American Revolution Causes

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The roots of the American Revolution can be traced back to 1763 where tension between Britain and the colonies tightened. The arrival of British troops and Britain’s land policies prohibited settlement in the West irritated the colonists. Tensions increased after the First Continental Congress took the first steps towards independence from Great Britain. The colonies then earned their independence through a long fought bitter war. This war encouraged future democracies to model their governments after the United States. Political, social, and economic effects played revolutionary roles in contributing to an American Victory in the American Revolutionary War.

After the victory over the French and Indian War, King George II made his decision that it was time to increase Britain’s control overseas in the colonies. He imposed the Proclamation of 1763 and the Stamp Act of 1765. This frustrated the angered the colonist. Nine of the colonies sent their representatives to New York City to discuss what they thought of these “laws”. This was an example of the type of government and representation the colonies wanted. They came to the conclusion that the Stamp Act and all the other taxation laws were illegal, because the colonies weren’t represented in the British Parliament. That’s where the famous saying “No taxation without representation” comes from. In 1776, Englishman Thomas Paine published his book Common Sense, which made claims that monarchies like the King of England weren’t good. This book made the Colonist believe that they should be independent and free from English rule. The Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1776. This was a Revolutionary point in American history as it showed England and the rest of the world that America was determined to become an Independent country. The colonies were an important source of raw material to Great Britain. A lot of these resources were taken from America and sent over to England to help the mother country trade goods with other countries. The Navigation Acts channeled the flow of colonial materials into Britain and
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The French wanted to make their presence felt in the Caribbean. So they allied themselves with the colonist as they shared common interest in enemies. Some of the Indians sided with the British though. They would bribe the Indians and make promises they probably weren’t going to keep. Some of the Indians did work with the colonies for tribal reasons and because they thought they were the stronger side. Another social implication from the war came from the African American slaves. The British encouraged them to join their side and revolt, and in return they would grant them freedom. Outburst like the Stono Rebellion and many others were the cause of this. The American Revolution produced a new outlook amongst the people. Groups such as slaves and women would draw their inspirations later from revolutionary sentiments. American began to feel as though their fight for liberty was a global fight. Although women didn’t gain any political rights, the war did help equalize genders as the women ran farms, homes, businesses, served as spies, and nurses in their husbands absences. This was revolutionary for women. These were steps forward in fighting towards their own rights in

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