Causes of the American
Revolution
Really a Revolution?
Questions about the Revolution
• Was this Necessary?
– Coming of Age/Time Had Come or would the
Colonies have remained obedient had England
not made mistakes
• Was this really a revolution?
– Or merely a transfer of power from one
wealthy group to another
• Was this motivated by Capitalism?
– To keep money in America instead of taxes
going overseas
Navigation Acts
• Navigation
Ordinance of 1651
• Navigation Act 1660
• Navigation Act 1663
• Wool Act 1699
• Molasses Act
1733
• Iron Act 1750
An Emerging Nation
• “Revolution broke out because England
failed to recognize an emerging nation
when it saw one.” Theo. Roosevelt
• Privy Council
• Salutary Neglect
• War with:Dutch, French, Spanish
• Smuggling-John Hancock
Causes of the Revolution
• Sprit of self-reliance
• Religious annoyance
• England trying to improve trade/industry at
America’s expense
• No Taxation without representation
• Enlightenment
• Mercantilism vs. capitalism
Irritants
• Lord Cornbury, first cousin of Queen Anne, was made
governor of New York and New Jersey in 1702, but proved to
be a drunkard, a spendthrift, a grafter, and embezzler, a
religious bigot, a cross-dresser, and a vain fool.
British Debt
Protest
Road to Revolution Timeline
• Using the following events, documents, and acts
create a timeline that tracks the development of the
colonial relationship with the British that eventually
led to the Revolutionary War. Be creative with your
timeline. You should include visuals to help describe
each event and you must have a complete
description of each event that includes important
terms, the major players, the date and the response
of British/colonists where applicable.
Road to Revolution Timeline
1763 – Proclamation of 1763
1764 – Sugar Act
1764 – Currency Act
176 5 – Stamp Act
1765 – Quartering Act
1765 – Virginia Resolutions – Patrick Henry
1767 – Towshend Acts
1770 – Boston Massacre
1772 – Gaspee ship attacked and burned
1773 – Boston Tea Party
1774 – Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts
1774 – First Continental Congress
1775 – Concord and Lexington
1776 - Common Sense
1776 – Declaration of Independence