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AP US History Essay: American Revolution
AP US History Essay: American Revolution
AP US History Essay: American Revolution
Mr. Gillard
A.P. US History
24 September 2006
Reasons for the American Revolution
There are many reasons for the American Revolution and the breaking away of
America from Great Britain. Some are better known than others, though. Both political
and economical reasons played a large part in it, but for specific reasons. These justified
America in the breaking away from the country which chartered them.
Politically, Britain felt that they needed to control America. They placed many
laws and acts upon the colonists. Such acts include the Stamp Act, which stated that
everything in the colonies had to have a stamp on it, and the colonists had to pay a tax
because of the stamp. Another act would be the Quartering Act, which stated that British
soldiers were allowed to stay in the homes of the colonists, without the consent of the
colonists. Other acts included the Molasses Act, which put a tax on all molasses and
sugar products, and the Currency Act, which prohibited the colonies from printing their
own paper currency. There was also taxation with representation, which was basically the
idea that Britain taxed the colonies, even though they didn’t have a voice in Parliament.
The colonists “didn’t have a choice” in the eyes of the King.
Economically, things were even worse. Mercantilism was a big deal to the British
government. Mercantilism was the idea and law that all trade from America had to go
through Britain. The British felt that they could control trade easier that way. Because the
colonies were beginning to trade with countries other than Britain, the British passed the
Navigation Laws, which is where mercantilism came from.
The colonies were able to unite under a stable political system, but not under a
stable economic system, which brought around the cause of America separating itself
from Britain. It was so that they could grow economically without an ‘overbearing’
country breathing down their necks.