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Write an account of one of the following: (i) The causes of the American War of Independence - Junior Cycle History - Question C - 2018
Question C
Write an account of one of the following: (i) The causes of the American War of Independence. (ii) The Reign of Terror in France, September 1793 - July 1794. (iii... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Write an account of one of the following: (i) The causes of the American War of Independence - Junior Cycle History - Question C - 2018
Step 1
The causes of the American War of Independence.
Answer
The American War of Independence was driven by several critical factors:
Influence of Enlightenment Ideas
The Enlightenment inspired colonists with concepts of liberty, democracy, and individual rights, encouraging them to question British authority.
Unfair Taxation
The imposition of taxes without representation, such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, led to widespread resentment among colonists.
Lack of Representation in Parliament
Colonists felt they were not adequately represented in the British Parliament, fueling demands for autonomy.
The Boston Massacre
This tragic event in 1770, where British soldiers killed five colonists, heightened tensions and galvanized colonial opinion against British rule.
The Boston Tea Party
In 1773, colonists protested against tea taxes by dumping British tea into Boston Harbor, dramatically escalating the conflict.
First Continental Congress
In 1774, the convening of the First Continental Congress marked a unified colonial response to British policies, laying the groundwork for independence.