Causes of the American Revolution!
The Seven Years War
 The Seven Years War
was a war between
Britain and The French/
Native Tribes. 1754–
1763
 Cause: The colonists
kept pushing the Indians
west.
 Effect: The British made
the Proclamation of
1763.
Proclamation of 1763
 The Proclamation of 1763
was a law prohibiting the
colonists to move west of the
Appalachian Mountains.
 Cause: England was still in
debt from the Seven Years
War and didn't want to start
another war.
 Effect: The colonist still
moved west anyway because
owning land was important.
King George
Stamp Act
 The Stamp Act 1765 was a tax on
everything printed in the colonies.
 These printed materials were legal
documents, magazines, newspapers and
many other types of paper used throughout
the colonies.
 Like previous taxes, the stamp tax had to
be paid in valid British currency,
 Cause: Britain needed money because
they were in debt from the war so they
taxed the colonists.
 Effect: The colonists boycotted British
goods. They also organized the Sons of
Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty.
Townshend Acts
 The Townshend Acts of 1767,
created by Charles Townshend, the
chancellor of the Exchequer.
 It was a tax to create revenue for
Great Britain. The Revenue was
used to pay the salaries of British
soldiers, governors and judges .
 The Townshend Acts also caused a
tax for glass, lead, paint, paper,
and tea.
 Cause: Britain still needed money,
but they needed a way to tax the
colonies “without offense.”
 Effect: The colonists boycotted
British goods again.
Boston Massacre
 The Boston Massacre, March
5, 1770, was a clash between
British troops and a group of
colonists in which five colonists
were killed.
 Cause: The colonists were
frustrated with Britain and
agitation grew. British troops
were weary and concerned
about the agitation and in an
unfortunate event the British
troops shot at some citizens
protesting the British tax on the
colonies
 Effect: Colonial citizens were
getting really fed up with the
British rule of the thirteen
colonies.
Tea Act
 The Tea Act, May 10, 1773, was a tax on all imported
tea from Britain.
 Cause: The colonists boycott against British goods had
hurt their trade, so the British repealed the Townshend
Acts after the Boston Massacre. Parliament only kept
the tea tax.
 Effect: The Sons of Liberty organized a protest against
the Tea Act known as the Boston Tea Party.
Boston Tea Party
 The Boston Tea Party, December
16, 1773, was a protest organized
by the colonists against the British
for their tea tax. All the colonists
dressed up as Indians and snuck
on-board the British ships in the
harbor. Then they threw all the tea
on the ships into Boston Harbor.
 Cause: The colonists were upset
by the Tea Act.
 Effect: The Intolerable Acts were
passed to keep the colonists under
control.
Intolerable Acts
 The Intolerable Acts of 1774 were four strict laws that gave the
 The Intolerable Acts, 1774, were four strict laws that gave the
British a sense of more control over the colonies. First of all, they
closed down the port of Boston until the colonists paidfor all of the
tea they threw into Boston Harbor. Second, they forbade any
meetings without the governor’s permission. Next, they made the
colonists house and feed British troops. Finally, instead of British
officials being tried for crimes in the colonies, they would be tried
in Britain. Also, King George the third appointed General Thomas
Gage the new governor of Massachusetts.
 Cause: The Boston Tea
Party.
 Effect: The colonists started
the Revolutionary War.
Intolerable Acts
 The Intolerable Acts of 1774 were four strict laws that gave the
British a sense of more control over the colonies.
 First – they closed down the port of Boston until the colonists paid
for all the tea they destoryed.
 Second – the colonists couldn’t hold political meetings without a
governor’s
permission.
 Third – they made the colonists
house and feed British troops
 Finally, instead of British
officials being tried for crimes
in the colonies, they would get
preferential treatment and be
tried in Britain.
Enter Please….
 George Washington….