Causes of the American Revolution DBQ Essay Example

America and Great Britain have never had the strongest relationship in the world. But could the relationship between the two start an entire Revolution that would change America forever? Some events that led up to the American Revolution were The Quartering Act in 1765, and the American colonists tarring the British. One question that is brought up frequently whilst discussing the American Revolution in “Were the American colonists justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain?” The American colonists were justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain because Britain was being unfair to the colonists, and the colonists were scared for their life and freedom.

The colonists were justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain because Britain and the Americans' rights were unfair. After the French and Indian war, England took over all of North American east to the Mississippi River. This caused many colonists wanting to move across the Appalachian Mountains to Ohio Country. (Document B) This example shows that Britain could easily take over the colonist’s land and call it their own, and this was not fair for the colonists. In 1765, The Quartering Act forced colonists to provide the British troops with food, supplies, and living quarters. (Document H) This overwhelmed the colonists because this put a lot of stress on their shoulders while taking care of their enemies, even though the colonists did not want to. These examples were just a few reasons why Britain had unfair rights over the colonists

Another reason why the American colonists were justified in waging war was for their own safety and freedom. The Declaration of Independence states that “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries, and usurpations (.)” (Document F) This quote states that King George is a man who doesn’t take care of the states properly, and if George remains King, the States are in big trouble. The act of “tarring” included the American colonists taking a British government employee, applying burning hot tar to bare skin, and adding feathers to the tar to humiliate and intimidate the British. Although this looks bad against the colonists, colonists would tar the British to scare them off because they were so afraid of what the British’s next move would be. In conclusion, a second reason why the American colonists were justified in waging war was because they were so afraid of Britain. 

Britain being unfair to the colonists and the colonists being scared for themselves were both huge reasons why the American colonists were justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain. To sum it up, Britain was a huge reason why the American Revolution started in the first place. Britain pushed the American’s buttons so much that it was finally time for the colonists to speak up. The question “were the American colonists justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain?” is significant because this question started a Revolution America will never forget. This question is important today because we still look back in time to see how Britain had such a huge impact on American history.