The American Revolution

British Debt

British Debt

Increased from 72 million pounds to over 143 million pounds after the French and Indian War.

George Grenville

Chosen as Prime Minister to address the British economy post-war.

Sugar Act (1764)

Lowered tax on foreign molasses but retained high duty on foreign refined sugar; taxed coffee and wine.

Stamp Act (1765)

Imposed direct tax on paper products, including legal documents and newspapers; led to colonial dissent.

Quartering Act (1765)

Allowed British soldiers to live in colonists' residences.

Sons of Liberty

Formed in Boston by Samuel and John Adams to protest the Stamp Act and harass customs workers.

Declaratory Act (March 1766)

Asserted Parliament's right to tax colonies, even after repealing the Stamp Act.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Imposed indirect taxes on various goods and allowed general searches for smuggled goods.

Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770)

Incident where British soldiers killed five colonists, escalating tensions.

Boston Tea Party (December 16, 1773)

Protest against the Tea Act where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Tarring and Feathering (1774)

Sons of Liberty's method of humiliating customs workers as a form of protest.

Intolerable Acts (May 1774)

Coercive measures including closing Boston's port and altering Massachusetts governance.

First Continental Congress (September 5, 1774)

Meeting to address colonial grievances and organize resistance against British policies.

Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775)

First military engagements of the American Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress (May 1775)

Organized the colonies for war and established the Continental Army.

Olive Branch Petition

A final attempt to avoid war by seeking reconciliation with King George III.

Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775)

Early battle demonstrating colonial resolve despite eventual retreat.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (January 1776)

Pamphlet advocating for independence from Britain, widely read in the colonies.

Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

Document asserting unalienable rights and justifying rebellion against King George III.

Long-Term Causes

Factors like the end of salutary neglect and mercantilistic policies leading to colonial unrest.

Short-Term Causes

Immediate events like the battles at Lexington and Concord igniting the Revolutionary War.

US Advantages

Knowledge of the landscape, strong belief in their cause, and potential foreign alliances.

British Advantages

Powerful navy, professional army, and loyalist support.

US Leaders

Key figures including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine.

British Leaders

Key figures including King George III and military leaders like John Burgoyne.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Turning point that led to French support for the American cause.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Final major battle where British forces surrendered, effectively ending the war.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Agreement recognizing American independence and establishing borders.