Causes+of+the+American+Revolution+B

CAUSES

INTOLERABLE ACTS = The many acts passed by parliament that taxed American colonists and put a burden on merchants, trade and consumers

PARLIAMENTARY SUPREMACY = “No taxation without representation” Virtual representation! Colonists disagreed because Parliament had no American experience. Colonists did not elect members of Parliament. Power vs. Virtue = The Commonwealthmen Colonists believed that only their local assemblies could legislate and tax them.

WARS UNIFIED THE COLONIES MORE THAN EVER BEFORE How colonists saw wars was different than how British saw the war They gained more war experience which gave them confidence to fight against Britain.

WAR DEBT Britain was in extreme debt from the French and Indian War. Britain had to pay for a standing army. They had to defend the frontier, and they did so poorly. Britain did not want colonists to expand.

UNITY Albany Congress? Colonial press improved communication between colonies The Great Awakening / Religious influence Trade Anglicization of colonists Intolerable Acts Committees of Correspondence Circular Letters (Massachusetts) Legislatures based on British system / British common law Boston Massacre Boycott movements

LEADERSHIP King George III (poor minister choices [Bute], kept changing officials, could not admit mistakes, wanted total control of the military) PM George Grenville (taxed colonists—Stamp Act) Poor communication (up to 3 months) Corrupt officials Quartering Act created a negative relationship b/w colonists and military British royal governors were viewed as enemies