Causes of American Revolution

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nMany laws passed between 1763 and 1775 controlling taxes and trade led to American Revolution against imperial rule. After Indian and French war, King George III of England lost huge sum of money that was spent purchasing costly supplies and the colonies (Werner, 2000, p. 23). Therefore, to pay for his debts he imposed taxes on the colonists without consent. For things that always were free prior to these policies, the colonists were to pay huge sums of money. Consequently, they boycotted most of the goods from Britain (Anderson, 2006, p. 55). For instance, they ruined the tea in Boston harbor in order to prevent it from leaving the ship. After Boston Tea party, the British government introduced draconian laws that led to Revolution. Some of these acts include closure of Boston Port until all the destroyed tea was repaid, and introducing direct control of Massachusetts under British as well as Quebec Act that expanded British control in Canada (Werner, 2000, p. 29).

nThe colonist was also against international trade policies introduced by British parliament. The latter allowed British East Indian Company to monopolize the market for transportation of tea without payment of taxes. Therefore, it meant that the local traders could not compete in the importation of tea with this firm (Anderson, 2006, p. 54). The rebellion had started in New England because the colonial government had introduced punitive laws and trade restrictions in these colonies. The British government also introduced Royal proclamation of 1763, which abolished colonial settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains (Werner, 2000, p. 34). The proclamation act was designed to prevent western expansion but it generated into a source of anger between the political elites and settlers who had invested in speculations of western land. They also received lukewarm support from plantation colonies and none on the Caribbean Island because the British did not treat any of their subject as equals and their liberties was threatened (Anderson, 2006, p. 65).

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nReferences

nAnderson, D. (2006). The causes of the American Revolution. Milwaukee, WI: World Almanac Library.

nWerner, K. (2000). The American Revolution. San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press.