“The American Revolution was inevitable”. Explain the key causes of the American Revolution and support, modify or refute this contention using specific evidence.
The American Revolution was a colonial revolt against the Great Britain, that took place from 1765 to 1783. The American Revolution was more than just a revolt against the cruel Britain’s treatment and the taxes, it marked the first time people fought for their independence in the name of popular sovereignty and Constitutional rights. The roots of the American Revolution can be traced back to the year of 1763, British Parliament’s passage of the Proclamation Line was one of the first of a series of acts by …show more content…
When the British won the French and Indian war, the colonists were hopeful of settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. But to prevent future conflict between the Native Americans and the Colonist the British Parliament passed the Proclamation Line of 1763, prohibiting the colonist from setting foot west of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists reacted with anger and defiance, disobeying the imaginary line thousands streamed westward. From the British’s point of view, each act was justified as a method for protecting its colonial empire. In the contrary, from the colonial point of view, each act was a threat to their …show more content…
The Enlightenment was a movement in philosophy and literature, that attracted some educated Americans in the 18th century. A major influence on the Enlightenment and on American thinking was the work of John Locke. In his “two treatises of Government” Locke said that the government should respect the “natural laws” of the citizens simply because they are human. Furthermore, Locke argues that citizens had the right to revolt against its government, if it fails to protect their rights. Other Enlightenment philosopher extended on Locke’s idea of “natural rights”. John Locke’s work and stress on “Natural rights” got Americans pay more attention to their liberty and their rights. Locke’s work influences the American Revolution and later, sets the basic principles of the U.S.