Prelude to the American Revolution

A number of events led to the breakout of the American Revolutionary War. Up until the outbreak of armed hostilities in 1775, most American colonists still wanted reconciliation with England. They had hoped that their actions up to that point would convince the mother country to moderate her oppressive policies toward the American colonies. The one crucial change Britain could have made to prevent the American Revolutionary war goes back in time to the first Navigational Law issued in 1650 that was aimed at rival Dutch shippers that were making their way into American trade. The Brit…