SECTION 1: Causes of the Revolution

George III, king of England, and in inset, a clip of a news article about George III.

◄ George III, the king of England
A copy of the Stamp Act ►

WITNESS HISTORY AUDIO

Rights of the Colonists

James Otis, a leading patriot, argued that British taxes threatened colonists’ rights and would make them slaves to the king and Parliament.

“I can see no reason to doubt but the imposition of taxes … in the colonies is absolutely irreconcilable with the rights of the colonists as British subjects and as men….

We all think ourselves happy under Great Britain. We love, esteem, and reverence our mother country, and adore our King. And could the choice of independency be offered the colonies or subjection to Great Britain upon any terms above absolute slavery, I am convinced they would accept the latter.”

—James Otis, from The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved, 1763

Objectives

  • Describe the colonists’ political heritage.
  • Explain the colonists’ reaction to new taxes.
  • Describe the methods the colonists used to protest British taxes.
  • Understand the significance of the First Continental Congress in 1774.

Terms and People

  • Stamp Act
  • John Adams
  • Patrick Henry
  • Sons of Liberty
  • nonimportation agreement
  • Boston Massacre
  • committee of correspondence
  • Boston Tea Party
  • Intolerable Acts
  • First Continental Congress

NoteTaking

Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence Record the events that increased tension between Britain and its colonies.

A flowchart on events that increased tension between Britain and its colonies. The top box states, "Colonial assemblies win the right to levy taxes." The box below states, "Parliament pass the Sugar Act, an indirect tax." dd

Why It Matters The American colonists enjoyed the protection of Britain during the Indian wars while paying very little of the cost. Meanwhile, they profited from trade within the British Empire. Most importantly, they cherished the political rights they enjoyed as British subjects. When Parliament began to tax the colonists to raise revenue, they protested. Eventually, the protests turned to rebellion and rebellion turned to war. Section Focus Question: What caused the colonists to rebel against the British?

The Colonists’ Political Heritage

The colonists believed that Great Britain enjoyed the best government on Earth. British liberty included the due process of the common law, trial by jury, and freedom of the press from prior censorship. Above all, the colonists cherished the right to pay no tax unless it was levied by their representatives. Colonial governments followed the British model, but the colonists’ protests of the 1760s revealed that there were some important differences.

British Government Is a Model

The British government had three branches. Executive power belonged to the monarch. Legislative power was divided between two houses of Parliament: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Aristocrats inherited seats in the House of Lords. Only the House of Commons depended on elections by a small percentage of the people.

