Causes of the American Revolution

Fill in note taking guide as you move through

the lesson

FRENCH ANDINDIAN WAR

POPULATION EXPLOSION

GREAT AWAKENING

RESTRICTIVE LAWS

ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS

MERCANTILISM

CAUSES OF AMERICAN

REVOLUTION

EXPERIENCE WITH

COLONIAL SELF-RULE

Enlightenment Ideas

Philosophical movement emphasizing reason as the most important human ability

John Locke

Believed people possessed natural rights

Life

Liberty

Property

Believed the purpose of government was to protect those rights

Thomas Payne

Wrote Common Sense- pamphlet attacking King George

Locke

The Great Awakening

Religious movement focused on individual religious experiences instead of needing leaders to guide them

Sense of equality because everyone could take active role in church

Major factor leading to a sense of freedom and independence

Jonathan Edwards

George Whitefield

Colonists unified for first timeSense of pride not felt beforeNo need to remain tied to British because the

“French Threat” was gone

French and Indian War

Population Explosion

New arrivals

Indentured servants

Slaves

Births in colonies

Major Factors in Population growth

Clean drinking water

Plenty of food

Good climate

Colonies had elected legislatures which fostered desire for self rule

Experience with Self Rule

Salutary Neglect- Colonies left alone as long as economic trade continued

a. Planted seeds of Self-Government

King George a. Decided to increase taxes on colonists

through a series of Acts (laws) Used to pay war debts

Restrictive Laws imposed on Colonies

Stamp Act Tax on printed documents, newspaper, playing

cards 1st direct tax on goods and services

Sons of Liberty Secret resistance group organized to protect

law Samuel Adams- Leader of Sons of Liberty

Colonies complaint

“No taxation without Representation”

Restrictive Laws imposed on Colonies

Townshend Act Taxed lead, glass, paint, paper imported from

Britain Tax on tea- most popular drink in Colonies Parliament repealed all but Tea tax

Restrictive Laws imposed on Colonies

Boston Tea Party-1773 British East India Company allowed to sell direct

to public without paying extra tax Hoped Colonist would buy cheaper tea Sons of Liberty threw tea in Boston Harbor

Restrictive Laws imposed on Colonies

Intolerable Act- 1774 Shut Boston Harbor Quartering Act

Soldiers lived in Colonist houses and vacant buildings

General Thomas Gage Made Governor of Massachusetts Imposed Martial Law- the suspension of civil authority

and the imposition of military authority

Why were these Acts Important?

Strengthened Colonial Unity Organized 1st Continental Congress

Started preparing for War Minutemen- Civilian Soldiers ready in a minute Watch video (in resources section)

“No more Kings”

Declaration of Independence

Letter sent to King George explaining why the colonists were separating from England

Thomas Jefferson – Delegate from Virginia– Appointed to Write Declaration

of Independence

July 4, 1776 – 2nd Continental Congress

adopted Declaration