CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Proclamation of 1763 Colonist can’t move West Enforced – 10,000 soldiers

Stamp Act Tax by British Commercial & legal documents Seal to prove payment

Sons of Liberty Secret Society after Stamp Acts Organized to go against the British (anger)

Boston Massacre Increase of tension & violence No one knows who started the violence Encouraged independence Paul Revere – engraving to prove the British were tyrants

Tea Act Tax on tea – help British economy British East India Company – monopoly on import & sale of tea

Boston Tea Party Response to Tea Act Destroyed cargo on British ships Boston, MA Protest laws

Intolerable Acts In response to the Boston Tea Party Punish Boston British Parliament passed the “Intolerable Acts” Closed the port of Boston Colonies sent supplies (food & money)

Details – Intolerable Acts Banned town meetings in Massachusetts Replaced elected councils with appointed ones Increased British Governor’s power British officials could not be tried in colonial courts Forced the colonists to house British soldiers in their homes

Thomas Paine Common Sense, argues for American independence. Pamphlet-support going to war

Thomas Jefferson Considered 1 of the Founding Fathers of the U.S. Central role - drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence Declares human rights “all men are created equal” List grievances – King George III Announced - no longer under British rule (independence)

King George III Hero in Great Britain. To the colonies-evil tyrant. Reforms to tighten control of the colonies. The King & Parliament, passed many laws/taxes without colonists representation.