Unalienable rights- The rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of

happiness. They belong to every human being.

First Continental Congress

• Many members of the First Continental Congress opposed declaring independence because they-

• Believed reconciliation with Great Britain was still possible

• Olive Branch Petition

According to the Declaration of Independence which of the following is a right that all people have and that legitimate governments should protect?

Unalienable Rights

• American colonist protested against the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act because they believed the acts directly violated their economic rights.

Thomas Paine

• Immigrated to North America

• Became a Revolutionary writer and philosopher

• Wrote the influential pamphlet “Common Sense”

• Wrote a series of essays titled Crisis

• Supported the French Revolution

• Following the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the Second Continental Congress created the Continental army. The commander in charge of uniting American militias under this new army was- George Washington

Events In the American Revolution

• 1776- Washington and his troops flee New York

• 1777- Americans win the battle at Saratoga

• 1780- The British capture Charleston

• 1781- The British surrender at Yorktown

• 1783- Americans and the British sign the Treaty of Paris

Challenges for leaders of the American Revolution

• Developing diplomatic relations

• Limited financial resources

• Accusations of treason

The information above represents the challenges that leaders of the American Revolution faced when- declared independence from Great Britian

Timeline

• 1773- Boston Tea Party

• 1774- Enactment of the Intolerable Acts

• 1775- Battles of Lexington and Concord

• 1776- writing of the Declaration of Independence

Colonial troops in the Revolutionary era enjoyed a geographic advantage over the British because- the distance from Great Britain made it difficult for the British to replace troops.

Some Americans colonists believed they were justified in declaring independence from Great Britain because the British government- taxed the colonies without direct representation in Parliament.

One of the purposes of the Declaration of Independence was to- justify the American colonists’ revolution to the rest of the world.

The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point to the American Revolution because- the colonial victory convinced France to support American Independence.

Pre-Revolution 1750’s-1763

• Issues: French and Indian War- Seven Years War on European Continent

• Mercantilism- Colonist prohibited from trading with countries other that England and from producers competing products

North: developing industries; free enterpriseSouth: introduction of cotton in the South and resulted in

the development of the plantation system…. SlaveryCost of War: Britain is taxed to the max- troops stationed in

colonies;Colonists should help pay for them!!!

Revolutionary Era 1763-1783

Causes: No taxation without representation- Colonist used to self-government elected by the people, resented taxes passed by the Parliament without their being directly represented.

British Economic Policies- Mercantilism

Issues

• Taxes led to resistance, revolt, revolution• 1764- Sugar Act

Samuel Adams, and Sons of Liberty1765- colonial boycott; tax repealed1767- Townsend Acts- tax on glass, lead,

paper, paint and teaWrites of assistance- searches of ship’s cargo

for taxable, smuggled goodsStanding army maintained

Effects

• 1770 Boston Massacre; Sam Adams, committees of correspondence (because of economic effect on British merchants taxes repealed except on tea-symbol of power to tax; effect- political distrust of government)

• 1773- Boston Tea Party– Resulted in : Intolerable Acts to punish

Massachusetts- colonist had to pay for tea, limited town meetings; shut down part of Boston; Quatering Act

And then….

• Second Continental Congress assembled- tension building

• 1775 British General Gage sent to take weapons from colonials at Lexington and Concord- “Shot heard ‘round the world”

• George Washington appointed General of Continental army

• Olive Branch Petition- asking for revolution-rejected by the king

• Hit and run tactics used: fought in the winter- Trenton

• Washington at Valley Forge, Gage in Pennsylvania

1776- Thomas Paine Common Sense on natural rights (rights if the individual) press and speeches used to influence the colonists

Resulting in the American Revolution

• 1776- Second Continental Congress met• Thomas Jefferson expressed the colonists

desire for independence in the Declaration of Independence – “… (a government) derives it’s powers from

the Consent of the governed…”– … have right to revolt when the government

becomes too oppressive– Citizens deprived of individual rights without

due process

• All men created equally and endowed by their creators with certain inalienable rights… life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

• …to secure the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• …if government fails guarantee…then a right of the people to alter or abolish…

Grievances against the British government

• Taxation without representation

• Quartering of soldiers

• Not guaranteeing a trial by jury

• Not allowed to trade with other countries

• Denying representation in Parliament

LAST….. Are officially free and independent

• George Washington still head of the army

• Benjamin Franklin sent to France to secure aid

• 1777- Battle at Saratoga; colonists won and France agreed to send aid- men, money and supplies (navy)

• 1781- Battle of Yorktown, colonists aided by French and geography, cut off from escaping by sea to New York. British surrender- WAR OVER

Effects

• 1783- Treaty of Paris signed to recognize colonial independence; extended from Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, not including Florida ( belonged to the Spanish)

George Washington

• Commander of the Continental Army

• Defeated Cornwallis at Yorktown

• President of Constitutional Convention

• First President of the United States

Thomas Jefferson

• Wrote the Declaration of Independence

• United States Minister to France

• Third President of the United States

• Governor of Virginia

• As president, purchased Louisiana

• Secretary of State- Washington’s administrator