Why the Revolution Happened

Why was the New Nation Born?

It is an unfeasible task to limit causes of the American Revolution to one distinct factor. From the French and Indian War to the late seventeen hundreds, many events, both chaotic and orderly, resulted in Colonial opposition to Great Britain.

These factors include: Americans exercising their strong beliefs for rights of freedom including taxation without representation, over time and distance England and the Colonies became distinctly different, a fight for economic and political power in America, and an argument of Patriot desire for a different kind of democracy than what was in England during the 1760's. Whether this meant they wanted to restore a government that Britain had lost or wanted to create there own, Patriots and the colonies felt strongly that they needed a new system of government. While the majority of those supporting Independence ultimately felt the basis for these reasons were strong enough to go to war, they did not immediately act like it. It is pretty clear to see that before the rejection of the Olive Branch petition, colonists were open to cooperate with Britain and still considered themselves loyal to the king.

A huge factor that lead to the Revolution was Britain's unfair use of taxation. Great Britain had the right to tax her colonies, and regulate their trade. The colonies in America though, were being taxed to gain revenue. The conditions of rights of the colonists were slowly changed and taken away as the limitations placed by British parliament became more and more intolerable. Laws such as the Townsend Acts and Stamp Acts were passed that had Colonists paying taxes to the king that they thought were outrageous. Someone today easily would become angered if they had to pay taxes on something that did not benefit themselves. This is how the colonists felt. Why should have to be paying taxes to the King when he is 3000 miles away and knew nothing of the Western world? During the Seven Year's War Britain became very alarmed that Colonists were trading with enemies and foreign countries and began to hold a stronger grip on the importing and exporting of goods. The Tea Act would not allow any trading or selling of tea products without intervention of England. Bostonians were losing

money and it was hurting their way of life. After the Sons of Liberty partook in the infamous Boston Tea Party, serious conflict had set in.

Many Patriots had another very basic argument for independence. Parliament and the king were 3000 miles away and nearly 170 years had passed since initial settlement. Social, economic, and ways of thinking had become very different between the England and the colonies. Why should the colonies be ruled by someone who knows nothing about them? How could you rely on a group of government officials to make the right decisions if they are 3000 miles away? These are all extremely valid and sensible questions that many Patriots asked themselves as time, distance, and change inevitably separated the two.

Historical data shows a strong argument that if Tories had to be classified into a single group, it would be the upper class. Taxes and limitations really did not have a large effect on the rich, so they did not have as harsh feelings towards England. If anything, they had security and were apart of the most powerful empire in the world. The lower class really struggled with the taxations and unsympathetic treatment England used against them. Life was hard for them already in itself, but with Britain constantly breathing down their neck it made it a lot harder. If they could get rid of the king's laws, maybe they could become the upper class. Could a class conflict really cause an entire civil war? While this was not an explosive effect, it did bring a lot of resentment