Colin Poole Essays (483 words) - 2nd Millennium,

Colin Poole Hist 411 Online Discussion Post 1 In discussing the causes of the American Revolution, the phrase "taxation without representation" is thrown around quite often. Although this concept is certainly important in the context of what started the American Revolution, the specific causes of the conflict in the British colonies are in fact far more nuanced than just this simple three-word phrase. The main causes of the revolution seem to come primarily from the British Crown's increase of taxes and regulations on the heels of the French and Indian War. The Crown had spent a lot of money on the war effort, and as such raised taxes on the colonies through regulations including currency acts to restrict how the colonies could create their own currency, as well as taxes on some imported goods including sugar and tea. The latter of these regulations were implemented primarily to combat smuggling and corruption within the colonies, as many colonials engaged in trade with the Caribbean for access to such goods. These acts and regulations forced the colonies to become increasingly reliant on the East India Company for goods, which angered many consumers in the colonies. In response to the Crown's tea tax, the Sons of Liberty boarded ships in the middle of the night and tossed hundreds of chests of tea overboard, which in turn led to more punitive measures by the British Crown, pushing the two sides even closer to war. Of course, other events played into the colonial narrative of "revolution", including the Boston Massacre, which although not a massacre in the traditional sense of the word with only four casualties, still invoked great fear among the colonies. The Charleville musket was the primary musket used by French infantry during the American Revolution. Getting its name from the principal French arsenal located in Charleville, France in the Champagne-Ardenne province, this weapon had a general affective range of 50 yards and fired a .69-cal round. [8] A typical Charleville musket is 60.00 inches in length, weighs an average of 10.06lb (loaded), and is capable of firing two rounds per minute. [9] [ not in citation given ] These single-shot-muzzle-loaded muskets contained iron sights and are notorious for being the superior weapon to the British Brown Bess' due to its lighter weight and (relatively) higher accuracy. [10] Charleville Numerous models of the Charleville musket were utilized in the American Revolution. The French shipped 11,000 muskets to Philadelphia, PA and 37,000 to Portsmouth, New Hampshire; both of these shipments contained model 1760's' muskets. The model 1777 was not shipped to American troops, however they were used as the primary armament for General Rochambeau's regiments that departed for America in 1780. [9] Many infantrymen utilized a 15-inch bayonet; according to many reports, bayonets may have accounted for over 1/3 of all kills. [10]