Trace, examine, and analyze the roots of The American War for Independence.

Introduction

Going back to the 1700s the American colonies were profoundly affected by several ideas which heavily influenced the colonies and lead them towards revolution. Common Sense, the Enlightenment, and also the Bacon's Rebellion were some of the most significant events that spread ideas for independence.

The key groups, figures and leaders in England and America that played a role in the events leading to the Revolution

The American Revolution was a great turning point in American history. When The American Colonies were first established in the new world, the colonies needed a lot of support from Britain, their mother country and ruler. The thirteen original colonies; Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were split up into three different regions. These regions; New England Middle colonies, Southern colonies, were very interdependent and they also depended on Britain to survive. As time passed, however, the Colonies started to be able to survive on their own. For example: they began manufacturing goods, trading, and establishing their own government. Britain, on the other hand, was not pleased with this. The King passed laws and acts to prevent the colonies from developing further and breaking apart from the rule of the King of Britain. Also, The Colonies had to carry out the war between France and Britain that was fought in Europe in the new world.

When the French and the American Colonies got into conflict, the French and Indian war started. This war was one of the events in colonial history that eventually led to the revolutionary war. This was a war fought between the American Colonies and the French and Native Americans as allies. After the war was over, Native American leaders called for a meeting. In the meeting, they infected the Colonial Leaders with smallpox. A major outbreak of smallpox started and when Britain and the Parliament heard the news they took immediate action. In 1763, The Parliament passed the Proclamation of 1763. This stated that Colonists could not pass through the Appalachian Mountains and could not move, explore or settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists were truly enraged about this law. They believed that they should be allowed to settle in the land they rightfully earned through battle. Britain, however, did not agree. The King sent amounts of troops, or Red Coats, to the colonies to enforce this new law.

The pamphlet, Common Sense, published by Thomas Paine in January 1776 is arguably the most successful political essay in American history. Paine was against monarchy and hereditary succession for he believed no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others for ever, and though himself might deserve some decent degree of honors of his cotemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them. Paine's interpretation of the British was a disapproving one. He wanted the colonists ...