Reasons for American Freedom struggle

 

Question:  Question: Reasons for American Freedom struggle? Ans: To come out of the evil effect of Britain, Americans revolted against Britain, and achieved independence. Reasons for American War of Independence: 1. Direct Reason 2. Indirect Reasons a.   a. 7 years war 1756 – 1763: After the 7years war, George Granville became prime minister of England. Due to wars England became financially weak. To strengthen England financially, Granville imposed more taxes on America. Granville tried to control smuggling. He stationed Britain army in America and paid the army from American money. This decision led to revolt of Americans against Britain. b. 1765 Stamps Act: According to stamps act, on all the Legal Papers in America tax was imposed by the Britain. Main intention of this act was securing extra income to Britain. George Granville proposed this act and Britain Parliament passed this Act without debate. Americans revolted against this act, saying “no taxation without representation”. By denying the Stamps Act, Americans disobeyed the authority of England’s Parliament. ‘Sons of liberty’ a secret organisation in America expressed its solidarity to the struggle of Americans. Charles Watson-Wentworth, second Marquis of Rockingham, succeeded Granville as Prime Minister of Britain. During his reign Stamps Act was suspended in March 1766, but Britain parliament reasserted that it has the right to impose taxes on America. c. Townshend Taxes 1767:  In July 1766, William Pitt the elder became Prime Minister of England. He chose Charles Townshend as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Townshend proposed a series of laws, which were passed by the Britain on American colonies in 1767. These new laws imposed taxes on America. Townshend imposed taxes on Tea, Glass, Paper, Paint, Oil and Led. d. Boston Massacre 5 March 1770: In 1768, Britain stationed army in Boston, a city in America, to deal with the smuggling. On 5th March 1770, Americans pelted stones and other things on soldiers. Enraged soldiers opened fire and killed 5 civilians. This incident is famous in history as Boston Massacre. e. Boston Tea Party 1773: Britain implemented Tea Act on 10th May 1773. Britishers used sell tea in America, which was imported from China by East India Company. East India Company was not authorized to sell it in Europe. From Britain other companies bought the tea and sold it in America. Americans were using smuggled tea from Holland, at cheaper cost. Britain’s tea was costlier. Thomas Hutchison was a Britain tea trader. He imported tea to Boston from Britain. On 16th December 1773, few American on the suggestions of Sam Adams disguised themselves as Red Indians porters, entered into Boston harbor, and drowned all the Tea boxes into sea. Over the course of three hours, all 342 chests of tea, worth 25000 pounds, dumped into the water. This incident is famous in history as ‘Boston Tea Party’. Intolerable Acts (1774) In retaliation for the Boston Tea Party, where American colonists, protesting the Tea Act, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor, the British government passed a series of punitive measures known as the Intolerable Acts (also called the Coercive Acts). These acts included: Closing the Boston Harbor until the destroyed tea was paid for. Limiting colonial self-government in Massachusetts. Allowing royal officials accused of crimes to be tried in Britain or Canada, instead of locally. Expanding the Quartering Act, which required colonists to house British soldiers. 2. First Continental Congress (1774) In response to the Intolerable Acts, the colonies convened the First Continental Congress in September 1774. Representatives from twelve colonies (Georgia was absent) met in Philadelphia to coordinate a response to Britain’s actions. The Congress adopted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, asserting that the colonies had the right to self-governance and that Britain’s actions violated their natural rights. It also called for a boycott of British goods and organized colonial militias. 3. Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 1775) The war officially began in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. British troops were sent to confiscate colonial weapons and arrest rebel leaders, but the colonists fought back. The battles marked the start of armed conflict between the colonies and Britain. The "shot heard 'round the world" at Lexington symbolized the beginning of the Revolutionary War. 4. Second Continental Congress (1775) Following the outbreak of war, the Second Continental Congress convened in May 1775. The Congress took on the role of a national government, organizing the Continental Army under the command of George Washington. The Congress also sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, expressing a desire for reconciliation. However, the king rejected it, and war efforts escalated. 5. Declaration of Independence (1776) As the war continued, the colonies moved toward full independence from Britain. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson. The document formally declared the colonies' separation from Britain, outlining the philosophical reasons for independence and listing grievances against King George III. 6. War Developments (1776–1781) Over the next several years, the war expanded as the colonies fought for their independence, with significant battles such as: The Battle of Saratoga (1777), which was a major turning point, as it convinced France to enter the war on the American side. Valley Forge (1777-1778), where Washington's army endured harsh winter conditions but emerged stronger. The Siege of Yorktown (1781), where British General Lord Cornwallis was forced to surrender, effectively ending the war. 7. Treaty of Paris (1783) The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The treaty recognized the United States' independence and granted it significant territory in North America. The Boston Tea Party played a pivotal role in the series of events that led to the American Revolution, as it acted as a catalyst for colonial resistance against British authority and spurred the formation of the Continental Congress, leading to the eventual declaration of independence.?

