The American Revolution: A War of
Principle or Self-interest?
When the French and Indian War ended in 1763, the British government
tried to establish firmer control over the American colonies. The cost of the recent
war and the anticipated expenses of administering the vast empire of the British
prompted Parliament to seek money from the colonies through enforcement of
existing mercantile regulations and passage of new taxes. The colonists, however,
sought to handle their internal affairs, including taxation, in their colonial
assemblies. They claimed that since they were without a voice in Parliament, they
needed the assemblies to assert their rights as Englishmen. When Britain refused to
accept this point of view, the colonists justified their revolution and later their
independence on the basis of the natural rights of man.
This traditional interpretation of the causes of the American Revolution may
be true in part, but it is now apparent that the Revolution was caused by a
combination of many forces from the economic, political, social, religious, and
even psychological realms. It now seems likely that not only were our founding
fathers interested in fighting the war over principles but were also hoping to make
personal gains in the event of victory.
In this lesson, you will analyze a series of explanations for the American
Revolution. You will find historical evidence to support three (3) possible causes.
Each student will write a one-page essay to defend the validity of the three causes
and decide if those causes stem primarily from principle or self-interest.
Listed below are thirteen short statements that suggest different views on
causes of the American Revolution. Find as many pieces of historical evidence as
possible to support each of the three statements you will select to include in your
essay.

Colonial charters or contracts were made by kings, not Parliament.

The split between England and the colonies was natural since they belonged to
two different systems—England to Europe and America to itself.

England was convinced that the Americans never really wanted membership
in Parliament.

The colonists had representation in Parliament through “virtual representation”
much as Manchester or Birmingham, England had.

Whenever a colonial product became important to England, it was “enumerated.”

The struggle was over colonial manufacturing, furs, sugar, tea, and currency, all
of which meant simply the survival or collapse of English merchant capitalism.

The colonists feared a possible attempt to establish the Anglican Church in
America.

The colonists were masters of the tool of propaganda.

The war was caused by inconsistent policies passed by inept British officials.

Revolution was one-step in God’s master plan for the march of humanity
toward freedom.

George III was a responsible man who exercised his legitimate authority.

It is not what the British did, but what the Americans thought they were doing
that caused problems between Britain and the colonies.

The British violated the colonists’ natural rights of life, liberty, and property.
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Once you have collected the historical facts to the three statements you have
chosen, answer the following question with a one-page essay.
“The primary causes of the American Revolution from the
colonial point of view were….”
-R E P O R TTitle:
The Primary Causes of the American Revolution.
Length:
Three Pages: Title Page, One Page Essay, and Works Cited.
You are required to use three sources: (1) Book; (1) Journal; and
(1) Internet Source.
Format:
Report Format. Internal Citations – each source must be
referenced at least once throughout your essay. Use the
Internal Citation and Works Cited Format spelled out in Chapter 4 of
the WHS Style Manual. See the Librarian for assistance.
Type:
Individual Mini-Project.
Due:
TBA
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Mr. Gallagher’s Grading and Correcting Practices.
Internal citations
10 ________________________
Works Cited
10 ________________________
Grammar and spelling
10________________________
Content
50 _______________________
Format
10 _______________________
Reference materials
10________________________
Student’s Name______________________________________
This mini-project is worth one test grade.
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