American Revolution4b

Essential Question:How did the Declaration of Independence become a road map for the new republic as it extended the franchise, provided for equalityof opportunity, and guaranteed “unalienable rights”?

The key principles of the Declaration ofIndependence increased political, social, and economic participation in the American experience over a period of time.

I. Political participation (equality)

A. Extending the franchise (giving more people the right to vote)

B. Upholding due process of law (the right to be treated fairly and to have a chance when facing legal action)

C. Providing free public education

II. Social participation (liberty)

A. Abolishing slavery

B. Extending civil rights to women and other groups

III. Economic participation(pursuit of happiness)

A. Regulating the free enterprise system

B. Promoting economic opportunity

C. Protecting property rights

American Revolution4C

Essential Question:What differences existed among Americans concerning separation from Great Britain?

• The rivalry in North America between England and France led to the French and Indian War, in which the French were driven out of Canada and their territories west of the Appalachian Mountains.

• As a result of the war, England took several actions that angered the American colonies and led to the American Revolution.

Anglo-French rivalry leading to conflict with the colonies

French and Indian War 1754 - 1763

1. These included:a. The Proclamation of 1763, which prohibited

settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, a region that was costly for the British to protect.

A portion of eastern North America; the 1763 "Proclamation line" is the border between the red

and the pink areas.

b. New taxes on legal documents (the “Stamp Act”), tea and sugar, to pay costs incurred during the French and Indian War and for British troops to protect colonists.

Sugar Act - 1764Stamp Act - 1765Quartering Act - 1765Townshend Act - 1767 Tea Act - 1773Intolerable Acts - Series of Acts in 1774

II. The beginning of the American Revolution

A. Resistance to British rule in the colonies mounted, leading to war:

1. The Boston Tea Party was staged.

2. The First Continental Congress was called, to which all thirteen colonies sent representatives, the first time the colonies had acted together.

December 16, 1773: The action was taken to prevent

the payment of a British-imposed tax on tea (no

taxation without representation).

First Continental Congress: convention of delegates

from twelve of the thirteen colonies that met on

September 5, 1774 in Philadelphia

The Boston Massacre

A mob formed around a British sentry, who was subjected to verbal abuse and harassment. 5 people died .

B. The Boston Massacre took place when British troops fired on anti-British demonstrators.

C. War began when the “Minutemen” in Massachusetts fought a brief skirmish with British troops at Lexington and Concord.

Minute Men – a highlymobile, rapidly deployed force

III. Differences among the ColonistsA. The colonists were divided into three main

camps during the Revolution:1. Patriots

a. Believed in complete independence from England

1) Inspired by the ideas of Locke and Paine and the words of Virginian Patrick Henry (“Give me liberty, or give me death!”)

2) Provided the troops for the American Army, led by George Washington, also of Virginia.

Patrick Henry delivers his“give me liberty or give me

death”speech in 1775.

2. Loyalists (Tories)a. Remained loyal to Britain, based on cultural

and economic ties.b. Believed that taxation of the colonies was

justified to pay for British troops to protect American settlers from Indian attacks.

King George III of Great Britain

3. Neutralsa. The many colonists who tried to stay as

uninvolved in the war as possible.

SOL 4d

The American rebels won their independence because the British government grew tired of the struggle soon after the French agreed to help the Americans.

Essential Question:What factors contributed to the victory of the American rebels?

I. Diplomatic

A. Benjamin Franklin negotiated a Treaty of Alliance with France.

B. The war did not have popular support in Great Britain.

II. MilitaryA. George Washington, general of the American

army, avoided any situation that threatened the destruction of his army, and his leadership kept the army together when defeat seemed inevitable.

B. Americans benefited from the presence of the French army and navy at the Battle of Yorktown, which ended the war with an American victory.

George Washington accepting British surrender after the

Battle of YorktownOctober 1781

George Washington