THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

DR. RODRIGUEZ NOHLE

INDEPENDENCE OF USA (JULY 4 1776)

The Settlement of AmericaDuring the Age of

Exploration, Europeans began colonizing in

North AmericaEngland granted

joint-stock charters to colonists who were

searching for wealth or religious freedom

From 1607 to 1733, England established

13 colonies in America; The colonies were very different & lacked unity

Economics & Government in America

■ Text England used mercantilism to control colonial trade &

increase their profits Despite these trade

restrictions, the colonists made money trading with England England used a policy called salutary neglect

which allowed colonists freedom to make their

own laws & taxesAmericans created their

own colonial assemblies & enjoyed self government

The French & Indian War (1754-1763)For 150 years, colonists were happy with this relationship

with England But, everything changed after

the French & Indian WarIn 1754, England & France

went to war for seven years over territory in America

In 1763, England won the war & the Treaty of Paris gave

England all French lands east of the Mississippi River... …But the war left England

with massive debts

To pay off war debts, Britain created a series

of new taxes on the American colonists

The colonists were upset that Parliament in England would pass laws without the colonists approval

Their slogan became: “No taxation without representation”

Colonists responded to new taxes with boycotts (refusing to buy British goods that were taxed)

Boycotts were effective, but the king & Parliament

believed the Americans should obey British laws & took power away from the colonial assemblies

From 1763 to 1776, tensions between the English government & the American colonists increased

Americans were literate & read books by leading Enlightenment thinkers, especially John Locke, &

used these ideas to justify their protest

“People are born with natural rights, including

life, liberty, property”

“Government power comes from the consent

of the governed”

“Kings can be overthrown if they violate peoples’

natural rights”

British abuses & Enlightenment ideas

inspired Americans to declare independence

Ben Franklin, John Adams, & Thomas Jefferson

served on the committee to draft the Declaration of

Independence

Title

- King George III: British king during the Revolutionary era

- Lord Cornwallis: British general who surrendered at Yorktown

- John Adams: Championed the cause of independence

- George Washington: Commander of the Continental Army

- Thomas Jefferson: Major author of the Declaration of Independence

- Patrick Henry: Outspoken member of House of Burgesses; inspired colonial patriotism with “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.

- Benjamin Franklin: Prominent member of Continental Congress; helped frame the Declaration of Independence

- Thomas Paine: Journalist, author of ‘Common Sense’

IMPORTANT PEOPLE DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

KEY EVENTS DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Boston Massacre: Colonists in Boston were shot after taunting British soldiers.

Boston Tea Party: Samuel Adams and Paul Revere led patriots in throwing tea into Boston Harbor to protest tea taxes.

First Continental Congress: Delegates from all colonies met to discuss problems with England and to promote independence.

Battle of Lexington and Concord: This was the site of the first armed conflict of the Revolutionary War.

Approval of the Declaration of Independence: Colonies declared independence from England (July 4, 1776).

Battle of Saratoga: This American victory was the turning point in the war.

Surrender at Yorktown: This was the colonial victory over forces of Lord Cornwallis that marked the end of the Revolutionary War.

Signing of the Treaty of Paris: England recognized American independence in this treaty.

On July 4, 1776 Americans sent King George III the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence Analysis ■What did the Declaration of Independence say

& why was it such a revolutionary document?

The Declaration of Independence & Influences from the Enlightenment

The Declaration of Independence used

ideas from the Enlightenment (especially John

Locke) to explain why Americans were declaring independence

Brief summary of American Revolution

Treaty of Paris, 1783

The American Revolution lasted from 1775 to 1783 After 6 years of

fighting, the Americans defeated the British at the Battle of Yorktown

The Treaty of Paris, 1783 granted the United States independence from Britain & all lands east of the Mississippi River

With independence, the United States needed a national government to unite the new nation

Government Structure Government Structure

Many of the ideas of the Enlightenment served as inspiration for the new

national government of the United States

The founding fathers created a “federal” system that created a national gov’t but allowed the

13 states to keep power & make their own laws

The American Revolution was an important event

in world history

It was the first time a colony overthrew its

mother country

It was the first time a gov’t was created using Enlightenment ideas of

limited gov’t & individual liberty

The success in America inspired revolutions in

Europe & Latin America