1. The 13 colonies should be grateful to the
British.
2. The 13 colonies should be allowed to have
their own leadership within their own
communities.
3. All colonist should be loyal to the King
George the III.
4. The colonist should be free to make their
own laws.
American Revolution
1775-1783
1763-1774
Major
events led the 13
original colonies to
declare their
Independence from
Great Britain.
13 Original Colonies
Georgia
South Carolina
Virginia
Maryland
Delaware
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Connecticut
Massachusetts
New York
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
North Carolina
French/Indian War



The British and their colonies fought
against the French and the Native
Americans over land.
The British and colonies won.
The Lord of the Treasury in England felt
that the colonists should pay for the war.
Taxation without Representation


Colonies were taxed without any say in
Government decisions.
The British placed taxes on common items
such as newspapers, wills, playing cards, tea,
paper and glass items.
Boston Massacre



The Colonists were angry
because British troops were in
their town.
The Colonists threw sticks and
snowballs at the British troops.
British troops fired into the
crowd, killing 5 people. The
first killed was Cripus Attucks,
an African American who was
considered a hero by some and
a troublemaker by others.
Boston Massacre
Propaganda




Information designed to influence opinionsagainst the British was published in colonies.
Samuel Adams put up posters describing the
“Boston Massacre” as a slaughter of innocent
Americans by the “bloody” redcoats.
Paul Revere showed a picture of a
British officer giving the order to open
fire on an orderly crowd.
The Sons of Liberty wrote many
pamphlets to persuade colonists to
support the revolutionary movement.
Boston Tea Party


The Sons of Liberty dressed like Mohawk
Indians to disguise themselves.
They (along with other colonists) threw 342
chests of tea into the Boston Harbor in protest
of the unfair tea trade agreement.
Punishing Boston


King George III of England
was so angry at the Colonists
that he closed Boston Harbor,
preventing shipments of food
and other necessary supplies.
The king made laws prohibiting
town meetings and forced the
Colonists to house British
soldiers or face punishment.

The Intolerable Acts!
First Continental Congress


Met in Sept. 1774 in
Philadelphia, PA.
Sent the Olive Branch
Petition to King
George III so that the
colonies could break
away peacefully.
Battle of Lexington




April 9, 1775 – British general Thomas Gage sent
700 troops to Lexington, Massachusetts to collect
weapons.
Paul Revere went on his famous ride to warn John
Hancock and Samuel Adams.
British troops met colonial minutemen at the village
green in Lexington.
No one knows who fired the first shot – “The shot
heard ‘round the world.”
Second Continental Congress



Met in Philadelphia, PA.
Made George
Washington the
commander of the
Continental Army.
Signed the Declaration
of Independence to
officially break from
England.
Revolutionary War




The war lasted until 1781.
Soldiers served under harsh conditions
without needed supplies, including clothing,
weapons, and food.
George Washington proved to be an excellent
leader and commander of the troops.
Battle of Yorktown ended the war, thanks to
the help of the French who sent help to the
American colonists.
America, the nation




The leaders of the Revolution met to create
the American government.
They wrote the U.S. Constitution based on
many Enlightenment ideas.
 Separation of Powers w/Checks and
Balances (Montesquieu)
 Life, Liberty… (Locke)
 Equality (Voltaire)
George Washington was named first
president!
As colonies ratified the Constitution, they
became American states.
Warm-up Questions for American
Revolution
A. People should never take part in political
revolution.
B. People should take part in political revolution
only if their family is in danger.
C. People should take part in political revolution
only if their basic human rights are not met.
D. People should take part in political revolution
whenever they disagree with the government.