Final answer:
The major causes of the American Revolution were the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, and the Intolerable Acts. Americans tried to avoid war with Britain through strategies such as committees of correspondence, non-importation movements, and the First Continental Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Causes of the American Revolution:
Stamp Act:
The Stamp Act, enacted by the British Parliament in 1765, imposed direct taxes on printed materials in the American colonies. This act was seen as a violation of the principle of 'no taxation without representation' and led to widespread protests and boycotts by the colonists.
Boston Massacre:
The Boston Massacre occurred in 1770 when British soldiers fired upon a crowd of Bostonians, resulting in the death of five individuals. This event further inflamed tensions between the colonies and Britain, as it was seen as an example of British oppression and the misuse of military force.
Intolerable Acts:
The Intolerable Acts, passed by the British Parliament in 1774, were a series of punitive measures against the colony of Massachusetts in response to the Boston Tea Party. These acts included the closure of the Boston port, the restriction of colonial self-government, and the quartering of British troops.
Attempts to Avoid War:
Despite these events, many Americans initially sought to avoid war with Britain. Some strategies they employed included: