The American Revolution
What are we learning until
September 5, 2013?
• Unit 2 is the American
Revolution.
• We are studying this
unit until September 5,
2013 and we will test
on that day.
What was the American
Revolution?
The American Revolution
is the war that gave the
United States its
independence from
England.
American colonists were
upset with British policies
and decided to create
their own country.
Before the American Revolution
After the American Revolution
The French-Indian War
Who fought in the French-Indian
War and what did they want?
British and American
Colonists
(Wanted the Ohio River
Valley for farming.)
V.
French and Indians
(French wanted the Ohio
River Valley for the fur
trade, Indians sided with
the French.)
What was the Albany Plan of
Union?
• Benjamin Franklin urged
the American Colonist
to unite and fight
against the French.
• It was one of the first
acts of American Unity.
What were the effects of the
French-Indian War?
• Treaty of Paris of 1763 France lost a lot of land
and England became
more powerful.
• The war put England in
debt (owing more
money than what you
have).
Causes of the American
Revolution
How did the French-Indian War
cause the American Revolution?
• Because the British
believed they were
helping the colonies
against Indian and
French attacks, they
made the Colonies
responsible for paying
for the war debt
through taxes.
What was Mercantilism?
• Mercantilism is the theory
that the purpose of colonies
was to benefit the mother
colonies.
• Colonies must sell their raw
materials to their mother
countries and must buy
finished products from them.
What was the Proclamation Act of
1763?
• The British forbade
American Colonists from
settling past the Appalachian
Mountains.
• British were trying to keep
peace with Native
Americans, but Colonists
were upset that they
weren’t given the land won
from the French.
What was the Stamp Act of 1765?
• The Stamp Act placed a
tax on all paper
products. All papers had
to have a stamp that
stated a tax has been
paid.
• First time all colonists
were directly taxed by
the British.
What was the Quartering Act of
1765?
• In order to save money,
the British passed a law
that stated that
colonists had to allow
British Soldiers into
their homes and feed
them if asked.
What was the Boston Massacre?
• A deadly riot that
resulted in 5 dead
American Colonists.
• The engraving by Paul
Revere motivated many
American Colonists to
hate the British.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
• American protest in
which Americans threw
British Tea out into the
sea.
• They were mad about
the British controlling
the tea trade.
What were the Coercive Acts
(Intolerable Acts)?
• British punishment for
the Boston Tea Party.
• The Law angered the
American Colonists
because it closed their
harbor and limited their
rights.
The Declaration of Independence
Who wrote the Declaration of
Independence?
• Most of the Declaration
of Independence was
written by Thomas
Jefferson.
• He was heavily inspired
by writers such as John
Locke and Thomas
Paine.
When was the Declaration of
Independence written?
• July 4, 1776.
• The Declaration of
Independence is
considered the greatest
accomplishment of the
Second Continental
Congress (The American
Government from 17751781).
What are Unalienable Rights?
• Unalienable Rights are
rights that are given by
God and cannot be
taken away by anyone.
• The three mentioned
are: Life, Liberty, and
the Pursuit of
Happiness.
What are Grievances?
• Grievances are
complaints.
• The Declaration of
Independence listed
many grievances against
the British; such as
Taxation without
Representation.
Why is the Declaration of
Independence Important?
• The Declaration of
Independence separated
the United States from
England.
• The Declaration of
Independence stated that
all men had rights and
could form any
government they wanted.
The Battles of the American
Revolution
Why are the Battles of Lexington
and Concord Important?
• The first battles of the
American Revolution.
• Lexington and Concord
were called the “shots
heard around the
world” because it was
shocking that someone
would fight the British.
What is the Declaration of
Independence?
• Written in July 4, 1776.
• The document officially
separated the American
colonies from the
British.
Why is the Battle of Saratoga considered
the “turning point” of the War?
• The Americans won the
Battle of Saratoga.
• The American victory
convinced the French
that the Americans
could win the war.
• The French start to help
the Americans.
Why is Valley Forge important?
• Valley Forge is where George
Washington kept his troops
during the winter of 1777-1778.
• The army suffered from the lack
of food and cold and many died.
• However, the troops who
survived, were trained very well
and the American Army became
professional.
What was the importance of the
Battle of Yorktown?
• The final large battle of
the American
Revolution.
• British General
Cornwallis surrendered
to the Americans and
French after being
surrounded.
What was the Treaty of Paris of
1783?
• The Treaty of Paris officially
ended the American
Revolution.
• The Americans won their
independence, all land east to
the Mississippi River, and
South of Canada.
• British got to keep their forts in
the Frontier.