What were the causes of 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

taxation without representation. after the french and indian war (or the seven years war in europe) great britian was in a lot of debt and in order to pay for the debt, William Pitt came up with the idea of the Blue Water Policy. this policy stated, i believe, that if the colonists wanted the same rights and protection of those living in britain then it would make sense for them to pay similar taxes. the colonists did not like the fact that they were being taxed without any representation in parliament. they believed the crown and parliament couldn't tax them properly because they didn't know what the colonies truly needed or had.

parliament and the crown started taxing the colonies with the stamp act in 1765, which they repealed about a year later, then there was the tea act of 1773, which resulted in the Boston Tea pary on december 16 1773. britian's response to the tea party was a series of harsher taxes called the corecive or intolerable acts, one of which quartered troops in the homes of the colonists and another that closed the boston port.

through all of this the colonists were able to unite under a common cause first by boycotting all british goods and then by declaring their independence.

Answer 3

The English were ripping off the colonists. Taxes and taxes without representation where major complaints. Religious freedom was a factor. Colonists wanted free enterprise.

Answer 4

The colonials(Americans) were resentful of the British & their King for taxing many goods & services that we were buying and using (taxation w/out representation). The British were also occupying America with their miltary and trying to make us live by their rules & laws, which many Americans also resented.

Answer 5

Hey

See i realy can't rember about it i learned it like in class 6.I know this site it has all aboout go check it out.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution and i think this will help you

Best wishes
Chulan

Answer 6

Tea

Answer 7

Bill Gates, surely.