BellaOnline Forums Education History Start of American Revolution

In your opinion, what act(s) really occurred that started the American Revolution?

As with any great event there was no one single cause. Nor was there a simple series of event to cause the Revolution. Mostly it was the British Empire's continuing dominating attempts to rule, govern and control the colonies. The main causes were all related to England's economic and political strangle hold on the colonies. England tried to control the colonies international trade and economy to benefit only England. England's strangle hold on American trade and taxation were the embers the would grow into the fire that was the American War of Independence.

How much would you say the French had in fanning the revolution fire?

The French and Indian War or Seven Year War, as it is sometimes called, had a major influence on the start of the American War for Independence. Mostly, because England was in heavy debt after this war was over. They tried to solve that by placing taxes on the American Colonies. These taxes were very unpopular in the colonies. For more than a hundred years the colonies were not used to anyone telling them what to do. The colonies were used to independent local government control. They did not like anyone other that their State or local government telling them what to do. For these reasons the French and Indian War was a large contributing factor to the outbreak of colonial rebellion.

The French and Indian War helped the colonists learn that they were just pawns and emphasized how different they had become compared to their mother country. How different would the history of the New World and Europe have been if Britain did not balk at France's attempt to take over the Ohio Valley region!