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Table of Contents

Prentice Hall: United States History
CHAPTER 1 Many Cultures Meet (Prehistory–1550)
1 The American Indians 2 The Europeans 3 The West Africans 4 First Encounters American Issues Connector: Global Interdependence Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 2 Europeans Establish Colonies (1492–1752)
1 Spain’s Empire in the Americas 2 The French Empire 3 England’s Southern Colonies 4 The New England Colonies 5 The Middle Colonies Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 3 The American Colonies Take Shape (1607–1765)
1 Immigration and Slavery 2 The American Colonies and England 3 Comparing Regional Cultures 4 Wars of Empire Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: Seeds of Change
CHAPTER 4 The American Revolution (1765–1783)
1 Causes of the Revolution 2 Declaring Independence Declaration of Independence 3 Turning Points of the War 4 War’s End and Lasting Effects Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 5 Creating the Constitution (1781–1789)
1 A Confederation of States 2 Drafting the Constitution 3 Ratifying the Constitution American Issues Connector: Expanding and Protecting Civil Rights Quick Study Guide and Assessment The Constitution and Bill of Rights
CHAPTER 6 The New Republic (1789–1816)
1 Government and Party Politics 2 The Struggle Over Foreign Policy 3 The Age of Jefferson 4 The War of 1812 Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: Jefferson’s Vision
CHAPTER 7 Nationalism and Sectionalism (1812–1855)
1 Industry and Transportation 2 Sectional Differences American Issues Connector: Sectionalism and National Politics 3 An Era of Nationalism 4 Democracy and the Age of Jackson 5 Constitutional Disputes and Crises Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 8 Religion and Reform (1812–1860)
1 A Religious Awakening American Issues Connector: Church and State 2 A Reforming Society 3 The Antislavery Movement 4 The Women’s Movement Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 9 Manifest Destiny (1800–1850)
1 Migrating to the West 2 Texas and the Mexican-American War 3 Effects of Territorial Expansion Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: An Age of Reform
CHAPTER 10 The Union in Crisis (1846–1861)
1 Slavery, States’ Rights, and Western Expansion American Issues Connector: Federal Power and States’ Rights 2 A Rising Tide of Protest and Violence 3 Political Realignment Deepens the Crisis 4 Lincoln, Secession, and War Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 11 The Civil War (1861–1865)
1 Resources, Strategies, and Early Battles 2 African Americans and the War 3 Life During the War 4 Turning Points of the War 5 The War’s End and Impact Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 12 The Reconstruction Era (1865–1877)
1 Rival Plans for Reconstruction American Issues Connector: Checks and Balances 2 Reconstruction in the South 3 The End of Reconstruction Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: The Civil War
CHAPTER 13 The Triumph of Industry (1865–1914)
1 Technology and Industrial Growth 2 The Rise of Big Business 3 The Organized Labor Movement American Issues Connector: Technology and Society Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 14 Immigration and Urbanization (1865–1914)
1 The New Immigrants 2 Cities Expand and Change American Issues Connector: Migration and Urbanization Social and Cultural Trends Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 15 The South and West Transformed (1865–1900)
1 The New South 2 Westward Expansion and the American Indians American Issues Connector: American Indian Policy 3 Transforming the West Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 16 Issues of the Gilded Age (1877–1900)
1 Segregation and Social Tensions American Issues Connector: Women in American Society 2 Political and Economic Challenges 3 Farmers and Populism Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: Little Bighorn
CHAPTER 17 The Progressive Era (1890–1920)
1 The Drive for Reform 2 Women Make Progress American Issues Connector: Social Problems and Reforms 3 The Struggle Against Discrimination 4 Roosevelt’s Square Deal 5 Wilson’s New Freedom Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 18 An Emerging World Power (1890–1917)
1 The Roots of Imperialism American Issues Connector: Territorial Expansion of the United States 2 The Spanish-American War 3 The United States and East Asia 4 The United States and Latin America Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 19 World War I and Beyond (1914–1920)
1 From Neutrality to War American Issues Connector: America Goes to War 2 The Home Front 3 Wilson, War, and Peace 4 Effects of the War Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: The Progressive Era
CHAPTER 20 The Twenties (1919–1929)
1 A Booming Economy 2 The Business of Government 3 Social and Cultural Tensions American Issues Connector: U.S. Immigration Policy 4 A New Mass Culture 5 The Harlem Renaissance Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 21 The Great Depression (1928–1932)
1 Causes of the Depression 2 Americans Face Hard Times 3 Hoover’s Response Fails Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 22 The New Deal (1932–1941)
1 FDR Offers Relief and Recovery 2 The Second New Deal 3 Effects of the New Deal American Issues Connector: Government’s Role in the Economy 4 Culture of the 1930s Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: Art in the New Deal
CHAPTER 23 The Coming of War (1931–1942)
1 Dictators and Wars 2 From Isolation to Involvement 3 America Enters the War Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 24 World War II (1941–1945)
1 The Allies Turn the Tide 2 The Home Front 3 Victory in Europe and the Pacific 4 The Holocaust 5 Effects of the War Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 25 The Cold War (1945–1960)
1 The Cold War Begins 2 The Korean War 3 The Cold War Expands 4 The Cold War at Home American Issues Connector: Civil Liberties and National Security Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 26 Postwar Confidence and Anxiety (1945–1960)
1 An Economic Boom 2 A Society on the Move 3 Mass Culture and Family Life 4 Dissent and Discontent Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: Postwar Changes
CHAPTER 27 The Civil Rights Movement (1945–1975)
1 Early Demands for Equality 2 The Movement Gains Ground 3 New Successes and Challenges American Issues Connector: Voting Rights Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 28 The Kennedy and Johnson Years (1960–1968)
1 Kennedy and the Cold War 2 Kennedy’s New Frontier 3 Johnson’s Great Society American Issues Connector: Poverty and Prosperity Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 29 The Vietnam War Era (1954–1975)
1 Origins of the Vietnam War 2 U.S. Involvement Grows 3 The War Divides America 4 The War’s End and Impact American Issues Connector: America and the World 5 Nixon and the Cold War Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 30 An Era of Protest and Change (1960–1980)
1 The Counterculture 2 The Women’s Rights Movement 3 The Rights Revolution Expands 4 The Environmental Movement American Issues Connector: Interaction With the Environment Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 31 A Crisis in Confidence (1968–1980)
1 Nixon and the Watergate Scandal 2 The Ford and Carter Years 3 Foreign Policy Troubles Quick Study Guide and Assessment Reflections: The Civil Rights Struggle
CHAPTER 32 The Conservative Resurgence (1980–1993)
1 The Conservative Movement Grows 2 The Reagan Revolution 3 The End of the Cold War 4 Foreign Policy After the Cold War Quick Study Guide and Assessment
CHAPTER 33 Into a New Century (1992–Today)
1 The Computer and Technology Revolutions 2 The Clinton Presidency 3 Global Politics and Economics 4 The George W. Bush Presidency 5 Americans Look to the Future American Issues Connector: Education and American Society Quick Study Guide and Assessment
Reflections: Enduring Issues Five Themes of Geography Profile of the Fifty States Atlas Presidents of the United States Economics Handbook Landmark Decisions of the Supreme Court Documents of Our Nation English and Spanish Glossary Index Acknowledgments
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