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Origins And Causes Of The American Revolution

1090 Words5 Pages

Adriel Gulapa

Prof. Parker

HISTB17A

6/24/2023

The Origins and Causes of The American Revolution

The American Revolution is seen as a turning point in American history because it represented a major change in the political environment of the American colonies. The thirteen British colonies underwent a dramatic transition during this period of revolution, which lasted from 1765 to 1783 and gave birth to a new nation and formed the foundation for the future United States. Examining how the colonies were first created and how rash British decisions led to tensions reaching a breaking point that ignited the Revolution is necessary to comprehend the causes of the American Revolution.

The first 13 colonies were founded by the British …show more content…

This saw the British employ royal or charter governers who were independently appointed by the Royal Crown. These governors held signficantly more power over the local politicians and this included the access to the authority of implementing laws, levying taxes, and controlling the justice system. The power of the colonial governors varied by colony to colony, and they helped shaped the local systems of government; Ultimately, the appointed governors had the final say when it came to most matters. Furthermore, mercantilist policies were implemented and these were enacted to use the colonies to the economic benefit of the British themselves. An example of this is was the Navigation Acts. The Navigation Acts saw strict control of colonial trade and it limited vessels (which were carrying BOTH imports and exports) to be vessels which were under British control. This barred the colonies from independently trading with other countries and curtailed the colonial opportunity to seek more favorable trade and relationships. This contributed to the faltering economic efficiency of the countries by stifiling competition and discouraging manufacturing. Due to this, it raised social tensions between the colonies and the British which would further grow due to more British …show more content…

This act added new duties to imported sugar and molasses. The act also strengthened enforcement methods to prohibit smuggling and established vice-admiralty courts to try offenders. The Sugar Act had a significant effect on the economies of the colonies, particularly in New England where molasses played a significant role in the production of rum. The colonists thought their rights and economic liberty were being invaded, which is why they became resentful as a result of the greater taxes and stricter enforcement

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