Causes Of The American Revolution

Throughout American history, protest and revolt have been a key player in reforming policy and social structure of the United States. There have been many successful movements across the country since the Union was created such as women's suffrage, abolition of slavery, and the labor movement. However, the greatest movement of all had started the creation of America and influenced the rest of the world. This was the American Revolution. Both men and women had fought to become an independent nation that wanted to divide itself from the oppressive Britain that had control over the colonies at the time. From taxation without representation to increasing tension between British soldiers and the public, colonists grew angry and frustrated with the

After the French and Indian War ceased, Britain decided to raise more taxes on the colonists to make up the debt. While a tax could be justified from the standpoint that the British had supplied troops that fought the war, it doesn’t change the fact that the colonists had no say in what they would be taxed on and how much they would be taxed. This was unfair as British subjects in Britain gave consent to the taxes they had to pay, unlike the Americans. This was frustrating as the colonists believed that they were not seen as equals to the British subjects that lived in the motherland. The Stamp Act of 1765 definitely raise the voices of those that claimed “no taxation without representation” as this tax was seen as an internal tax which could on be passed within the colonies themselves. Not only is that point valid, but the tax was ridiculous within itself. The Stamp Act affected almost every printed piece of paper in the colonies. This included playing cards, calendars, wills, Newspapers, and even dice. It is also believed that the high taxes on legal documents used by lawyers and scholars were to keep the academic class from growing too much. It was as if the act was designed to cause distress within the colonies as it targeted certain groups. This act led to the boycott of English goods and also led to violence as tax collectors were tarred and feathered regularly. Luckily the Stamp Act was repealed, however it was soon replaced by the Townshend Acts. The goal of the Townshend Acts was to decrease tax in Britain and increase taxes in the colonies. They are soon repealed as they are overwhelmingly rejected, except one. The Tea Tax was left in place as the British, of course, wanted to leave their foot in the door making sure the Americans knew that they could tax them however they like. Three years later, the Tea Act of 1773 was passed. This