Summarise the factors which led to the American Revolution.

Following are the factors Which led to the American Revolution:

1. Views Expressed by Philosophers — A number of philosophers advocated political independence and justified resistance to the mother country by the colonies.
2. Mercantilist Policy of British — According to this policy the colonies existed merely to serve the mother country. They supplied raw materials and served as markets for the finished goods. Mercantilism was also against the establishment of self-government for colonies.
3. Removal of French danger — The French were a constant source of danger for the American colonists. As long as the colonists were threatened by the French they needed British military protection. But after England's victory against France in the Seven Years War, the colonies could not be subdued under this pretext.
4. British Attitude — The British believed that the colonists being English natives must serve their mother country. However, the Americans wanted to protect their American identity which they had developed over the years.
5. British Restrictions on Manufacture and Sale — The British restrictions on the manufacture of certain items in the colonies such as iron works, woollen goods, felts etc., caused resentment among the Americans. Similarly, the colonists had to export products like cotton, sugar and tobacco only to England at prices fixed by the British government. Such restrictions convinced the colonists that British government was deliberately hampering their economic development.
6. Unpopular Acts — Various Acts were passed by the British Parliament like the Quartering Act, the Currency Act, the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act ; imposing various restrictions and taxes on Americans. This caused resentment among the Americans.