The Causes of the Revolutionary War

The following time line of events represent the major events along the way to war. There is no one event that singularly led to the Revolution. The Americans believed that they were entitled to the full democratic rights of Englishmen. The British believed that the American colonies were just colonies, to be used and exploited in whatever way best suited Great Britain. These two conflicting views made war inevitable.Select and event to learn more!




massacre

Overview of the Causes

It was not any one event but a series of events that led to the Revolutionary War

Poco 1754 The French and Indian Wars

It was the arguably the consequences of the French and Indian War that began the series of events leading to war.

1764 British Impose New Taxes

The British thought the Colonist should help pay for their own defense

Wars 1765 Quatering Act

One of the actions that most angered the Americans, The idea of being force to open your homes to soldiers

stamp 1765 Stamp Act

Paying for everything you do was what the British tried to do with this tax that was hated. A stamp on every tranaction was imposed.

Revere 1765 Sons of Liberty Formed

The British Actions convinced some Colonist that they needed to take action in Defense of Liberty.They formed the Sons of Liberty to take overt action

stamp 1765 Stamp Act Congress

The first time members of different Colonies organized as one group on any topic.

TR 1766 Stamp Tax Repealed

The British realized that they had gone to far and repealed the stamp tax but it was too late.

Twenties 1766 Townshend Acts Imposed

The British imposed new taxes and decrees making the situation worse.

1767 Colonist Respond with Boycott

The colonist responded to the British actions with a boycott against British goods hoping that would convinve the the government to repeal the Townshend Acts

1768 British Troops Land in Boston

To enforce their acts the British decided to bring troops to Boston the most oppositional of all the colonies.

massacre 1770 Boston Massacre

It was only a matter of time before things would get out of control. One day it happened and the British open fire and colonist died.

BerlinWall 1770 Townshend Act Repealed

The British knew things were getting out of hand,so they repealed the act, but it was too little too late.

Gaspee 1772 Cutter Gaspee Burned

The Colonist took matters into their own hands when they burned a reveue cutter.

1773 The Boston Tea Party

One of the most famous acts in early Ameican history the colonist made clear they were not going to be subdued by British threats

MLK 1774 Coercive Acts Imposed

The British responded to the colonists actions by imposing the Coercive acts.

1774 First Continental Congress

Once the First Continental Congress met it was clear the colonist were heading down a path that there was no turning back.

Economic Causes of the Revolutionary War

While the causes of the war are complex here we look at some of the economic causes of the war.