The United States of America was Britain’s crown jewel. The colonists were happy to be a part of the Empire and the British were making a profit from the trade; a win-win situation. But after the Seven Years War, it all shifted. The British were oppressing the colonists and the colonists were angry enough to revolt. The American Revolution was a major turning point in the First British Empire, which led to the British paying attention to the Pacific. What happened that turned the Americans from happy colonists to angry, revolting colonists? Taxes. The colonists felt so threatened by these taxes enacted by Parliament because their liberties and rights were infringed. This paper will discuss the acts and reforms the British initiated following the Seven Years War that led to the American Revolution. I will also discuss how the colonists’ rights were infringed by these reforms. The Seven Years War took place from 1756-1763 and it was a “global war,” meaning every major European power was involved.1 Europe was divided into two groups, the Kingdom of Great Britain and their alliances and the Kingdom of France and their alliances. The British were “protecting” the colonists from the French, since they were trying to take control of the land near the Ohio River. The British, technically, won the war but it came with a steep cost. The British spent a great deal of money during the war, the national debt rose from £74.6 million to £132.6 million! , so by the end of the war Britain
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War in the United States, was the prosperous military revolt against Great Britain of Thirteen American Colonies which joined together as the United States of America in July 1776. Originally constrained to fighting in those colonies, after 1778 it additionally became a world war between Britain and France, Netherlands, Spain, and Mysore.
The Seven Years War, which was called the French and Indian War in the colonies, was a war between the British, and the French and their many Native American allies. British leader, William Pitt, paid the Prussian soldiers to fight for them in the war. In the end, the British ended up winning the Seven Years War. Because the British paid Prussia, they ended up in debt by the time the war was over. To bring themselves out of debt, they taxed the colonists.
After decades of salutary neglect Britain decided it was time to place stricter control on America. The British also needed money to pay for the Seven Years War, which they believed they should tax America for because they protected the Americans during the Seven Years War. From the very first day of America’s birth, America was a revolutionary force breeding new ideas of society, government, and citizenship (American Pageant pg. 126). When Britain stomped these ideas down, America’s revolutionary instincts were fueled and ignited.
In the period leading up to the American Revolution, particularly from 1763 to 1776, the nature of the growing tension between the colonists and Britain revolved around a deeply conservative ideology on the part of the colonists. New British policies, such as the Coercive Acts, consolidated British power and undermined the established colonial elite. The lower classes were also affected by these changes in policy, which not only further restricted their ability to participate in government but also increased the tax burden on the colonies. This increase in taxation as well as the introduction of direct taxation by the Stamp Act of 1765 was seen as a violation of their English liberties. Most colonists regardless of socioeconomic
Have you ever wondered how America got to where it is today? Well, the revolution from Great Britain is a big part of how we are. After the French and Indian war, Britain started to tax the colonies huge amounts of money. They weren’t respecting the colonists economic. This soon led to anger from the colonists and then a revolution.
According to Gary Nash’s study, by the early 1770s, the top 5% of Boston’s taxpayers controlled 49% of the city’s income. “Court-recorded wills show that by 1750 the wealthiest people in the cities were leaving twenty thousand pounds(equivalent to about $2.5 million today).”(A People’s History of the United States, Zinn) The American Revolution was a war fought between the colonies and England that lasted from 1775 through 1783. It was won by the colonies, now called the United States of America, who also gained independence from England. Revolution means changes made to improve or create a new system of government.
How revolutionary was the American Revolution? The American Revolution was a four year battle fought between the Americans and the English despot, King George the Third. A battle for freedom and the opportunity to become anything you want to be, if you deserve it. How much change or impact did it make around the world? If any? Were the deaths of thousands of Americans fighting for freedom truly justified? In this essay you will understand the American Revolution generated advancement in American politics, economics, and their social beliefs.
There were many events that took place in the 1760’s and 1770’s that led to the Revolutionary war. During these years the British did many things that upset the colonists. These upset colonists would eventually get sick of all the British ways and fight for their freedom.
