what lead to the American Revolution ?

Answer 1

It was a bundle of political and economic factors -- from the restrictions caused by the British mercantilist system (and esp the British competition with France) to the fact that American colonists who had long been allowed to handle local affairs themselves (including legislating for themselves) were, after the French & Indian War, being told that Parliament was in charge....

But one overarching issue or set of issues that must not be forgotten is the colonial BELIEFS about their RIGHTS and how they were being usurped -- and what Bernard Bailyn called "The ideological origins of the American Revolution" [see his classic book with that title]

So, here are some ways that worked out --

One writer's suggested list of the "Top 10 Civil Liberties Violations That Helped Cause the American Revolution"

1) Taxation Without Representation
2) No Free Trade
3) Unlimited Search and Seizure
4) Destruction of Colonial Government
5) Oppression of Political Protesters
6) Immunity for Corrupt and Abusive British Officers
7) Direct Control of the Criminal Justice System
8) Guilty by Parliament - no guarantee of trial by jury
9) Forced Quartering of Soldiers
10) Closure of the Boston Port
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/historyprofiles/tp/independence.htm
(the page includes an explanation of each point)

Specific enumerations of the liberties the colonists believed had been violated are found in the various written complaints by individual colonies and by the Second Continental Congress at the beginning of the Revolution. The best known of these is, of course, the list found in the Declaration of Independence (as THE reasons for which they were declaring independence).
http://www.law.indiana.edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html

For some perspective on these complaints, and the history behind the ideas of the people's rights, note the observations about the "Declaration of Rights on 1689" and the declarations of the states (colonies) here:
http://www.saumag.edu/edavis/AmLit/2004/DeclarationofIndependenceMaierNotes.html

There are clearly economic issues involved -- taxation, for instance, can have major economic implact, and the effects of limitations on free trade (esp.since this was a change in practice/enforcement after the French & Indian War) certainly hit the colonists' pockebooks. But these things were not enough in themselves -- it was the conviction that their prior rights as Englishmen were being trampled on that finally sparked Revolution.


Another excellent place to go for perspective on which "civil liberties" the American colonists felt had been threatened or violated is the"Bill of Rights" (the first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution), The first EIGHT of these enumerate and guarantee what we would recognize as civil liberties. And many if not all of these were specifically in response to the sorts of rights the colonists believed they were supposed to have as Englishmen, but which the King and Parliament had not been honoring.


I - no national establishment of religion, or prohibition of free exercise, freedom of speech and of the press; the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

II -right to keep and bear arms

III - no quartering of soldiers without owner's consent and by law

IV - no unreasonable searches (warrants required)

V - cannot be held for crime without indictment, nor put in double jeopardy; cannot be compelled to testify vs. oneself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

VI -right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury. . . must know charges, be confronted by witnesses. . . able to defend self

VII - right of trial by jury in larger civil cases

VIII - no excessive bail or fines imposed, no cruel and unusual punishments
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

The link with the Revolution is clearer when you read the similar concerns of "The Virginia Declaration of Rights", written in June 1776.
http://theamericanrevolution.org/hdocs/vdecofrights.asp

Note that serveral of these are related to judicial protection -- to be fairly tried, etc. and by one's peers. This all brings to mind some of the "Intolerable Acts" passed by Parliament as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. These included the "Quartering Act" and the "Administration of Justice Act" which took away the local administration of justice in Massachusetts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intolerable_Acts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administration_of_Justice_Act_1774

Answer 2

A main event leading up to the American Revolution was the 7 Years' War (French and Indian War). Britain had funded the war and felt that the colonists should help cover the costs. There was also the loss of salutary neglect, the colonists did well when not under the direct gaze of Britain.

Answer 3

King George was a tyrant as most all British monarchs were ,,,,He was using the American colonies as a resource to make himself fat ,,,, Were it not for the revolutionary war they would have continued to do this ,,,, continual taxation without representation and other atrocities prompted the colonials to rise up and take the steps necessary to rid themselves of British oppression ,,,, The British have always been pompus and arrogant as they still are today ,,,, About 31 years after the end of the revolutionary war the British tried to invade our country again in 1812 and were successfully repelled a second time from American soil ,,,, Like the first war ,,,, The British suffered a staggering defeats only this time at the hand of Andrew Jackson in the battle of New Orleans ,,,, The British have always claimed that they believe in freedom and democracy ,,,, If you study their history you'll find that their actions throughout their history tells a very different story ,,,, Their oppression in India is a good example ,,,, and China and Burma and Malasia and Africa ,,,, The list is almost endless ,,,, Their history shows them to have been aggressors ,,,, They tried it in this country and got themselves kicked out ,,,,When you think about it ,,,, It's good for them that they didn't win the day here in America ,,,, It was this country that saved them during WW II ,,,,

Answer 4

oh gawd i just had to do a 5 page paper for my american history class yuck.. well plain and simple while americans where enjoying this freedom they could not enjoy in britain things like owning land.. nobody back in europe could do that.. also very little police force .. the only police they would have was a governor that was 20+ miles away.. whatelse oh yea the main reason that lead to the revolution was the fact that americans were limited to how high in the society ladder you go.. for example you can be as rich as bill gates but you will NEVER be the governor and expecially the KING! so americans got pissed off at these little limitations and decided on a revolution

Answer 5

Taxation without representation.

The British were bilking the colonies
by taxing the crap out of them(You know,like they do with their own subjects
to this day.)

Ben Franklin went over to Britain before the war and stirred the pot real good,inciting the British even further.

After that came the Boston Tea Party

and the rest is history.





Speaking of Taxation without representation,Iraqi war anyone?

Answer 6

the fact that the Brits were taxing US exports and prevented the colons to make money from a nascent industry that was threatening English industry. It is called protectionism and if you look a bit seriously to the main wars in the world, protectionism is the origin of a lot of them because it keeps an economy in a state of dependence which is unbereable for any person with legitimate ambitions and desires to achieve something.. It is called freedom.

Answer 7

TAXES. The same thing thats going to lead us to another one!


"No taxation without representation" -- the Americans felt they were getting screwed by the British government who would take their money but not listen to their needs.

Answer 8

The shot heard around the world, started the real american revolution...but it was alll being built up long before that, the shot heard around the world was fired at the battle of lexington

Answer 9

Wherever the British stayed too long, revolution happened....wonder why?

Answer 10

Unfair taxation (Boston Tea Party).