Revolutionary Causes – Usa
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A number of issues raised tensions between the colonies and Great Britain. The already tense atmosphere was pushed even further with a number of taxes, acts and proclamations passed by Britain. These numerous acts usually dealt with taxes and other issues that came into conflict with the independent nature of the American colonists. No one issue was solely responsible for the eventual American Revolution. Though all of these added together raised the resentment to a boiling point and all contributed to the revolution. The harsh frontier life led to the independent and often stubborn nature of the American Colonists. This development of this unique colonial personality conflicted drastically with the norms of the British Empire. This cultural personality also led to the passionately independent and democratic political leanings of the young colonies.
The end of the French Indian War left bitter tensions amongst the Native American tribes, Britain and the colonists. The Native tribes were understandably upset with the outcome of the French Indian War. The French had treated the natives fairly and in general, honestly as well. Furthermore they accepted and often adopted the dress or culture of the Natives. This was in contrast to the crooked dealings, corruption and arrogance the Native Americans encountered with the British. The British even denied the very humanity of the American Indian and were contemptuous of the Native culture. After the French were defeated the British continued to treat the Natives unfairly. The Natives were further angered when they were informed that there were now expected to be loyal subjects of a foreign king. With the French gone, even more colonist trickled into Indian lands. The colonists saw the land as a war prize and were eager to expand their settlements. More forts were consequently built to protect and regulate the frontier. The Native tribes were alarmed with the British domination and saw their land and culture slipping away. This tension amongst the tribes led to a resurgence of Native culture. A movement embracing the fundamentals of Native traditions that rejected the western culture gained ground. Pontiac, a chief and great orator used his influence to build alliance and untied fellow tribes against the British. The Native Americans launched a bloody war, conquering at least eight British forts. This conflict was called Pontiac?s Rebellion. The tensions and violence frightened the colonist and angered the British. The colonists expected the British to protect them. Their fear led to more racial violence against the Native population. This conflict lasted from 1763 until a truce was at last finalized in 1766.
Britain instituted the Proclamation of 1763 in response to the Native American threat and the racial tensions that permeated the colonial frontier. This proclamation attempted to appease and reassure the natives who feared colonial expansion. The Proclamation of 1763 formed four additional colonies and closed the frontier to further expansion. The colonies formed were Quebec, East and West Florida and Grenada. The frontier was closed to settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. An Indian reserve was set aside west of the Appalachian Mountains and the natives were placed under protection of the king. This act required settlers in the banned area to abandon their farms and land. British troops were sent to enforce the Proclamation, as the crown had no faith that the colonist would obey. The colonists were enraged by the Proclamation. The colonists had supported the French Indian War fully expecting to receive more frontier land as the prize of war. The Proclamation seemed to steal the valuable land from them, as the colonists saw the situation. Most colonists had no respect for the native tribes and did not believe that the native tribes had any claim to the land and resented Britain handing over valuable land to the natives. The colonists also claimed that Britain was attempting to keep the colonies on the coast under British control and easily accessible for taxation. This may well have been true as well. Britain did want to prevent conflict between the colonists and the natives, and the Proclamation did help the situation, though it was difficult to enforce.
The American Revenue Act of 1764 or The Sugar Act as it is more commonly referred to as, touched off a nerve throughout the colonies. A modification of the detested Molasses Act of 1733, the Sugar Act imposed and provided stricter enforcement of taxes and commercial regulations on the colonies. Although it lowered a few taxes, the Act provided a tax on foreign refined sugar, and higher taxes on coffee, indigo, certain wines and other variously traded goods. It also banned importation of rum and French wines. The Sugar Act also regulated the trade of key colonial exports such as lumber, iron and other natural resources. This Act further burdened the colonial economy by limiting the markets available for its goods and disrupting trade in general. In contrast to earlier taxes, this act was equipped for enforcement and Britain was serious about collecting revenue. The smuggling and questionable trades of the colonies were now dealt with harshly.
The colonies had suffered consistent shortages of currency, which was needed to conduct trade. The lack of gold and silver mines hindered the colonial fluid economy. The only source for currency available to the colonies was as a result of trade, and this trade was tightly regulated by Britain. Many colonies turned to printing their own types of money and financial notes. Britain and many merchants detested these colonial practices as difficult, confusing and economically unstable. In 1764 Parliament stepped in with the Currency Acts. These laws gave parliament control of the colonial currency system and prohibited the issue of any new colonial monies and did away with the previous currency. Parliament preferred a hard money system rather than paper. Parliament also established a new judicial court. The Vice Admiralty court was established to ensure that smugglers and customs violators would have their hearings in British leaning courts. The colonies protested these new acts and felt Britain was hindering the growing economy rather than aiding it.
The Stamp Act of 1765 was a notorious bit of taxation that angered colonist and spurred much of the resistance. This act was, like many of the others, intended to increase British tax revenue. This was spurred on largely by the huge debt that Britain accumulated during the French Indian War. The military costs remained high after the war as well with no end in sight. The continuing native and foreign threats necessitated British troops in the colonies and surrounding areas. Parliament felt that the colonies should share the financial burden of their own defense. This tax again touched