Causes of the American Revolution

📋 Course Outline

1. War Debt and Royal Control
2. Taxes and Colonial Resistance
3. The Boston Massacre
4. Tea Party and Intolerable Acts

📅 Key Dates

1. 1756–1763The Seven Years’ War, also known as the French and Indian War in North America, established British dominance in North America.
2. 1760–1820George III pursued policies to increase British revenue and control over the colonies.
3. 1764The Sugar Act lowered taxes on sugar but introduced stricter anti-smuggling measures, including trials without a jury.
4. 1765The Stamp Act taxed printed materials produced in the colonies, including newspapers, legal documents, and other publications.
5. 1768British soldiers were stationed in Boston to help prevent smuggling and maintain order.
6. March 1770Tensions between colonists and British soldiers led to an armed confrontation in which soldiers fired on a crowd and killed several people.
7. 1773Members of the Sons of Liberty protested British taxation by dumping tea into Boston Harbor in the Boston Tea Party.
8. 1774Britain passed the Coercive Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party.

📖 1. War Debt and Royal Control

• The British victory ended New France: Quebec was ceded to Britain, while Louisiana was given to Spain.