Political Causes of The American Revolution

Along with some socio-cultural and economic causes, the American Revolution had some major political causes too.

Although, these socio-cultural, economic, and political causes are interconnected with each other.

Here in this post, we have specifically tried to discuss four main political causes of the glorious American Revolution.

These causes badly pushed the 13 colonies to choose the path of rebellion against the Empire of Great Britain, even though it was their mother country.

So, let’s discuss how these causes pushed the colonies for the glorious rebellion.

1. No American Representatives In The British Parliament

The British Empire ruled the 13 colonies of North America. For local administration, every colony had different legislatures and executives. These legislatures were elected by the colonies’ leaders.

But there was a problem with that system.

The legislatures got elected from the colonies, had no actual power.

The Royal Governors controlled their powers. And The Parliament of Great Britain selected the governors.

The Governors had absolute veto power.

Using it, they could have even invalidated any of the decisions of legislatures.

Yet, colonists still had no problem with the British parliament choosing their Governors.

But their one main problem was they had no representatives in the British Parliament (In London).

They rationalized if the British Parliament makes laws and chooses Governors for them, then they must have their own representative there.

Either way, colonists believed -If Britain agrees that the 13 colonies are their immovable part, they should have no problem with it. 

But the British Government and Parliament always kept denying their demands.

They never wanted to allow any representatives from the colonies. Probably Britain was afraid, it would be a threat to their sovereignty. 

However, their disagreement didn’t become the immediate political cause of the revolution.

It became a cause when the Parliament started misusing these powers and created some unjustified retaliatory laws against the American colonists’ interests. 

2. The Imposition of Harmful Acts On The American Colonists

In the point above, you have learned that there were no representatives from the American colonies’ side in the British Parliament.

In that case, most of the time, for the benefit of the mainland, the Britishers could make any laws without any obstacles.

For example: in the years 1651, 1660, 1663, 1764, 1765, 1767, 1773, and, 1774 they passed some laws that were quite detrimental to the socio-economic and political progress of Americans.

Some of those acts were:

• Navigation Act
• Sugar Act
• Stamp Act
• Townshend Acts
• Tea Act
• Intolerable Acts, etc.

These acts made them quite unhappy and after a period of time, they pushed them to choose the path of the Revolution.

Especially, the 5 Intolerable Acts of 1774 became the immediate cause of the Revolutionary War.

3. Military And Political Support To The Revolution From France, Spain, And The Netherlands

During the American Revolution, the Empire of Great Britain and France were two cutthroat enemies.

Years 1756 to 1763, they fought the Seven Years’ War, where the British Empire got a huge victory over French Empire.

Therefore, after the conflict, they signed the treaty of Paris in 1763.

Through this treaty, the control of the entire French-occupied North America (Canada) went into the hands of Britain.

The defeat was a major blow for France Empire. It ended their influence on the American continent.

But it didn’t end all.

France was still hostile to Britain and wanted somehow to take successful revenge for the defeat.

Finally, the time came when American colonists started the rebellion against Great Britain.

Here, France extended their hand of friendship to the colonists.

As a result, the French’s help boosted the colonists’ morale to make the revolution more vigorous.

Along with France, Spain and the Netherlands also came further to provide military, economic, and other support to the revolutionists.

4. The Impact of Seven Years’ War (1756-1763)

Due to the political rivalry, Great Britain and France fought the Seven Years’ War from 1756 to 1763.

In this major armed conflict though Great Britain managed to gain victory over France; but, at the same time, it completely broke down the spine of the English economy.

To get rid of this economic problem born due to war, the British parliament decided to pass some acts over the colonies, they had around the world.

Mainly they targeted the 13 colonies of North America, rationalizing that they had to fight the war to protect the colonists.

From the year 1763, they started passing so many laws to gain revenue.

But whatever they did was completely unacceptable to the colonists.

As a result, it gained dissatisfaction among colonists, and within a few years, this dissatisfaction took the form of revolution.

Conclusion

The great revolution has many other secondary causes.

But I think these four which we have discussed above, are the main causes of the event in American history.

What do you think about it?

Comment below and let us know.