2.2.4 Independence

Question 1

‘The mother country’

Answer 1

Being of British heritage, many of the American colonists believed Britain to be ‘the mother country’ and they valued British democracy and liberties: e.g. the right to a free trial, and the fact that paying taxes should mean representation in parliament.

Question 2

Long term causes of tension between the American colonists and the British (3)

Answer 2

• Many successful colonists were ‘self-made’ business people and saw the British class system as outdated. Although most had made their fortunes from plantations and the slave trade they were built on, many believed that anyone could make a success of themselves, no matter what their background.
• America had a strong economy that didn’t rely on trade with Britain. The colonies traded commodities such as people - both enslaved people and indentured servants - along with goods. There was a feeling amongst the colonists that they could exist separately from Britain.
• The Navigation Acts (1651-73) meant that British goods could be imported into America. The colonists could no longer trade with other countries. This monopoly of trade with just the British greatly restricted the type and amount of goods that could be brought to America. This meant competition was rare and prices were high.

Question 3

Medium term causes of tension between the American colonists and the British (4)

Answer 3

• The Americans were ruled directly from Britain. Up until now, the American colonists had not been taxed by the British government, since they had no representation in British parliament.
• However, by the mid-1700s the British were struggling financially. The British therefore decided to begin taxing the American colonies, starting with the Stamp Act of 1765.
• The Stamp Act (1765) - this was a tax on the paper used for all official documents, printed goods and various items like playing cards. The colonists were furious and British was forced to cancel the tax.
• Colonists were also made to pay taxes to fund the British wars against the French that the colonists felt had little to do with them. In the years 1756-1783, the British fought the Seven Years’ War against the French: although the British were victorious, the war was hugely expensive and British national debt rose to £133 million. (This is what caused the British to start taxing America.)

Question 4

Short term causes of the tension between the American colonists and the British (3)

Answer 4

• The Boston Massacre - Protests against another tax in Boston in 1770 led to the death of five colonists, which became known as the Boston Massacre.
• The Boston Tea Party - tensions broke out once again over a tax on tea. In response to this, a group of colonists in Boston dressed as Native Americans and boarded British ships in the harbour that were carrying tea. They smashed the chests of tea and threw them overboard. In reply, the British punished the colonists with the Coercive Acts, which closed the port of Boston to stop any trade going in or out. By this stage, war between Britain and the American colonists seemed unavoidable.
• In 1774, 56 representatives from the colonies met at the ‘First Congress’ in Philadelphia. A decision was made to fight the British: the War of Independence began.

Question 5

What made war between Britain and the American colonists seem unavoidable?

Answer 5

The Coercive Acts

Question 6

Which date was the Boston Tea Party?

Answer 6

16 December 1773