The American Revolution
Objective: Students will describe the causes and effects of the
American Revolution.
Directions: Take out folders, a BLANK PIECE OF PAPER and
something to write with...WE TOOK A POP QUIZ YESTERDAY
SO IF YOU WERE GONE YOU NEED TO COPY NOTES AND
TAKE THE QUIZ TODAY.
The Causes of the
American Revolution
Today you will learn WHY and HOW the American
Colonists rebelled against England (Britain) and
went on to start the American Revolution. You
will also learn what ENLIGHTENMENT
philosophies inspired such revolution and ideas.
Directions: Take out your America Charts. You have
just a couple minutes today (NO PARTNERS) to
review.
1.What did Parliament pass in the 1660's
and what impact did they have on trade?
They passed the Navigation Acts making a
trade advantage for the British over the
colonists.
2. What was the trade (mercantile)
relationship between the colonists and
Britain?
Britain bought
raw materials
from colonists
(cheap) and
sold
manufactured
goods back to
them
(expensive).
3. What major conflict took place that
increased Britain's war debt?
Their involvement in the French and
Indian War.
4. As a result, what did King George do to
try and erase that debt?
He toughened
their trade laws,
and passed new
taxes on them to
make them pay
for the war they
benefited from.
5. What was the first major trade law
placed on colonists that outraged them?
Stamp Act, a tax on printed materials in 1765.
6. What did this law tax?
All printed materials.
7. What did the British do in response to
colonists outrage?
They repealed the
act/tax.
8. What replaced the Stamp Act? What
did it tax?
The Townshend Act replaced it, which
taxed EVERY DAY items.
9. Describe the Boston Massacre?
In March 1770, a group of British soldiers
fired into a crowd that had been heckling
them over British policies, killing 5
colonists.
10. Describe the Boston Tea Party?
After the British restricted tea trade in
1773, a group of colonists disguised as
Native Americans dumped several
hundred chests of tea into Boston
Harbor in protest.
11. What law did the British pass in response
to colonists' behavior? What did it state?
They passed the Intolerable Acts, ending self
government in Massachusetts and closing
Boston's port until the tea was repaid.
12. What steps did the colonists take in
response to that law?
They held the First Continental Congress to
discuss their plan of action against the
British. It was held in Philadelphia, PA.
13. How did the British react to these
steps by the colonists?
They refused to listen and then British
soldiers tried to destroy and take
weapons from colonists in Concord and
Lexington.
14. Describe the “shot heard round the
world”?
The colonists who were told the British
were coming to take their weapons, and
gathered to stop them. Violence broke
out after the first shot, and 350+ were
killed or wounded.
The American Revolution
Objective: Students will describe the causes and effects of the
American Revolution.
Directions: Take out folders, a BLANK PIECE OF PAPER and
something to write with...WE TOOK A POP QUIZ YESTERDAY
SO IF YOU WERE GONE YOU NEED TO COPY NOTES AND
TAKE THE QUIZ TODAY.
Trade Restrictions
• Britain had placed
many trade
restrictions to their
advantage on the
colonies in
America.
• Navigation Acts of
the 1660’s, passed
by Parliament.
Colonial Discontent
• The Stamp Act
outraged colonists in
1765.
• It taxed all printer
materials.
• “Taxation without
representation!” they
claimed again King
George III.
Repeal and Replace
• Parliament repealed
the Stamp Act the
next year, only to
replace it with a very
similar Townshend
Act.
• Again, “Taxation
without
representation!” the
colonists exclaimed!!
The Boston Massacre
• With colonists
mocking British
soldiers, and
heckling them
about taxes, the
soldiers fire and
kill 5 unarmed
colonists.
The Tea Act
• The tax on tea outraged the colonists.
Especially in Boston, MA.
The Boston Tea Party
• Disguised as
Native
Americans, the
colonists
destroy British
property by
dumping
hundreds of
chests of tea
into the Boston
Harbor.
The Intolerable Acts of 1774
• Parliament, fearing more revolts, institutes
these Acts to strictly punish the colonies.
The First Continental Congress
• Held in Philadelphia,
PA in 1774.
• Demanded Parliament
repeal the Intolerable
Acts.
• The British ignore,
and the colonists plan
for Revolution and
War.
Lexington, MA
• British try to seize
firearms of the
colonists.
• Violence erupts, and
a shot is fired that is
“heard round the
world”.
• This begins the
American
Revolution.
The Second Continental
Congress
• In response to
Lexington, MA; they
call upon George
Washington to lead as
Commander in Chief of
the continental army.
• Spring of 1775.
Colonists View
• Moderates
hoped, even at
this point, to
not have a
complete
break from
Britain.
• Extremists,
called for
independence.
Common Sense
• A pamphlet written by
Thomas Paine.
• “Ye that dare oppose
not only the tyranny,
but the tyrant, stand
forth!”
• His powerful words
persuade many of the
moderates to become
extremists.
Declaration of Independence
• In June 1776, a committee influenced by
John Locke’s and the Enlightenment ideas
(see England notes), develop their political
philosophy of natural law and social
contract.
• Led by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.
Declaration of Independence
• States Enlightenment phrases
such as…
• “that all men are created
equal”
• Natural laws, such as “life,
liberty and the pursuit of
happiness”.
• When these natural laws are
broken by the government: “it
is the right of the people to
alter or abolish it…”
• In other words, Revolution is
justified.
July 4th, 1776
• Congress adopts the
Declaration of
Independence, and
George Washington
uses it to inspire his
troops.
The War of Independence
• The British army was
too tough to face in the
open field.
• They must use
Washington’s
tactfulness, and the
help of the French.
• However, the French
didn’t really help until
victory was CERTAIN,
for the Americans.
British Disadvantages
• It was a long
distance war.
• They must conquer
the WHOLE country
to win the war.
• The Americans
simply held out until
the British admitted
defeat.
The Turning Point of War
• October 1777,
Americans defeat
the British at
Saratoga.
• This gained the
Spanish and
French on the
American’s side.
Battle at Yorktown
• This victory in
1781, spelled
the end of the
war between
Britain and the
colonies.
Treaty of Paris in 1783
• The United States
is recognized as an
independent nation.
• France, however,
suffered a huge
debt (see French
Revolution notes).
A New Nation
• Articles of
ConfederationU.S. was a league
of independent
states.
• 1787, Congress
calls a Convention
to revise these
Articles, and write
a Constitution.
The Constitution
• Sets a federal system of government:
executive, legislative, and judicial.
• Based on Montesquieu’s ideas (see
England notes).
The Constitution
• U.S. becomes a
republic.
• Election on 1788
earns George
Washington the title of
first U.S. President.
The Bill of Rights
• Based off of the English
Bill of Rights.
• Added to the Constitution
in the form of 10
Amendments.
• Protected individual
liberties such as freedom
of speech, religion, and
trial by jury. Also protects
states’ rights.
Results of the Revolution
• Proved Enlightenment
ideas could work.
• Europeans looked at
America as the land of
opportunity, and follow
in it’s steps for
Revolution (see
France).
Take Out a Blank Sheet of Paper
and title: “American Revolution ?s”
• Page 432
• Vocabulary Review #1
• Recalling the Facts: 4, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Write Question and Answer