Causes and Justifications of the American Revolution

Introduction

Several converging factors occurred at the right moment in history to produce the American Revolution. The colonists harbored numerous quarrels with Great Britain over how it governed the colonies, and these grievances combined to create the ideal climate for revolution and change — ultimately resulting in the War for Independence and a colonial victory.

The Causes of the War

The Revolutionary War officially began on April 19, 1775, with the Battle of Lexington and Concord, but its roots drove far deeper into American history. When the colonists first arrived in what would become the United States in the 1600s, they were subjects of the British Crown and remained largely loyal to the British government. However, after living in the New World for over 150 years, the people began to change. Many had left Britain because of religious persecution, and they developed new ideas and beliefs in their new homes. They began to draw apart from British traditions, and started to form their own ideas about government, faith, and colonial economics.

One of the initial causes of colonial dissatisfaction arose after the French and Indian War ended in 1763. The colonists were assured they were safe from French attack, but Britain levied taxes on the colonies to help pay for its military defense. Having fought alongside the British during the war, the colonists realized they could fight and win — an experience that changed their attitude about war and about their dependency on Britain for protection. This realization helped fuel the growing call for revolution as the British continued to attempt to control the colonies from afar.

The war taught colonists that they could be independent, and as Britain attempted to tighten its grip, resentment grew. In 1756, the British Parliament passed several laws that outlawed the formation of military volunteer militias for local defense and prohibited colonists from negotiating with Native Americans. Parliament sought to rein in colonial advancement and make the colonies more dependent on the mother country — a policy that many colonists resented and opposed.

In 1764, Britain placed a tax on molasses and sugar that merchants did not support. Moreover, Britain promised to enforce the tax strictly, something that had rarely happened before with most of the levies it imposed on the colonies. The taxes were not large, but they were enough to attract the negative attention of most colonists. Even before this tariff, the Molasses Act of 1733 had placed a duty on molasses, which merchants used to make rum. That act banned the colonies from trading with anyone but Great Britain and required payment of a tax on all sugar and molasses imported from British Caribbean islands. The 1764 tax promised to be even more restrictive to American merchants and became a significant source of anger and opposition.

After the French and Indian War, King George also sought greater control over the colonies. He issued the Proclamation of 1763, which prohibited colonists from moving westward past the Appalachian Mountains. In 1764, Parliament passed a law forbidding the colonies from printing or using their own currency. All of these measures angered the colonists and created a growing segment of the population calling for change and revolution. The uproar over taxation became a rallying cry throughout the colonies and lasted for more than a decade before armed conflict broke out. The colonists were especially upset because they were taxed to benefit the British, yet no American held a seat in Parliament — meaning they were taxed without representation. As one historical source notes, "The great question involved was the extent of the authority of the British Parliament over the English American colonies, which had no representative in that legislative body" (Editors). By 1768, several colonies were communicating directly with King George about their displeasure, and as the British ignored these appeals, American sentiment turned increasingly toward independence.

Then came the Tea Act, which further enraged Americans. The Act, described as "An Act to allow a Drawback of the Duties of Customs on the Exportation of Tea," renewed a threepence tea import duty and aimed at ensuring a monopoly on tea sold in America by the British East India Company (Ward 1). This led to the famous Boston Tea Party in 1773, when a group of Boston patriots disguised as Native Americans dumped an entire shipment of British tea into Boston Harbor in protest. The event also deepened unrest and unhappiness throughout the colonies as Britain continued to demand more from the colonists.

By 1774, many colonies were preparing for war. The First Continental Congress had convened, and many Americans believed conflict with Great Britain was inevitable. As one account records, "Toward the close of 1774 the King issued a proclamation prohibiting the exportation, from Great Britain, of military supplies. As soon as the proclamation reached America, it created great agitation" (Editors). This was the final straw. Patriots throughout New England began breaking into British forts and supply depots, seizing gunpowder and weapons — actions that ultimately led to the confrontation at Lexington and Concord that ignited the war.

Essentially, the war began over persistent concerns about taxation and representation, but there was more to it than that. The colonists resented the iron hand Britain wielded over the colonies. They wanted to be free from laws they had no voice in creating and from economic sanctions they could not accept. They wanted the freedom to settle the land, negotiate their own treaties, choose their own trading partners, and even print their own money. The Revolution may have taken root in taxation disputes that smoldered for a decade, but other injustices fanned the flames. It is also important to note that the colonists did attempt negotiation and protest before resorting to war; the British refusal to engage meaningfully with these efforts directly precipitated the outbreak of hostilities.

The Validity of the Colonists' Beliefs

Were the colonists' beliefs valid? Yes, for the most part, because they represented real, concrete concerns that the British failed to recognize or acknowledge. Parliament imposed so many regulations and tariffs that Americans had every right to feel angry and exploited. The fact that Britain created laws dictating who America could trade with — directly affecting colonial livelihoods — was outrageous, particularly given that Americans had no seat in Parliament. The British were legislating for a population that had no input or representation, a situation that would provoke dissatisfaction and revolution in most societies.

The Revolution did not happen overnight, and the growing distrust of Great Britain did not either. The colonists had time to reflect on their circumstances, and Britain had ample warning that unrest and anger were building in the colonies. The Crown could have taken steps to ease the situation, but instead continued to govern the colonies forcefully, thereby contributing significantly to the revolutionary spirit that eventually took hold.

The validity of colonial anger was further grounded in economic reality: the colonists were enriching the British Treasury while Britain provided little in return, especially in terms of financial investment. All tax revenues flowed to Great Britain, but the money did not return to improve the colonies. The colonies largely governed themselves and were even required to pay for the British Army supposedly sent to protect them. As one source notes, "The rapacity of crown-officers in America for place, money, and power was a chief cause of public discontent at all times" (Editors). Americans were funding British businesses and the government with nothing in return — a circumstance sufficient to drive almost anyone toward revolt.

Conclusion

Americans fought for their independence because they wanted to be free from tyranny and oppression. They had initially come to this country to escape religious persecution, and they carried those ideals with them throughout the nation's formative history. They wanted representation in government, a voice in their own political and economic processes, freedom from unfair taxation, and the ability to make their own policies. They won the war because they were more motivated to prevail, because France lent vital support that kept supplies flowing, and because they were fighting on familiar ground while the British were operating far from home in unfamiliar territory. It was a time of profound change for the country and its people, but they desperately wanted that change — and that determination ultimately carried them over the British to gain their freedom.

References

Editors. "Revolutionary War Causes." Son of the South. 2009.

Gerlach, Larry R., James A. Dolph, and Michael L. Nicholls, eds. Legacies of the American Revolution. Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 1978.

Sweeney, Jerry K., ed. A Handbook of American Military History: From the Revolutionary War to the Present. 2nd ed. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2006.

Ward, Harry M. The War for Independence and the Transformation of American Society. London: UCL Press, 1999.