Roots of Rebellion

The road to revolution began with the Seven Years' War. Attempting to pay for and govern its massive new empire, Britain imposed land restrictions and taxes that outraged the colonists. Meanwhile, Native American tribes were locked in their own battle, fighting to protect their lands and sovereignty from being swallowed by the expanding British frontier.

This policy acknowledged the prior occupancy of Indigenous peoples; three months earlier, royal Indian Agent John Stuart had sent a broadside to the Cherokee informing them of the King's intentions to protect them in their just rights and possessions. However, the proclamation line was difficult to enforce and did little to halt colonists from settling on tribal lands, leading to a cycle of displacement and broken promises.

The Crown's decision to restrict westward expansion heightened colonial hostility. Ultimately, this frustration contributed to the shift toward revolution; Lee eventually introduced the resolution for American independence, and Washington led the army that won it.

The British decision to levy taxes on its American colonies led to widespread resistance and ultimately revolution. The cost of running the British Empire rapidly swelled after the Seven Years' War, and the British Parliament believed that the colonies should contribute to the expense of their own administration.

Consequently, they implemented a series of unpopular trade regulations and taxes that provoked widespread protest. Colonists claimed that these taxes violated their constitutional rights, while Great Britain insisted on its right to tax British subjects. Tensions mounted with each new measure as colonial resistance grew into open rebellion.

Instead, they further united Americans in a common cause, prompting colonial leaders across the provinces to voice their opposition. This newfound unity spurred the convening of the First Continental Congress, setting the stage for a formal and organized break from British rule.