The American Revolution
Causes of the Revolution

Comparing British and Colonial Governments
- Copy Chart on page 99


British Government is a Model
- far from a democracy
- wealthy men controlled the government in the
colonies- as well as- in Great Britain
Differences in Colonial Governments
- Parliament believed that they represented every
British subject- including the colonists.
- Colonists saw themselves as equal members of
Parliament
*Colonists did not elect any members of Parliament

French and Indian War
- doubled Britain’s national debt
- expanded colonial territories
*Parliament needed to raise money to pay off debt
and protect the colonies
*Parliament decided should pay more

The Sugar Act

The Quartering Act

The Stamp Act

Taxation without Representation
-Colonists’ Argument:
-Colonies have no representation in
Parliament- so Parliament had no right to tax
- prosperity/liberty threatened
*Stamp Act is a conspiracy to destroy their liberties

Taxation without Representation
- Britons’ Argument:
- many Britons paid taxes and could not
vote/elect representatives to Parliament
- Parliament has right to levy taxes anywhere
in the Empire
*thought colonial opposition was selfish

Townshend Acts
- Named after Charles Townshend (chief
financial officer to the Crown)
- taxed imports on everyday items such as:
glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea

Violence Erupts in Boston
- Liberty, a merchant ship is
seized by customs officers
in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Ship belonged to John
Hancock- a wealthy
merchant/colonial
politician
- sets off a series of riots
*Crown sends 4,000 British
troops


Boston Massacre
(March 1770)
- outside the ‘Customs
House’ colonists throw
rocks at the British
soldiers guarding it
- British soldier fires
into the crowd
What are some effects
of the Boston Massacre?


Boston Tea Party
(December 16, 1773)
- Boston Patriots
dressed as Indians and
boarded three British
ships holding tea
- Dumped the tea into
the harbor
What are some effects
of the Boston Tea Party?
( At least 5 effects)