Causes of the American Revolution

1
Causes of the American Revolution
2
After the Conquest of Quebec

• Most French leaders returned to France
• French that remained were uncertain what Br. rule
  would mean for them
• Would they lose their language, land, religion?
• 13 colonies were glad conflict and competition
  were over

3
Royal Proclamation of 1763

• Limited new province of Quebec to area around St.
  Lawrence
• Land to west closed for fur trade Natives
• Official religion was Protestantism
• English law replaced French law
• Br. governor appointed to rule
• English schools established

4
Royal Proclamation of 1763

• Designed to wipe out French culture
• However, Br. needed the support of the French
  because of problems in 13 colonies
• Proposed new legislation

5
Quebec Act 1774

• Ohio valley given to Quebec
• Seigneurial system was continued
• Catholic Church allowed
• Allowed French civil law introduced English
  criminal law
• Catholics could be appointed to governing council

6
Effects of the Seven Years War

• Before war, England had let colonies run
  themselves
• During war, George III became king
• After war, policy towards colonies changed
• Br. wanted more control

7
After the Seven Years War

• Reasons
• money to pay for war with France
• believed in mercantilism (control of colonies)
• wanted to prevent 13 colonies from expanding into
  Indian Territory
• British brought in series of laws to raise tax
  money and control colonies
• Colonies not used to Br. interference

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No taxation without

• Br. brought in Stamp Act (1765) Townshend
  Duties (1767)
• Colonies demanded no taxation without
  representation
• They believed Br. did not have the right to tax
  the colonies because Parliament did not represent
  the people of the colonies
• Colonies called these unfair taxes

9
Boston Massacre

• Br. had large military presence in Boston
• Tensions amongst the civilians led to
  confrontation in the street
• 5 people killed
• Colonists called it a massacre

10
Tea anyone?

• Tea Act (1773) gave preference to British East
  India Company tea
• Cut out local merchants
• Colonist resisted by boycotting the BEI tea
• Led to Boston Tea Party
• 50 colonists, some dressed as Mohawk Indians,
  threw 300 chests of tea into Boston Harbour

11
Intolerable Acts

• Several acts brought in by Br. In 1774
• Quartering Act
• Colonists forced to house and feed Br. soldiers
• Led to increased tensions between civilians and
  military

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Intolerable Acts Cont.

• Quebec Act
• prevented growth of the 13 colonies to the west
  (into the Ohio valley)
• Quebec wasnt given elected government
• Allowed Catholic religion

13
Navigation Acts (1660 1668)

• Restricted shipping to Britain
• Hurt the economy of the colonies

14
Enlightenment Thought

• Philosophical movement
• Introduced new ideas about equality, liberty,
  justice and rights
• Influenced the revolutionary leaders

15
Common Sense

• Pamphlet by Thomas Paine
• Challenged British authority
• Called for independence