The American Declaration of Independence in 1776 was caused by the British trying to affirm their royal authority on the thriteen colonies

long-term causes

short-term causes

proclamation of 1763

limited the colonies from expanding beyond the Appalachuan mountains

from British pov: keep colonists away from Native American lands

from American pov: keep colonists restricted to the coast and therefore keep them away and dependent from Great Britain

Sugar Act 1764

British adjusted tax on molasses

on the opposit of old tax that had higher prices but was never enforced, the new tax had lower but was always enforced

this law served Britain's interest as it permited them to regain money after Seven years war in 1763

Stamp Act

required ALL legal documents being printed on paper that had been stamped

contributed the empire through undirect taxes such as customs duties

British pov: use revenue to protect 13 colonies American pov: colonists didn't believe it Britain controlled all North America

"no taxation without representation" money extracted from the American without their consent

no stamp eventually, so short-term cause but American's distrust grew

BUT in 1767 Declaratory Act

tax colonies in all cases

Tea Act 1773

permitted East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies

British had the monopoly on tea trade

Boston massacre

confrontation nine British soldiers shot 5 people out of a a crowd

inflamed hostilities and intansified revolutionary sentiment among the colonists

even though the tea would be cheaper, colonists rejected underlying principles

Boston Tea Party

Sons of Liberty dressed as Mowhawk Indians representing unconquerable liberty

shipped loads of tea into the sea

June 1774: Parliament response to the “Intolerable Acts”
Boston Harbor closed until destroyed tea was paid for

Chorus of Act

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