What caused the American Revolution?

Question 1

Coercive Measures - PROCLAMATION LINE (1763)

Answer 1

• Grenville
• caused resentment but largely ignored by colonists
• marked the Appalachian Mountains where the colonists could not go past

Question 2

Coercive Measures - ANTI-SMUGGLING MEASURES (1763)

Answer 2

• Grenville
• enforcement of customs duties seemed to signal an end to salutary neglect
• decision to try smuggling cases in vice-admiralty court in Nova Scotia seemed like an attack on English liberties

Question 3

Coercive Measures - CURRENCY ACT (1764)

Answer 3

• Grenville

- effect largely restricted to Virginia

Question 4

Coercive Measures - NEW YORK RESTRAINING ACT (1767)

Answer 4

• Townshend

- dissolved NY Assembly until it complied with the Quartering Act, which it eventually did

Question 5

Coercive Measures - CIRCULAR LETTER WITHDRAWAL (1768)

Answer 5

• Hillsborough

- the Massachusetts Assembly refused and Governor Bernard dissolved the assembly, increasing opposition in Massachusetts

Question 6

Coercive Measures- COERCIVE (INTOLERABLE) ACTS (1774)

Answer 6

• North
• Virginia House of Burgesses dissolved after condemning the acts and formed an extra-legal convention which condemned the acts and called for a boycott
• several other assemblies followed in their footsteps
• first Continental Congress issued Suffolk Resolves, called for a Continental Association, and for militia to be drilled and weapons stockpiled

Question 7

Coercive Measures - QUEBEC ACT (1774)

Answer 7

• North
• the decision by the British to place Quebec under the control of a Royal Governor, without any kind of assembly, seemed to confirm Britain’s evil designs

Question 8

Taxation - SUGAR ACT (1764)

Answer 8

• Grenville
• bred resentment among rum distillers of New England
• 9 colonial assemblies sent a letter to London objecting

Question 9

Taxation - STAMP ACT (1765)

Answer 9

• Grenville
• led to a crisis
• the Virginia Resolves
• mob action in Boston orchestrated by the Loyal Nine/Sons of Liberty
• the Stamp Act Congress
• boycotts enforced by non-importation agreements
• the crisis was ended with the act’s repeal in 1766

Question 10

Taxation - DECLARATORY ACT (1766)

Answer 10

• Rockingham
• the repeal of the Stamp Act 1765
• the lessening of the Sugar Act

Question 11

Taxation - TOWNSHEND DUTIES (1767)

Answer 11

• Townshend
• led to a crisis
• customs officials harasses and prevented from enforcing the duties in Boston
• John Dickenson’s Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer published
• Massachusetts Assembly circular letter
• arrival of the Romney in Boston Harbour
• customs officials forced to take refuge on Castle William
• 600 British troops deployed to restore order in Boston
• boycott enforced by non-importation associations
• Boston massacre
• the crisis ended with the repeal of the duties

Question 12

Taxation - TEA ACT (1774)

Answer 12

• North
• Sons of Liberty stage Boston Tea Party
• resulted in the Coercive Acts

Question 13

Military Action - PEACETIME ARMY (1764)

Answer 13

• Grenville

- aroused colonial suspicions, who saw it as an attack on English liberties

Question 14

Military Action - ROMENY AND TROOPS IN BOSTON (1768)

Answer 14

• Grafton
• the Romney was supposed to support the work of the customs officials
• after customs officials seized the Liberty (John Hancock), the customs officials were forced by a Boston mob to take refuge on Castle William
• presence of British troops heightened tensions further
• in 1770, British soldiers fired on an angry mob, killing 5, which became known as the Boston Massacre

Question 15

Military Action - ORDERS GAGE TO MOVE AGAINST THE REBELLION (1775)

Answer 15

• Dartmouth

- led to Lexington and Concord