Yen Hoang

The cause of American Revolution

During the history of America, the American Revolution War played a significant role that not
only brought the independence for America but also forever changed the idea of a government
of the people, by the people, and for the people. There were many reasons that caused America
to break a strong ties with Great Britain, but the injustice of the British Empire as well as the
discontent of Americans of taxation without representation are among the most important
reasons. In this paper, we would go back to analyze in more detail all the important causes that
lead British colonies to revolution.
In 1760, everything was going well in all colonies. The colonies was able to pass their own taxes,
make their own law to punish the crime. The people in colonies viewed themselves as the British
citizens. But thing started to getting awful after few years. The very first cause of American
Revolution was the French and Indian War between Great Britain and French and their Native
American allies. 1763, even though Britain won the war, and forced France to leave most of
North American, but Britain was also in huge debt due to the war. On the other hand, with the
defeat of French, the colonies became less dependent on Great Britain for protection. With the
victory of England, it opened up the new land for the colonists. But this led to the conflict with
the native America, since they did not want British people moving into their land. The British
passed the proclamation of 1763 to stay peaceful with native Americas. The proclamation stated
that all the colonists must stayed east and could not cross the border to the west. But the colonists
just ignored it, and that was upset the British government. It was seen as the seed of the conflict
between colonists and British government because the colonists did not like being controlled and
being told what to do or where to go.
As discussed above, war was always be expensive that lead to huge debt for Britain. Britain
believed that colonists should responsible for the debt since British fought the war in colonists
backyard to win more land for colonist. So Britain started with the Stamp Act which was very
first tax on paper products. This act raised anger in the colonies. The colonist called it a tyranny,
and complained that they said no taxation without representation. To British government,
colonist should pay the taxes because the colonists paid less taxes compared to their
neighborhood in Great Britain. To the colonist, it was not about the taxes, or the price in taxes,
but the fact that colonists did not have the representative in parliament who could help them to
vote on these taxes. Colonists believed that no one could took away their money without their
consent, and yet they had no say in the decision. They would no longer stand for tax without
representation.
It is not a quibble in politics, a science which few understand, which we are contending
for; it is this plain truth, which the most ignorant peasant knows, and is clear to the
weakest capacity, that no man has a right to take their money without their consent. The
supposition is ridiculous and absurd, as none but highwaymen and robbers attempt it. Can
you, my friend, reconcile it with your own good sense, that a body of men in Great
Britain, who have little intercourse with America, and of course know nothing of us, nor
are supposed to see or feel the misery they would inflict upon us, shall invest themselves
with a power to command our lives and properties, at all times and in all cases
whatsoever? You say you are no politician. Oh, sir, it requires to Machivelian [sic] head
to develop this, and to discover this tyranny and oppression. It is written with a sun
beam.( A lady from Philadelphia to a British officer in Boston)
The colonist was angry with the Stamp Act. But in order to pay off their debt, the British again
passed the Townshend Act in 1767 which were series of Act to collect tax money from goods
that imported into the colony. This again led to the conflict between the colonies and England.
But instead of violently protest it, they boycotted these items, they stopped purchasing these
items for long period of time. As the result of widespread protest, colony repealed most of the
new taxes, but the tax on tea was retained. At this time, a group of patriot called Son of the
liberty led by Samuel Adams was founded to fight back the British Policy. In 1770, using the
incident that five colonists were killed by British regular on March 5, patriots called it as Boston
Massacre to promote the anti-British. Even though it was not a true Massacre, but patriots used it
as a propaganda to show how awful the British was, and to build up the anti-British feeling. On
the other hand, all the soldiers were involved in the killing were sent back to England for their
trial. It made people in colonies felt injustice. It was obvious to realize the great tension between
British government and colonists at this point of time.
I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation, to show, a single advantage that this
continent can reap, by being connected with Great Britain. I repeat the challenge, not a
single advantage is derived( Thomas Paine, excerpts from Common Sense (1776)
On May 10, 1773, the parliament passed the Tea Act that would lunch the final spark to the
revolution movement in Boston. Again it was not about the taxes, or the price of the tea that the
people in colonies had to pay since they knew that they had the cheapest tea compared to others.
The colonists felt angry that they were being taxed without their representation. The whole idea
behind it was that the colonies wanted more freedom, and power to govern their own colonies.
Colonies did not want to be under authority of England which was on the other side of ocean.
This led to the Tea Party where son of liberty dumped tea in Boston Harbor. And this incident
was intolerable by British government. The British was so mad that they passed the Intolerable
Act to punish Boston and citizens of Boston. Firstly, there were no town meeting. Secondly, the
British government shut down the Boston harbor. And thirdly, Boston was placed under the
military rule. Because of this, the colonists felt that they were invaded by British government.
The colonists started to get united and made the preparation for war at the first continental
Congress to setup militias which were civilian army. All the tension between both sides that
resulted to the battles of Lexington and Concord, right outside Massachusetts between colonial
patriot militias and the British Army. Once it happened there was no turning back for both sides.
The colonies showed the world that they were willing to fight, willing to give their lives to break
free from England.
American Revolution had played an important part in the American history. It was not only
united the thirteen colonies and break free from the mother land but also a foundation for French
revolution.










Work cited
A lady from Philadelphia to a British officer in Boston
Thomas Paine, excerpts from Common Sense (1776)