Causes of the Revolutionary War DBQ

The American Revolution was the culmination of tension between the free-thinking and developing Colonists and the dominating and tax-imposing British. The war lasted from 1776 to 1783, but the most important part of the war was the events leading up to it, in which Colonists began to develop democratic thoughts about their social, political, economic, and religious life. People began to understand democratic ideas and it’s benefits, and many decided to make an active effort to increase the amount of democracy in their life. Democratic is defined as favoring or characterized by social equality. A democratic lifestyle is a fair and equal one, and the years leading up to the revolution brought a democratic environment to the Colonies. Despite lack of greater property distribution, the 1700s brought great democratic change to Colonial America, which experienced a democratic movement religiously in the separation of church and state, which led to social changes including slavery and new thinking, that led to democratic and intellectual political reforms.

The American Revolution was not just a spontaneous revolt over taxes some may think . There were many things that led up to the outbreak of the American Revolution, such as the Navigation Act, the Enlightenment, the Great Awakening, the French and Indian War, the Boston Massacre, and the Coercive Acts. It took many years for it to take place. This all started previously before 1775 with the first major event being the Navigation Acts of 1651.

Many colonists were angered because of high taxes England chose to enforce on them. These taxes were a result of the British participation and victory in the French and Indian war. However, what made the colonists even more angry was the fact that they were being taxed without representation in England’s Parliament. The colonists thought that, in order to be taxed by the British, they should have representation in it. They saw it as unfair to be taxed by a government they had no say in. As Patrick Henry said in his speech made to the Virginia House of Burgesses, “We can under law be taxed only by our own representatives...The Stamp Act is against the law. We must not obey it…” (Doc. 1). Since many colonists thought this taxation broke the law, some of them chose to protest by going to the House of Burgesses, boycotting imports, or simply not paying it in response. This response is justified; if

The King in his right mind has total control and power of the colonies and can do whatever he deems necessary to control them. With that said, The king of that time, not thinking about the peoples feelings went ahead and instead of making the people happy did whatever he could to make the government better. Which in the long run was to make money. Well every time the king mad a law to make up for another law that the people didn’t like, it

Massacres in the streets, abuse from English Parliament, and acts oppressing colonists; All of these were evident in events leading up to the American Revolution. The Revolutionary War was a display of colonist patriotism, and the reason for American independence today. Leading up to it, Britain tightened their hold on the colonies by restricting them and passing unfair laws and taxes. The American Revolution began after the colonists sent the Declaration of Independence to King George III in July, 1775, in which the colonies claimed independence from Britain. After the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, General Charles Cornwallis of the British army surrendered to the colonists, and they had officially gained independence. Though, were the colonists right to wage war and gain independence from Britain? Yes, they were justified in revolting against England because the acts were unfair, the British occupation in colonists territory, and the violation of rights taking place.

The Revolutionary War started in April of 1775, with the battles at Lexington and Concord. This war would mark the beginnings of the United States as a nation, fighting against the most powerful fighting force at the time, the British Army and Navy. This conflict would go on for a brutal 6 years until the final British surrender at Yorktown on October 17, 1781. In the end, both sides have lost tens of thousands of men, but how did it all start? The Conflict has its star with the rising tensions between the colonists and the British crown in the aftermath of the French-Indian War in 1763. The financing of the war had caused Britain to be in heavy debt after mobilizing troops to defend colonies. To offset this debt Britain began taxing its colonies, introducing the Townshend and Stamp acts. This act of taxation would anger the 13 American colonies as this was seen as an attack against their rights and to protest this, colonist boycotted and protested, but were met with the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770. Tensions would rise, and the Boston Tea Party would begin on December 16, 1773. This would lead to the deployment of British troops in Boston and the eventual start of the war. But after all, it may not justified. The Revolutionary war cannot be justified only by a resentment of taxes on imports and a distrust of an Empire that had only finished fighting a war to defend its colony.

After the French and Indian War had ended in 1763, the British parliament passed various laws to collect more taxes in American colonies in ways to pay for their war debt. As a result, colonists outraged as they had been taxed unjustly without having any representation in the British parliament, which eventually led to an uprising known as the American Revolution. In the process of making a revolution, Thomas Jefferson, a revolutionist, and father of our modern constitution, effectively masters an appeal to ethos, pathos, logos, and strong dictions to inform King George III on reasonings behind American colonies’ justifications for becoming independent from the Great Britain.

There were multiple causes for the American Revolution, but the most important was the violation and deprivation of rights from the American People. The American people were faced with multiple acts and taxes that violated and took away their rights. Americans were continuously being taxed after the French and Indian War by acts like the sugar act, the stamp act, the Townshend acts,the tea act, and many more(Hedtke, et al., The American Saga). Despite all the taxes being placed on the Americans and the things they would buy, they still were not being represented in the British government. The British government claimed that the Americans had virtual representation, and that British parliament represents citizens of England anywhere they

During the years previous to the American Revolution, Great Britain increasingly asserted its dominance over the colonies. This assertive behavior caused tension between the colonies and Great Britain. Therefore, colonies debated the pros and cons of going to war with Great Britain in order to declare their independence. Increased British control led to revolution by the acts Great Britain forced upon colonists, colonists lack of representation, and Great Britain’s reaction to protests held by the colonists. Great Britain’s increased control led to the Revolution by the acts they forced upon colonists.

The British practiced a policy of salutary neglect, where the colonists were free to do whatever they pleased. Following the unbelievable acts and taxes established by Parliament, colonists felt betrayed by the British government. Many colonists thought it was unfair to be oppressed by taxes without representation in Parliament. Despite many attempts to negotiate with the King of England, no agreement was accomplished. According to Thomas Jefferson in the “Declaration of Independence,” he stated, “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms; Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.” (Doc. 7). The colonists felt they were being ruled by a tyrant. As a result, The Continental Congress convened and Thomas Jefferson wrote “The Declaration of Independence” on July 4, 1776. In this declaration, Jefferson stated, “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation [unlawful seizures], all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” (Doc. 7). Nevertheless, Jefferson was not the only colonist to feel as if the king was a tyrant. One day later, the Second Continental Congress gathered and the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms” was presented. This document was

Many times people will not have the power to rise and stand for what they believe in. However the colonists had many groups of people willing to stand up for them. Among these groups was one called “The Sons of Liberty”. They chose to stand up to England and its unbearable acts. Therefore, making the problems they already had with England even bigger.

This document contained the complaints of the colonists to many of the acts of Parliament. They objected to the oppression of Americans by distant British crown. They were taxed unfairly without representation and their trade was regulated for the benefit of England. To preserve the colonists’ rights, America’s independence form Britain was formally announced.

“Give me liberty or give me death!” - Thomas Paine. Many leaders tried to convince colonists to join the American Revolution. What was the American Revolution? A revolution is a war between two countries that are fighting for independence.

How far do you agree that the cause of the American Revolution was the introduction of the Tea Act in 1773?

Since this rule couldn't be enforced by the English, most of the colonists just ignored it. This proclamation and others started the revolutionary war didn't like it angered by Parliament. Boycotted goods from England and smuggled. Colonists were frustrated. They wanted to move west to make more settlements in the Ohio river valley. Every colonists from England were frustrated, Ohio river valley move west to make more settlements in the colony.