The American Revolution:
Lesson Notes
Crossroads- Chapter 10
Pages 302-310
Social Studies 9
Mr. Bausback
Introduction:
What led to the writing of the
Declaration of Independence
and the
Revolutionary War for Independence
in the Thirteen Colonies?
Lesson Objectives- Terms:
Can you define the following terms?
• Thirteen Colonies
• Revolution
• Declaration of
Independence
• Way of life
• Tax
• Act- Sugar, Stamp,
Townshend, Tea, &
Intolerable
• Taxation Without
Representation
• Representative
Government
• Federal Union
• State
• Unicameral
• Bicameral
• Constitution
• Bill of Rights
What were the Thirteen Colonies?
• Colony first settled by the British Government,
lords, nobles, and adventurers
• East coast of present day United States
• Jamestown, Virginia- 1607
• Quebec City, 1608 (French in Canada)
• British colonies until 1783
• New England (northern), Middle Colonies, Southern
Colonies
• Colonies had distinct ways of life and local forms of
government
• Became independent United States of America
When were the Colonies formed?
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Virginia (1607)
Massachusetts (1620)
New York (1626)
Maryland (1633)
Rhode Island (1636)
Connecticut (1636)
Delaware (1638)
New Hampshire (1638)
North Carolina (1653)
South Carolina (1663)
New Jersey (1664)
Pennsylvania (1682)
Georgia (1732)
Mapping Assignment:
• Handout- The British Colonies in North
America, 1763-1775
• Using provided handout, label the individual
thirteen colonies
• Use the following slides as a source of
information
• Colour and fine-line the map for homework
• Due next class
The New England Colonies:
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• New Hampshire
• Way of Life:
-Fishing
-Lumber
-Ship building
-Rum
-Livestock
The Middle Colonies:
• New York
• Delaware
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Way of Life:
-Grain
-Livestock
-Iron mining
-Furs
The Southern Colonies:
• Virginia
• Maryland
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Way of Life:
-Tobacco
-Indigo (dye)
-Rice
-Farm Products
-Furs
Problems in the Colonies:
• The Seven Years’ War (French & Indian Wars) 17551763 cost the British Government financially
• British were forced to tax colonists and restrictions
were place on local governments
• Taxes were collected and used by the British
government
• Local colonial governments did not benefit from
taxes
• British government imposed taxes that mainly
benefited British interests (companies & people)
Here come the Acts.....
• Sugar Act, 1764- tax placed on imported
molasses from the British West Indies
• Stamp Act, 1765- tax placed on legal
documents, publications, newspapers, &
playing cards
• Townsend Acts, 1767- taxes placed on glass,
tea, silk, paper, & lead
Tea Anyone?
Tea Act, 1773• East India Company was given sole right or
monopoly to sell tea in North America
• Colonists protested resulting in Boston Tea
Party
• 50 colonists disguised as Native people
dumped tea into Boston Harbor as a protest
• Government responded with Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts!
Intolerable Acts, 1771:
• British government response
• Boston Harbor was closed
• 4,000 British troops sent out 1soldier: 4
colonists
• Quebec Act, 1774- giving small French
population of Quebec the largest track of
land in British North America- Ohio Territory
Colonists Respond.....
• Colonist began to boycott British goods
• Colonist began to collect arms and
ammunition
• Colonists began to raise on army of
“Minutemen”
• Began to hold Continental Congresses
• Escalated protests- “taxation with
representation”
• Writing of the Declaration of the
Independence, July, 4th, 1776- Thomas
Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence:
• Declaration (n): an official statement
• Independence: (v): the ability of govern on one’s on
• Signees:
-John Hancock
-Benjamin Franklin
-John Adams
-Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of IndependenceAssignment:
• Handout- 18 American Declaration of
Independence, 1776
• Read provided handout, article, and questions
• With a partner, discuss the provided questions
• Record your answers
• Answer questions 1-3 from page 308 of Crossroads
text
• Be prepared to share your answers for the following
class
• Questions along with map due next period!
Declaration of Independence- Points:
1- All people have equal rights.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.”
2- Great Britain had treated the colonists
wrongfully.
3-The colonies were now an independent
country known as the United States of
America.
Declaration Aftermath:
• 1776-1783- American Revolution or War for
Independence
• Patriot Revolutionaries or Patriots (Blue Coats) &
“Militia”
versus
• Loyalist British Army (Red Coats)
• Key Battles: Lexington & Concord, Bunker Hill,
Saratoga,& Yorktown
• Outcome- defeat of British; United States of
America; Representative Government; Constitution;
Bill of Rights; Unicameral Federal Congressional
System
The End
Thanks for learning!