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Causes of the American Revolution: French & Indian War, British Taxation, and Colonial Resistance

Explore the factors that led to the American Revolution, including the French & Indian War, British taxation, and the colonial response. Learn about key events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.

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Causes of the American Revolution: French & Indian War, British Taxation, and Colonial Resistance

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  1. Bellwork • What do you believe caused the American Revolution? • Jot down some ideas at the top of your paper and be ready to discuss

  2. Rumblings of Revolution

  3. The French and Indian War/Seven Years War • 1754-1763 • Larger imperial conflict between France and England • English and French colonists moving into each others’ territories- Ohio River Valley • Despite the victory, brought trouble for Britain • Expense- unwelcome taxes on the colonies • Limitation of westward expansion

  4. Unifying Factors between the 13 colonies • Created unity and separation from England • No aristocracy • Widespread property ownership • Religious diversity • Relative lack of poverty • Lack of urban development • Lack of deference • Slavery

  5. Albany Plan of Union • 1754 • Plan to place British North American colonies under more centralized leadership • Feared possibility of attack • Adopted but never implemented • First American political cartoon published by Benjamin Franklin just before

  6. British Taxation • Began 40 years before the revolution • Molasses Act- 1733- taxed rum, molasses and sugar- protecting English economic interests • Colonists- protested and largely ignored (smuggling) • British Response- Sugar Act • Iron Act- 1750- limit colonial iron manufacturing • French and Indian War • Proclamation Line of 1763- prevented colonial expansion past the Appalachians - stationed 10,000 troops to enforce. • Colonists- angered because of investments; largely ignored • British Response- Quebec Act- further limitation

  7. British Taxation • Sugar Act- 1764- taxed wine, coffee, textiles, dye- attempts to stop smuggling • Colonists- protests- felt it violated English rights • British enforcement- protecting economic interests • Stamp Act- 1765- required purchased stamp for all legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards, etc. • First direct tax- broke principle that only local government could impose taxes • Colonist response- boycotts, violence and protests • British- unresponsive to colonial complaints • Money spent in French and Indian War • British tax burden

  8. British Taxation • Quartering Act-1765- requires colonial governments to provide housing for British troops • Colonists- frustration- indirect tax, didn’t think they needed protection • British response- influx of troops to enforce taxes and stabilize frontier • The Townsend Acts- 1767 • Glass, lead, paint, paper, tea- revenue funded colonial governors • Colonists- boycotts, harassment, nonimportation acts • British response-1768- Additional troops arrive in the colonies to enforce taxes

  9. The Boston Massacre • March 5, 1770 • Mob of American colonists gathered at the Custom’s House- protesting British troops presence • British soldiers fired on the crowd, killing 5, injuring 3 • Colonial Reaction: Anger at direct act of violence- put soldiers on trial • British Response: No longer allowed colonial courts to try British citizens/officers

  10. Boston Tea Party • 1773- Parliament passes Tea Act- bi-pass American wholesale merchants • December 16 1773- colonists disguised as Indians threw 342 crates of tea into Boston Harbor • British responded harshly- Coercive (Intolerable)Acts- closed Boston harbor, required that British officials be tried in England, forbid town meetings, etc.

  11. Colonial Response to Coercive Acts • People of other colonies rushed to Boston’s defense- sending supplies to ease burden of blockade • Other colonies formed provincial congresses to discuss action against England • First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia- September 1774 • Began organizing nationally against England

  12. Lexington and Concord • British Colonel Thomas Gage sends troops to seize rebel supplies at Concord, Massachusetts. • Patriots get word- The Ride of Paul Revere • Revere and Dawes sent warnings throughout the countryside • Revere was captured, Dawes prevented from reaching Concord, but the word got through • Next morning April 19, 1775- British arrive at Lexington- face 70 minutemen • No one knows who fired the first shot- “Shot heard round the world” • British Response- deployment of full military force

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