The American Revolution evolved from rising tensions between the British government and the 13 colonies who wished for independence. The people of America essentially wanted to be separated from Britain and desired self-government. An abundance of factors caused Americans to distrust Britain and there is not just one reason but many. The experiences of the Americans at the time, are what caused them to long for separation. Many people wonder, what were the most important causes of the American Revolution?
One reason Paine gives the colonies to take up arms again Britain is because America would not have any enemies. Britain’s enemies, are America’s enemies, because the colonies belong to Britain. Paine writes “We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive was interest, not attachment; and she did not protect us from our enemies on our account; but from her enemies on her account” (Paine, 1776, p. 326). Britain did not protect us due to sympathy
As teens rebel against their mothers, so to did America rebel against the British during the 18th Century. However, also like children they followed their mother’s footsteps. Oliver Cromwell led a revolt against the Staurt monarchy and similarly colonists revolted against the British. During this time, an English philosopher named John Locke wrote works on political philosophies, mainly against the Stuarts. John Locke would have believed that the American colonists justified their resentments against the British especially, since the British stole their fundamental rights of liberty, property, and life.
King George III is a man of power. When he found out about the colonist disobeying the laws he wanted to punish them, and punishing them is what he did, but, it backfired. These acts of Parliament only push the colonist towards rebellion. He wanted to believe that the colonist would eventually give in but that was never the case.
Declaratory Act The British colonies and America were bristling under the rule of Britain. They thought the rules and regulations of their government were unfair and left little behind to develop the respective countries. Britain implemented many Acts, including the Declaratory Act, during this time in the 1700s. The colonists eventually boycott them due to their severity. As such, many fought against such Acts, as they did the Stamp Act, which was eventually overturned.
Revolutionary Speeches: A Common Purpose The revolutionary speeches composed of by Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine both have common goals in terms of the changes that they want made to the way of life for all Americans. The technique and manner in which the two conduct their speeches are significantly different, though. Patrick Henry’s speech is mainly to persuade the Virginia Convention to be more assertive toward the British government, and to prepare for war if the convention's voice was not acknowledged by them. Thomas Paine’s speech, “The Crisis: Number 1”, was also to written to persuade the American people.
They felt that they shouldn't be restricted to expansion when they were just victorious in a recent war. The colonists viewed this new policy as an infringement on their basic rights and many ignored it and moved into the prohibited area. Other colonists figured that the proclamation was only a temporary solution. These events along with many other future restrictive measures by the government would start the American Revolution, which would forever change and shape our country by giving the colonies their independence from Great
Firstly, because the British implementation of the Acts raising revenue in the colonies to pay off the war debt. Secondly, because Britain’s absence in colonial America during the war years made colonies perceive themselves as independent. Thus, they didn’t like not having a say when it came to their own taxes and demanded their own Parliamentary recognition. Moreover, it seems pertinent to remember that true revolution was the change of the colonists’ attitude. In other words, colonists started making claims based on abstract ideas about freedom and natural rights instead of seeing themselves fighting for their rights as the English
While Europe is considered the center of the Enlightenment, the best practical application of its ideas happened in the American Revolution. In the colonies, the people did not like being taxed since they did not have legislators in Britain. They also became upset with the idea of an absolute monarch. The Enlightenment idea of the sovereignty of the people becomes the fuel for the revolution. Moreover, after the fighting was finished, American free-thinkers were guided by principles of the European philosophes.
The Americans wanted freedom, the french wanted to eliminate the monarchy. They both wanted to technically revolt against the government. The Americans and the French joined together to fight against the British. Then the French was in debt with the Americans because of the Seven Year War.