- Above water (Short-term events/triggers):
- 1763: Sugar Act – Cause: Britain imposed new duties on sugar, coffee, and textiles. Effect: Colonists protested as it directly targeted their main exports and hurt their economies.
- 1764: Currency Act – Cause: Britain banned colonial paper money. Effect: Colonists’ economies suffered because they relied on depreciated currency for trade; economic control shifted to British merchants.
- 1765: Stamp Act – Cause: Direct tax on printed materials (newspapers, legal documents, playing cards). Effect: Widespread anger and organized resistance (Stamp Act Congress), leading to boycotts and protests.
- 1776: Declaratory Act – Cause: Parliament asserted full authority over colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” Effect: Increased colonial fear of unlimited British power, fueling revolutionary sentiment.
- Below water (Long-term/less obvious causes):
- Economic: British mercantilist policies restricted colonial trade and manufacturing, forcing colonies to buy British goods and sell raw materials only to Britain, creating economic dependency and resentment.
- Political: Lack of representation in Parliament (“No taxation without representation”) and erosion of colonial self-government led to growing demands for autonomy and rights as Englishmen.
- Social: Enlightenment ideas (liberty, natural rights, social contract) spread among colonists, inspiring belief in self-governance and challenging the legitimacy of monarchy and aristocracy.
- Key 3 Words:
- Economic
- Political
- Social
- Britain’s Acts – Colonist Reaction & Rank (Significance):
- 1763 Sugar Act → 😐😐😐😐🙂 (Mildly upset) → Rank: 3
- 1764 Currency Act → 😐😐😐🙂🙂 (Moderately upset) → Rank: 2
- 1765 Stamp Act → 😠😠😠😠😠 (Very angry) → Rank: 1
- 1765 Quartering Act → 😐😐😐🙂🙂 (Moderately upset) → Rank: 4
- 1776 Declaratory Act → 😠😠😠😠🙂 (Very angry) → Rank: 5 (Note: Though passed with Stamp Act, its long-term threat made it highly significant)
- Task: What are 3 most important words you have gleaned from reading the causes? Write them here.
- Economic
- Political
- Social
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of causes of the american revolution worksheet pdf.