Ans: To come out of the evil effect of Britain, Americans revolted against Britain, and achieved independence.

Reasons for American War of Independence:

1. Direct Reason	2. Indirect Reasons
a.

a. 7 years war 1756 – 1763: After the 7years war, George Granville became prime minister of England. Due to wars England became financially weak. To strengthen England financially, Granville imposed more taxes on America. Granville tried to control smuggling. He stationed Britain army in America and paid the army from American money. This decision led to revolt of Americans against Britain.

b. 1765 Stamps Act: According to stamps act, on all the Legal Papers in America tax was imposed by the Britain. Main intention of this act was securing extra income to Britain. George Granville proposed this act and Britain Parliament passed this Act without debate. Americans revolted against this act, saying “no taxation without representation”. By denying the Stamps Act, Americans disobeyed the authority of England’s Parliament. ‘Sons of liberty’ a secret organisation in America expressed its solidarity to the struggle of Americans.

Charles Watson-Wentworth, second Marquis of Rockingham, succeeded Granville as Prime Minister of Britain. During his reign Stamps Act was suspended in March 1766, but Britain parliament reasserted that it has the right to impose taxes on America.

c. Townshend Taxes 1767:  In July 1766, William Pitt the elder became Prime Minister of England. He chose Charles Townshend as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Townshend proposed a series of laws, which were passed by the Britain on American colonies in 1767. These new laws imposed taxes on America. Townshend imposed taxes on Tea, Glass, Paper, Paint, Oil and Led.

d. Boston Massacre 5 March 1770: In 1768, Britain stationed army in Boston, a city in America, to deal with the smuggling. On 5^th March 1770, Americans pelted stones and other things on soldiers. Enraged soldiers opened fire and killed 5 civilians. This incident is famous in history as Boston Massacre.

e. Boston Tea Party 1773: Britain implemented Tea Act on 10^th May 1773. Britishers used sell tea in America, which was imported from China by East India Company. East India Company was not authorized to sell it in Europe. From Britain other companies bought the tea and sold it in America. Americans were using smuggled tea from Holland, at cheaper cost. Britain’s tea was costlier. Thomas Hutchison was a Britain tea trader. He imported tea to Boston from Britain. On 16^th December 1773, few American on the suggestions of Sam Adams disguised themselves as Red Indians porters, entered into Boston harbor, and drowned all the Tea boxes into sea. Over the course of three hours, all 342 chests of tea, worth 25000 pounds, dumped into the water. This incident is famous in history as ‘Boston Tea Party’.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

• In retaliation for the Boston Tea Party, where American colonists, protesting the Tea Act, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor, the British government passed a series of punitive measures known as the Intolerable Acts (also called the Coercive Acts).
• These acts included:
• Closing the Boston Harbor until the destroyed tea was paid for.
• Limiting colonial self-government in Massachusetts.
• Allowing royal officials accused of crimes to be tried in Britain or Canada, instead of locally.
• Expanding the Quartering Act, which required colonists to house British soldiers.

2. First Continental Congress (1774)

• In response to the Intolerable Acts, the colonies convened the First Continental Congress in September 1774. Representatives from twelve colonies (Georgia was absent) met in Philadelphia to coordinate a response to Britain’s actions.
• The Congress adopted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, asserting that the colonies had the right to self-governance and that Britain’s actions violated their natural rights.
• It also called for a boycott of British goods and organized colonial militias.

3. Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 1775)

• The war officially began in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. British troops were sent to confiscate colonial weapons and arrest rebel leaders, but the colonists fought back.
• The battles marked the start of armed conflict between the colonies and Britain. The "shot heard 'round the world" at Lexington symbolized the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

4. Second Continental Congress (1775)

• Following the outbreak of war, the Second Continental Congress convened in May 1775. The Congress took on the role of a national government, organizing the Continental Army under the command of George Washington.
• The Congress also sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, expressing a desire for reconciliation. However, the king rejected it, and war efforts escalated.

5. Declaration of Independence (1776)

• As the war continued, the colonies moved toward full independence from Britain.
• On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson. The document formally declared the colonies' separation from Britain, outlining the philosophical reasons for independence and listing grievances against King George III.

6. War Developments (1776–1781)

• Over the next several years, the war expanded as the colonies fought for their independence, with significant battles such as:
• The Battle of Saratoga (1777), which was a major turning point, as it convinced France to enter the war on the American side.
• Valley Forge (1777-1778), where Washington's army endured harsh winter conditions but emerged stronger.
• The Siege of Yorktown (1781), where British General Lord Cornwallis was forced to surrender, effectively ending the war.

7. Treaty of Paris (1783)

• The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The treaty recognized the United States' independence and granted it significant territory in North America.

The Boston Tea Party played a pivotal role in the series of events that led to the American Revolution, as it acted as a catalyst for colonial resistance against British authority and spurred the formation of the Continental Congress, leading to the eventual declaration of independence.