R1218

Relations between Europe and other parts of the world: colonialism, imperialism, decolonization and global independence.

The American Revolution 1775

The Americas were always fought over by the countries of Europe especially France and Great Britain. During the Seven Years war, France started a conflict in Europe but it also started conflicts in the colonies to the west. As time went on, the colonies began to develop their own need for independence, and began to conflict with Great Britain. The main reasons for the tensions were because of taxes that the British placed on nearly all the goods that the Americans received. The Stamp Act was a law that placed stamps on all British goods and the Americans had to pay taxes for every stamp. This was most commonly on the tea and because of that, the revolutionists dressed up as Indians and threw the tea into the Boston harbor. This was known as the Boston Tea Party and it angered the British very much. Soon, Great Britain retaliated and the war between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies started. Because France had lost much to Great Britain they supported the Americans and were inspired by their act of revolution. Works cited: McKay, John, Bennett Hill, and John Buckler. A History of Western Society. 7th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.