Causes of the American Revolution

Actions by the British

• The French & Indian War = Cost England Big $$$ - Taxed Colonists to repay • The Stamp Act = Tax on every paper document

Actions by the Colonists

• The Boston “Massacre” = Work protest turns violent (4 colonists died) • The Boston Tea Party = 18,000 lbs of tea dumped into Boston Harbor (Tea Trade $)

Violence Breaks Out!

• Battles of Lexington, Concord, & Bunker Hill = 1 st fighting between British soldiers & Colonists • Minutemen = Civilian soldiers (No military experience)

Common Sense

• 50 Page “magazine” by Thomas Paine • Sold 500,000 copies • Key Points – Called for Independence from England – Independence allows Americans to create a better society

The Declaration of Independence

• Based on ideas from the Enlightenment (John Locke) • Unalienable Rights = Cannot be taken away / people are born with them • Adopted on July 4 th , 1776 (Philadelphia)