1. What caused war to break out between the American Colonies and Great Britain?

2. 1. British Policies after the French and Indian War
Taxes: Parliament enacted several revenue-raising taxes to pay for the costs incurred from the French and Indian War and for British troops to protect the colonists throughout the 1760s and 1770s, including the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts. These acts were protested by some colonists through boycotts, intimidation, and violence.
Civil liberties: Some American colonists believed their civil liberties as Englishmen were violated by the British government through policies such as the Quartering Act, the closing of Boston Harbor and the Proclamation of 1763 (didn’t allow for settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
protest-british-policies

3. 2. The Influence of the Enlightenment
“All people have the natural rights of life, liberty and property. Governments powers are limited. If the government becomes a threat to the people’s natural rights, the people have a right to overthrow the government. This is part of the Social Contract people make with their government.”
John Locke, enlightenment philosopher, influenced the American belief in self-government. Challenged the rule of kings and queens of his time.

4. “But Britain is the parent country, say some
“But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families . . .”
Thomas Paine, English immigrant to America who produced a pamphlet known as Common Sense. Also challenged the rule of kings and queens of his time.