Causes of the American Revolutionary War

Sons of Liberty - Causes of the American Revolutionary War

This article on  the Causes of the American Revolutionary War provides facts and information about the famous events that led to the War of Independence:

  • What were the Causes of the American Revolutionary War?
  • British Laws and Acts that led to the Causes of the American Revolutionary War
  • Interesting facts and fast information of Causes of the American Revolutionary War
  • Educational resource for teachers and kids about the Causes of the American Revolutionary War
Revolutionary Battles
Revolutionary War Timeline
American Colonies Index
 

History of the Battles, Conflicts and Soldiers of the American Revolution War

The Causes of the American Revolutionary War

Causes of the American Revolutionary War
This article contains fast facts and information about the Causes of the American Revolutionary War. What were the Causes of the American Revolutionary War? Good question. There was a whole host of reasons and Causes of the American Revolutionary War - our list details 38 Causes of the American Revolutionary War. For an overview of these events refer to the Road to Revolution.

Causes of the American Revolutionary War - In a Nutshell!

The Causes of the American Revolutionary War! In a nutshell the British wanted to make as much money as possible out of the 13 Colonies. Great Britain was the 'mother country' - refer to Colonialism. Many of the colonists came from Great Britain, they shared the same ideals and the same king. The British had the power to enact various laws in Parliament outside of America which significantly effected life and trade in the 13 colonies. But the British Laws were used like a 'one-way street' - the Acts of Parliament benefited the British but not the colonies and, to compound this, the Americans were not afforded the same rights as the British people, nor did they have any representatives in the British Parliament to present their points of view. The colonists protested and their protests led them down the American Road to Revolution and were responsible for some of the Causes of the American Revolutionary War. 

Facts about Causes of the American Revolutionary War
The following Fact File contains fast information and facts about the the Causes of the American Revolutionary War. Interesting facts and an overview and description of the the Causes of the American Revolutionary War. Additional facts and detailed information about each of the Causes of the American Revolutionary War can be found by refering to specific articles.

For comprehensive info about different topics refer to the Colonial America Sitemap

Causes of the American Revolutionary War

 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 1Trade - Mercantilism: The British had adopted the policy of Mercantilism. The mercantile system, was based on the benefits of profitable trading in which the flow of raw materials from the colonies that profited Great Britain who turned them into finished goods which had a higher value than raw materials.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 2Trade: The Triangular Trade routes were established. Americans had to trade goods that they had in abundance in exchange for goods which were scarce in their own region. Triangular Trade, coupled with the British policy of Mercantilism, provided a “favorable balance of trade” but only to Great Britain. This ensured that gold and silver, and all domestic money, stayed in England.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 3Laws: The Navigation Acts were designed to regulate colonial trade. The Purpose of the Navigation Acts was to encourage British shipping and allow Great Britain to retain the monopoly of British colonial trade for the benefit of British merchants.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 4Laws: The 1689 English Bill of Rights was passed which put into place a constitutional form of government in which the rights and liberties of the individual  were protected under English law. The Americans argued that they were not afforded the same rights.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 5Policy:  In 1696 it suited the British to a adopt policy of Salutary neglect avoiding the strict enforcement of parliamentary laws in Colonial America which gave the colonies considerable freedom in economic matters. Between 1763-1775 the British tried to reverse their policy of Salutary Neglect in order to pay for war debts, tighten their control in the colonies, enforce the Navigation Acts and other laws and impose new taxes on goods
 
 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 6The British Parliament passed the Wool Act in 1699 which prohibited the export of American made cloth from its colony of origin.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 7
 		In 1732 Parliament passed the Hat Act preventing the trade of American-made hats.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 8In 1732 Parliament also passed the Debt Recovery Act that decreed that land and slaves were the equivalent of property and should be sold to satisfy debts owed by colonists to British merchants.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 9The Navigation Act of 1733, also known as the Molasses Act, levied heavy taxes on sugar
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 10
 		The Iron Act was passed in 1750 to suppress the manufacture of iron finished goods in the colonies and to increase the production of iron and its export to Great Britain
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 11The French Indian War in North America ended February 10, 1763 leaving the British with a massive war debt. The British looked to raise revenue by imposing new taxes in the colonies and reversing its policy of Salutary Neglect.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 12On October 7, 1763 The British impose the Proclamation of 1763 that introduced a massive boundary to separate white settlements from Indian country - The Americans believed the British were siding with the Native Indians against the colonists
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 13In 1764 the British passed the Sugar Act setting a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies that impacting the manufacture of rum in New England
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 14In August 1764 the Boston Boycotts were imposed by the merchants, and the women of Boston, refusing to buy British finished goods especially clothing such as satins, lace and ruffles
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 15On September 1 1764 the Currency Act was passed regulating paper money issued by the colonies
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 16March 22, 1765 the Stamp Act of 1765 was passed in which Taxes imposed on legal papers, newspapers and pamphlets. Violent opposition and the Reaction to the Stamp Act resulted in the British repealing the act in 1766
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 17In March 24, 1765 Quartering Act of 1765 was passed - it was the first of a series of Laws requiring the provision of housing, food and drink to British troops in the American colonies
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 18The Sons of Liberty a secret, underground organization was founded in Boston by Samuel Adams and John Hancock in July 1765 in opposition to the Stamp Act.
 
