What were the causes of the American Revolution?

The period from 1763-1775 is the period in the American colonies between the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. This period is an era of incredible social, political, and economic change in the colonies that ultimately led to the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

King George III is the monarch. Some prime ministers during this time include George Grenville, William Pitt, Lord North, and Lord Rockingham.

In 1763, the French and Indian War is over. However, Pontiac's Rebellion pits Native Americans against British North America. However, redcoats put down the rebellion.

The Paxton Boys in Pennsylvania cause trouble, attacking natives in Conestoga, Pennsylvania.

Britain is victorious in America, but she is in great debt. British Parliament motions to raise duties on the colonies. A Sugar Act taxes molasses imports. A Quartering Act requires the colonies to provide supply and shelter for soldiers on the frontier.

The colonial assemblies oppose quartering. Riots occur in New York City.

What was the Stamp Act?
A Stamp Act is imposed, which taxes paper products. Lawyers, politicians, newspaper printers, and other paper professions oppose the tax. A Stamp Act Congress meets in New York to oppose the tax.

In the Summer of 1765, the Sons of Liberty attack taxmen. Parliament will repeal the Stamp Act.

What were the Townshend Acts?
The Townshend Acts tax imports like paint and tea. The Townshend duties will cause boycotts of British imports. The boycotts mean that Britain is losing more revenue through lost trade than the revenues would raise.

In 1770, a fight at the Boston docks escalates. The Boston Massacre resulted in the deaths of five people. John Adams came to the legal defense of the redcoats.

In North Carolina and South Carolina, Scotch-Irish Baptists and Presbyterians in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains demand local courthouses. Militia called the Regulators organize. The Battle of Alamance occurs between the Regulators and North Carolina militia.

George Washington is envisioning the Ohio country a possession for Virginia. But Pennsylvania also has interest in the Fort Pitt area.

The Boston Tea Party occurs in 1773. The British East India Company has an overabundance of tea. Parliament passes a Tea Act to remove some of the import duties for this tea in America. However, Americans protest the company's monopoly. In Boston, the Sons of Liberty dump the modern equivalent of millions of dollars worth of tea into Boston Harbor.

In response to the Boston Tea Party, Thomas Gage's redcoats occupy Boston. The harbor is shut down.

However, the colonies respond by forming a Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Continental Congress implements a policy of nonimportation, which will be enforced by Committees of Safety. No British goods are to be accepted in American ports.

Some of the men at the Continental Congress include John Adams, Sam Adams, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Franklin, and others.

In December 1774, nonimportation goes into effect. Transatlantic trade shuts down.

Lord Dunmore of Virginia fights a battle against the Shawnee at Point Pleasant on the Ohio River.

In Boston, Thomas Gage moves against Concord, Massachusetts. However, Paul Revere rides in front, warning against the incoming redcoats.

Music credit:
Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

This film was made by Jeffrey Meyer, historian and librarian