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Some of the long term causes are the Enlightenment changes in thinking, the theory of Mercantilism, the French and Indian War, and England's inability to enforce it's laws. The most important reason for the Revolution was America's change in thinking as a result of the Enlightenment. Political philosophers such as John Locke began saying for the first time since ancient Greece that the government was there to serve the people, not the people to serve the government. If the government failed to serve and protect the people, then the people must change the government. This new way of thinking made the colonists actively involved in their own political systems. They even set up representative assemblies to make their laws. Colonists began to think of it as their right to have a voice in matters from taxes to punishment of criminals. Meanwhile in Britain, citizens were not directly represented and had no hope of being so. The theory there was that each member of Parliament represented all of the British Empire, and not just the region he happened to be from. This division in public opinion led the colonists to be angered when Parliament refused direct representation for the colonies and also tried to implement stricter control on them. The colonists thought that with out direct representation, they should not be taxed or unjustly governed. Another cause for Revolution was the theory of Mercantilism. This was the economic system in which a Mother Country (Britain) starting colonies in other countries. These colonies provide the Mother Country with all the natural resources that it can not provide for itself, and would otherwise have to purchase from other European countries at a higher price. In turn, the Mother Country would sell their manufactured goods back to the colonies and around the world. This is not fully a disadvantage for the colonies. For a long time their populations were small and it was cheaper and easier for them to import most of their goods. However, Britain's monopoly of raw materials was not always favorable towards the colonists. Perhaps the Portuguese or French were offering a better price on lumber or tobacco. How many colonists would actually refuse a foreign offer because England wouldn't make as much of a profit off of them? Also, as the colonial populations grew, it became wiser for them to start manufacturing more of their own goods. New England became an esteemed ship building center that rivaled or surpassed Britain's. England repeatedly resisted manufacturing in the colonies. They even went as far as to pass laws such as the Wool Act of 1699, the Hat Act of 1732, and the Iron Act of 1750. These laws prevented the exportation of some textiles and all hats, and forbade the building of any new factories that produced iron products. This was done purely for English prosperity without regard to colonial welfare. If the colonists started making their own things, and did not export as much to England, they would become much more wealthy while England would be cut off from the money. The French and Indian War was another long term cause. Immediately after the war, colonist support of England of very high. Britain had just defeated the French and any colonist fears of the French taking Ohio from the American settlers. They also had for the most part surpressed the Indians. Colonists became less dependant on England because they no longer were threatened by any other countries except England itself. However, good opinions were soon changed. England continued to maintain an army in America, further increasing England's debt. The colonies wondered why the army remained if it was costing so much when all they danger was past. Rumors were that the army remained not to fight the French, but to fight the colonists. Further more, England was expecting the colonies to pay for the war and the upkeep the standing army. This was done with the Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765), and the Quartering Act (1765). This was taxation with out representation. In other words, England was providing the colonies with services they didn't want and making them pay for it. Another area of tension was caused by the French and Indian War. The Proclamation of 1763 forbade colonists to settle the lands which they had fought and died for in order to pacify the Indians living there. If it could have been enforced, this law would have caused a much greater revolt. Because it could not be, colonists adopted a new boldness in defying English Law and it's enforcement policies. The last long term cause was England's inability to enforce it's laws. The distance made it difficult to monitor their colonists The King and Parliament were not very interested in keeping the colonists happy. The Proclamation of 1763 was largely ignored because nothing could be done to offenders. There was so much protest over the Stamp Act that Parliament was forced to repeal it. The colonists had made sure that no one was able to collect the taxes. How could a country claim control of an area if it could not enforce it's tyrannical laws? Revolt was inevitable. In all, England pushed it's source of wealth into defiance. It ignored colonist's rights as Englishmen and therefore forced them to claim their own rights as men and women. Like a rebellious teenager, America declared "Give me liberty or give me death!"(Patrick Henry). Bibliography: none Word Count: 939
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