Causes of the American Revolution Reading

The American Revolution did not begin overnight. Instead, it grew out of a series of political, economic, and social pressures that built up over more than a decade. This reading will introduce you to the main factors that led colonists to seek independence from Great Britain.

Political Causes

1. Taxation Without Representation: After the costly French and Indian War (1754–1763), Britain sought to raise revenue by taxing the American colonies. Laws such as the Stamp Act (1765) and the Townshend Acts (1767) forced colonists to pay taxes on paper goods, tea, and other essential items. Colonists objected that they had no elected representatives in the British Parliament—“no taxation without representation”—and believed these taxes were unjust.
2. Tightened Control by Parliament: In addition to taxes, Parliament passed laws to tighten its control over colonial governments. The Quartering Act required colonists to house and supply British soldiers, and the Declaratory Act (1766) asserted that Parliament had full authority to make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” These actions made many colonists feel their traditional rights as Englishmen were being violated.

Economic Causes

1. Mercantilism and Trade Restrictions: Britain followed a mercantilist system, viewing colonies as sources of raw materials and markets for British goods. Laws like the Navigation Acts forced colonists to buy and sell exclusively through England. This limited colonial businesses, raised prices, and stifled economic growth in America.
2. Monopolies on Colonial Trade: In 1773, Parliament granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in America. Colonists, especially merchants and smugglers, saw this as unfair competition and a threat to their livelihoods. Protests against the tea monopoly climaxed in the Boston Tea Party, when colonists disguised as Native Americans dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Social Causes

1. Enlightenment Ideas: During the 1700s, new ways of thinking swept through Europe and the colonies. Philosophers such as John Locke argued that all individuals have natural rights—life, liberty, and property—and that governments exist to protect these rights. Colonists began to question whether the British monarchy and Parliament had the right to rule them without their consent.
2. A Growing American Identity: Over time, many colonists came to see themselves as Americans rather than simply British subjects. Bound by common experiences—such as frontier life, new religious movements, and self-government in local assemblies—colonists began to share a distinct identity. This sense of unity made it easier for them to work together against perceived British oppression.

Putting It All Together

By the late 1760s and early 1770s, these political, economic, and social forces converged. Colonists felt their rights were under attack, their wallets were being drained, and their ideas about government and freedom were challenged. As tensions rose, protests transformed into boycotts, then into open conflict. Within a few short years, those in favor of independence would rally behind one clear cry: “No longer subject to British rule!”

Timeline of Pre-Revolution Events

Use this handout to plot each major event in chronological order. For each event, write the date and note its significance to growing colonial unrest.

1. Proclamation of 1763

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

2. Stamp Act (1765)

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

3. Townshend Acts (1767)

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

4. Boston Massacre (1770)

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

5. Tea Act & Boston Tea Party (1773)

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

6. Intolerable (Coercive) Acts (1774)

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

7. First Continental Congress (1774)

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

8. Battles of Lexington & Concord (1775)

Date: ____________________________

Significance:

After completing the table, arrange these events on a timeline in your notebook or on chart paper, using arrows to show how one led to the next.

Primary Source Excerpts: Boston Tea Party Speeches

Below are three short speeches from colonial leaders and participants justifying the Boston Tea Party. Read each excerpt carefully and note how speakers frame their arguments in political, economic, or social terms.

Excerpt 1: Samuel Adams (Faneuil Hall, Boston, December 15, 1773)

"Fellow colonists, shall we sit idly by while a foreign parliament forces upon us a tax without our consent? We have paid our dues, we have served in time of war, and yet we are treated as mere subjects to extract revenue. The East India Company’s monopoly on tea is but the first of many encroachments on our liberties. Tomorrow night, we will remind the world that free men will not endure such injustice."

Excerpt 2: Joseph Warren (Private Sons of Liberty Meeting, December 16, 1773)

"Brothers, the cost of this tea is not measured in pence but in the principle of self‐government. If we permit one monopoly to stand, we open the door to all manner of tyranny. Tonight’s action on the harbor is not vandalism—it is the defense of our rights as Englishmen. We send a message: no longer will we tolerate imposed taxes or monopolies that impoverish our merchants and threaten our prosperity."

Excerpt 3: Anonymous Participant (“Mohican”) on Boston Harbor, December 16, 1773

"Hear me, sons and daughters of liberty: the tea you see sinking is more than cargo—it is a symbol of Parliament’s overreach. Disguised we may be, but our intent is clear: to resist any law that treats us as a revenue stream. Let every crate that plunges into these waters shout to all the colonies that we will stand united against oppression."

After reading, discuss in your groups:

1. Which arguments are political, economic, or social in nature?
2. How do the speakers justify direct action rather than petitioning again?
3. What persuasive techniques do they use to rally colonists to their cause?

Use this analysis to complete the sections in your worksheet on evidence categorization and speaker perspective.

Exit Ticket: Causes Reflection

Which cause—political, economic, or social—do you believe was most pivotal in leading to the American Revolution? Explain your choice using specific evidence. Refer to Causes of the American Revolution Reading and/or Primary Source Excerpts: Boston Tea Party Speeches as needed.

1. Most pivotal cause and explanation:

1. Evidence #1 (include source citation):

1. Evidence #2 (include source citation):