The purpose of this research paper is to do more than simply provide an accounting of the events of the American Revolution. Instead, I will provide a detail of how the French and Indian War impacted the revolution, and missteps by the British Empire led to the American fight for freedom. In doing so, you will come to understand how the American fight for independence would be a call to arms for not only colonists, but also for other territories controlled by monarchs the world over.
In the years leading up to the revolutionary war, there was much conflict over the rights and wrongs of the British Empire towards the colonists. There were a few important factors and a few more minor factors that influenced patriots’ decisions to turn against their homeland and beloved monarch back in England. Thomas Paine’s childhood in England left a strong impact on him and influenced his mindset when he turned against the British. The unfairness of political and societal norms made him desire a new society that disregards social classes and allows more people to vote. Again, much of his decision to turn patriot, and his writings convincing most others to turn patriot was caused by life circumstances of being on the bottom rung of society and suffering the injustices of the government towards the common folk.
The American Revolution marked a highly significant time period throughout history. This time period consisted of a variety of changes that would forever change the United States of America. The American Revolution brought upon profound social, economic, cultural, political, military, and religious changes. These were not the only changes that the American Revolution encountered. Many technological and industrial revolutions would later transform the modes of production, which would mark the transition from a rural to an urban economy (Mays 231). This would later stimulate the standard of living. This period consisted of many changes that would later bring upon changes within gender roles in societies, races, national relations, and many more movements (Savas and Dameran 108). Military revolutions brought upon change within the warfare that would later lead to the development of new technology (Greene and Pole 310). Many progressive movements were developed within the American Revolution, especially since it was a time where slavery was still considered popular among many states (Mays 253). From 1765 up until 1783, the American Colonies, went through a radical transformation into an independent nation in which they fought for, after many years of being controlled by the English government (Greene and Pole 251). The outcome of the American Revolution not only affected the colonies, economically, but as well as culturally, politically, and would bring upon many changes that
The years of 1763-1765 were truly defining moments for colonist of the colonies, soon to become the United States of America. ‘’War! War! This is the only way!” American Colonist shouted,as they took to the streets proclaiming defiance of British rule. “We as a people shall fight for our freedom and have victory.No more shall we continue to let others control our countries and give our money to a monarch who has no concern for our right’s, dedication that was put forth to help fight and respect us as loyal subjects.We must fight for our freedom!” When American colonist waged war it proved to be the only way for the colonies to become free from Britian. In turn, the colonist were justified in breaking away from England because of: The
SUMMARY: The Revolutionary War, also known as the “War of American Independence” went on for eight long years, from 1775 to 1783. The war is identified by Battles that were fought, starting with the first two battles of Concord and Lexington. By comparison, these battles would be consider a street fight in our view of war today, but are marked in History as the beginning of American freedom.
Imagine the feelings one may have when living in circumstances where many rights are carelessly being taken away. In our modern day, it is hard to conceptualize not being able to live the way one chooses, yet there was a point in time when we faced imminent threats from both other countries and our own country. The rejection of human rights is a crucial action which can result in a gruesome long term conflict. War is said to be inevitable by many but the study of why some of the most notable battles in history began is even more fascinating; moreover, The American Revolution and The Civil War are two of the most notorious events in American history thus it is necessary to realize just how influential and connected they are to one another. What is more, the powerful figures involved whose dedication prevailed successfully in these ruthless battles. The opposing sides, the British and the Confederate South, thought what they were doing was just due to tradition and already accommodated power, however strong driving forces rightfully fought against the British invasion and fought to end slavery in the South. Ultimately the efforts proved worthwhile.
The American Revolution was a war for independence. It was a war which was fought for equal rights and the freedom of a would be nation. It showed the pure courage and heart of the American colonists by pitting them against a much more powerful opponent. The British had the best army in the world, and the colonists were often just poor farmers armed with their hunting muskets. It was truly a case of David versus Goliath. The reasons, course, and outcome of the American Revolution provided the perfect scenario for achieving independence.