 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 19In May 1765 Patrick Henry was elected as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He led the protests against the hated British laws and taxes in the House of Burgesses.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 20October 1765 saw the Stamp Act Congress and the Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 21In March 1766 the British took action against the Americans by passing the Declaratory Act that asserted the British right to make laws binding on the colonies
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 22The Repeal of the Stamp Act is approved by the House of Commons in February 1766 following the actions, including boycotts, by the colonists
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 23On June 29 1767 a series of laws called the Townshend Acts placed taxes on items imported by the colonists including glass, lead, paints, paper and tea
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 24On August 1768 merchants in Boston and New York retaliate by boycotting British goods until the Townshend Acts are repealed
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 25On October 1 1768 British warships sail into Boston Harbor leaving two regiments of English troops to keep order
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 26In 1769, George Washington, set on protesting the British policy of "taxation without representation," brought a package of Nonimportation resolutions before the Virginia House of Burgesses.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 27On March 5 1770 the incident known as the Boston Massacre took place in which 5 civilians were killed by British soldiers
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 28
 		On June 9 1772 The HMS Gaspee runs aground and is looted by colonists
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 29In November 1772: Samuel Adams organizes the first Committee of Correspondence providing leadership and communication networks amongst the colonists
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 30On May 10 1773 the Tea Act is passed allowing the British East India Company to sell its low-cost tea directly to the colonies, undermining colonial tea merchants
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 31On December 16, 1773 Massachusetts patriots dressed as Mohawk Indians protested against the British Tea Act and an incident which would become known as the Boston Tea Party
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 32The British pass a series of laws, that became known as the Intolerable Acts, that were a reprisal to the Boston Tea party rebellion. The five laws aimed at punishing Massachusetts for the action taken in Boston and to restore British authority in the American colonies.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 33The names of the Intolerable Acts were the:

Boston Port Act
Massachusetts Government Act
Administration of Justice Act
Quartering Act
Quebec Act
 

 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 34Between September 5 - October 26 1774 the First Continental Congress met in which elected representatives of colonists  assembled in revolt against British rule.
 
 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 35The Continental Association was created by the Continental Congress in 1774 in response to the 'Intolerable Acts' and to impose economic sanctions against Great Britain. The Articles of Association were were adopted on October 20, 1774.
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 36On March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry delivered his famous "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech referring to the "warlike preparations" of the British  and making an urgent call to arms saying "The war is inevitable - and let it come!"
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 37On Wednesday, April 19, 1775 the Battle of Lexington and the Battle of Concord started the American Revolution and the "shot heard round the world."
 		 
 Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 38On July 6 1775 the Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms was issued by Congress stating that Americans are "resolved to die free men rather than live as slaves."
 		 

Facts about the Causes of the American Revolutionary War

Causes of the American Revolutionary War
We hope that you have found our comprehensive article on the Causes of the American Revolutionary War helpful. The following articles provide facts and information about the war.

Map British North America 1763 - 1775

Map British North America 1763 - 1775

Causes of the American Revolutionary War

  • Facts and information about Causes of the American Revolutionary War

  • History of the Causes of the American Revolutionary War

  • Fast Facts and info about the Causes of the American Revolutionary War

  • Pictures of Causes of the American Revolutionary War and their uniforms - a great history resource for kids

  • Social Studies Homework help for kids on the Causes of the American Revolutionary War

Causes of the American Revolutionary War - Colonial America - Soldiers - Battle - War - Battlefield - Battlefields - Causes of the American Revolutionary War - America - Facts - Great Britain - Revolution - Causes of the American Revolutionary War - Colonists - British - History Timeline - History - US - History - Interesting - Information - Info - Events - Dates - Short - Revolution - Causes of the American Revolutionary War - Kids - Children - Studies - US - United States - America - USA - English - British - Causes of the American Revolutionary War - Battlefields - Causes of the American Revolutionary War - Conflicts - Years - Social Studies Teaching resource - Social Studies - Causes of the American Revolutionary War - History - Revolution - Causes of the American Revolutionary War - Teachers - Kids - Dates - Famous Events - Colonial America - Causes of the American Revolutionary War