Which event is considered a direct cause of the American Revolution?

The Boston Tea Party is often viewed as a direct catalyst for the American Revolution due to its significant impact on colonial sentiment against British taxation and authority. In 1773, American colonists, frustrated by the Tea Act—which allowed the British East India Company to sell tea at a lower price but still taxed it—demonstrated their resistance to British rule by boarding ships in Boston Harbor and dumping an entire shipment of tea into the water. This act of defiance not only symbolized colonial opposition to the imposition of taxes without representation but also led to increased tensions between the colonies and the British government. In response, the British imposed the Coercive Acts, which further escalated conflict and united many colonists against perceived injustices, paving the way for the Revolutionary War.

The other events listed do not serve as direct causes of the American Revolution. The signing of the Magna Carta was a pivotal moment in the evolution of constitutional governance but occurred centuries earlier and did not directly instigate the rebellion. The War of 1812 took place after the American Revolution and dealt with different issues related to national sovereignty. The founding of Jamestown, while significant in the context of colonial development, predated the revolutionary sentiments and struggles that arose later in the 18