Causes of the American Revolutionary War

Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 1 Trade - 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 2 Trade: 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 3 Laws: 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 4 Laws: 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 5 Policy: 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 6 The 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 8 In 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 9 The 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 11 The 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 12 On 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 13 In 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 14 In 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 15 On September 1 1764 the Currency Act
was passed regulating paper money issued by the colonies

Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 16 March 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 17 In 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 18 The 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 19 In 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 20 October 1765 saw the Stamp Act
Congress and the Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists

Causes of the American Revolutionary War Cause 21 In 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 22 The 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 23 On 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 24 On 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 25 On 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 26 In 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 27 On 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 29 In 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 30 On 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 31 On 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 32 The 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 33 The 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 34 Between 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 35 The 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 36 On 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 37 On 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 38 On 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."