What Were The Causes Of The American Revolution

At the onset of the American Revolution, the sociology and agenda of the patriotic elite seemed to mirror that of the people. Many influential figures in the colonies, as well as most of the common people, had had enough of what they viewed as British tyrannical rule encroaching on their lifestyles. Visionaries such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson dreamed of a self-governed country founded on a basis of equality and liberty. Of course, these fundamental rights weren't intended for everyone, as women and African Americans would still be discriminated against within the new society.

By 1776, defection from England had been on the horizon for years. The wealthy and poor alike felt that the British had no business ruling over a society that was so far away and different from their own. The British had levied several acts of taxation since the formation of the colonies without causing too much of a stir, but the recent taxes on sugar, stamps, and especially tea were viewed as particularly egregious. The patriotic elite further influenced the frenzy for revolution, notably Thomas Paine's novel “Common Sense” and the famous “no taxation without representation” slogan trumpeted by Patrick Henry and other impassioned rebels.
The wealthy and influential revolutionaries benefited the most, as many of them gained positions of power in the young nation, even though a number of them never had to put their lives on the line in a battle, unlike the people they now governed. Additionally, although the Revolution was fought to achieve freedom, and according to The Declaration of Independence “all men are created equal,” the country still favored its elite, and many inhabitants of the country such as women faced diminished rights, or in the case of slaves, no rights at