a boycott of the taxed goods. A boycott is when you refuse to buy an item Parliament repealed all, except the tax on tea. The official beverage of the Sons of Liberty!

4. The Tea Act To rescue the failing British East India Company, Britain gave them a monopoly (complete control) on the tea trade in the colonies. This allowed the BEIC to charge whatever price they wanted.

The Boston Tea Party The Sons of Liberty reacted by dressing up like natives, storming tea ships, and dumping the tea into Boston Harbor.

Now the British are mad. . .

And decided it was time to lay down the law. . . .