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Contributing Factors of the American Revolution Essay Example

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Contributing Factors of the American Revolution Essay Example
The factors which contributed towards the American rebellion in 1776 which ultimately led to the American Revolution and independence, can be ordered from the relatively most important, to the relatively not so important. The most important contributing factor was the restrictions of the colonist's civil liberties by the British. Less important was the taxation implemented by the British Parliament. Lower still was the British military measures that the British took in order to try and suppress the American patriots. And the least important factor was the legacy of colonial religious and political ideas.

The most important factor contributing to the American rebellion in 1776 was the restrictions of the colonist's civil liberties by the British. Unlike all other factors this alone took away the colonists freedoms. By seizing our inalienable rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) the British made us rebel. The British were not only taking our government's money through the navigation acts enforced in 1763, but they began to take our jobs, homes and food as well. The quartering act of 1765 stated that colonists had to provide shelter, food and supplies to British troops. The sanctity of the colonists' homes was violated. In

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In conclusion, when looking at the factors which caused the Americans to rebel in 1776, it can be seen that some are relatively more important then others. As the Declaration of Independence says, "… Endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… that whenever any government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it. The comes the British military measures, and the British occupation as the third most relatively important factor. Many people paid no heed to the taxes whatsoever. One of these rights was trial by jury. In addition, the common man knew little about politics. Possibly the worst violations of

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