Revolutionary War Dbq

Throughout the decades, a long debate has taken place over what really caused the American Revolutionary War: a war fought for colonial independence from Great Britain. Historians claim single events such as the Boston Tea Party or the British declination of the Olive Branch Petition. But what these historians fail to include is the long standing oppression that slowly accrued until the colonists cracked. It was invoked by a series of events rather than one pivotal change. The Revolutionary War was caused by colonial displeasure with the acts imposed by Britain, improved self government, and ultimately the Declaration of Independence.

The first set of acts and the trigger of all the events present hereafter were the Writs of Assistance: which

granted British officials permission to search ships and to seize what was determined to be smuggled. “The writs were one of a list of grievances that the Americans harbored against the Crown and contributed to the process of changing loyal colonists into advocates for independence”(United States History). This angered the colonists because the act was unregulated and unjust, the judges who found the merchants guilty of smuggling got a monetary share of what was confiscated. This act was the start of colonial rebellion but it was not too extreme. They began to actually smuggle the very goods they had been accused of smuggling before. They bribed and harmed British Officials in order to go on with their ways. The Colonists did not meet this new edict with respect but merely disregarded it with annoyance and did what they saw fit in order to continue what they were doing before. Although the colonists were upset with Britain they still had much respect for the crown. If the acts had been repealed colonists would have went back on their merry way. But assuredly, more acts from Britain came pouring in.
From 1754-1763 Britain fought with France in the Seven Years War- also known as the French and Indian War- over the Ohio territory. With a British victory, virtually all French presence in colonies was eliminated. Britain then proceeded to enact the Proclamation of 1763 which prohibited colonial movement westward. This made no sense to the colonists because now that the French were gone they could move west if they wanted. “The truth is that is hastily drawn documents was not designed to oppress the colonists at all, but to work out the Indian problem fairly..”(Kennedy, 13: 121.) Prior to the war France was a vulture that the colonies needed protected from. Now that the colonies didn’t need protected from France, they didn’t have to rely on Britain. This was very important because the it cut some of the ties the colonies had with them (Kennedy, 13: 121.) Colonists again rebelled quietly and mostly peaceably by continuing westward anyway. The act was poorly enforced and so it didn’t cause much conflict. Although it was a seemingly insignificant decree it would later be added to a long list of grievances. This is was the beginning of greater independence and the beginning of greater British oppression. An era of anger and rebellion was on the horizon.
The British acts up to that point were impactful but they did not affect the majority of the colonists.

They only hurt merchants and Ohio Territory Pioneers. But that was quick to change. Britain began passing acts that directly affected the colonists. The first of which being the Stamp Act of 1765, which required a stamp be placed on all legal documents and paper. (Faragher, 3: 143). It was the first act that affected all colonists and was considered especially onerous. This was met with considerable outrage. Later came the Townshend, Tea, Boston Port, Massachusetts Government, Murder, and Quartering Acts. With each decree colonists became more irate and their rebellions grew larger and more violent. Rebellions such as the Boston Tea Party came in response to the aforementioned

acts.
Soon after came the Boston Massacre: a violent incident between British officials and protesting colonists that had killed five [colonists] (Zinn 67).They were protesting the intolerable acts: a nickname given by the colonists to group acts they deemed intolerable. (Kennedy, 13: 132) The patience of the colonists was stripped to nothing. They were angry and tired of the unnecessary troubles with Britain. They began on the intentional road to independence and started creating their own measures.
In response to the increasing anger toward Britain, colonists began implementing new means of self-government and reaffirming those already made during the time of salutary neglect-a time period where Britain was entangled in their civil war and the Glorious Revolution and therefore paid less attention to the colonists-(Schweikart 56).

They created “colonial laws” in regards to the conduct Toward Britain such as a non importation and non-consumption agreements. Those stated that British goods would not be imported or consumed by colonists, and those who disobey were also tarred and feathered or hung colonists were becoming more unified in their desires to deter British control. The colonists were becoming more and more unified in their resentment of Britain. Patrick Henry demonstrates this, “The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I Am Not A Virginian, But An American!” (“Quotes about American Revolution”). They pursued self-government and formal organizations such as the First and Second Continental Congresses and the Virginia Resolves the govern affairs of the colonies discuss the route with which to go with the British they decided upon the Olive Branch Petition which was the last opportunity for Britain to regain favor with the

colonists.
After the British declination of the Olive Branch Petition, the colonists, more unified than ever, knew that it was time to separate from Britain. They were fed up with all of the continuous, unjust, and onerous acts imposed by Britain and they had spent the last decade-and-a-half improving their self government and no longer needed to rely on Britain. The colonists made up their mind and drafted the Declaration of Independence. It was signed and sent to Britain marking the beginning of Revolutionary War. Although the Olive Branch Petition declination and the Declaration of Independence were direct factors in the beginning of the Revolutionary War the true causes started way back in 1760 with the writs of assistance and all the subsequent acts leading up to 1776.