Ch. 6 Section 4 The American Revolution

Britain and Its American Colonies Throughout the 1600-1700’s British colonists had formed a large and thriving settlement on the eastern shore of North America When George III became king of Britain 1760 the colonies were growing. Economically at this time the colonies were thriving greatly.

Along with increasing population size the colonists were starting to look for a new identity. By the mid 1700’s colonists had been living in America for nearly 150 years. Each of the 13 colonies had its own government. Overtime colonists will see themselves less as British citizens and more and more as Virginians and Pennsylvanians.

However they were still British subjects and had to obey British law. In 1651 the British Parliament passed a trade law called the Navigation Act. This prevents the colonies from sellign any of their products to any other country but Britian. In addition colonists had to pay high taxes on imported French and Dutch imported goods.

The policies benefited both the colonists and the motherland. Britian bought the raw goods from the colonists and manufactured them into products to sell back to the colonists Also despite trade restrictions merchants will thrive

Americans Win Independence In 1754 war erupted on the North American continent between the english and french. This will lead to the French and Indian war The problem is that after the war (which the colonists did not have any say so in) they were left with the bill. Then in 1765 Parliament passed the Stamp act (have to pay for a stamp on ALL paper products)

At this point the colonists had not ahd to pay a direct tax to Great Britian. Over the next decade hostilities will increase between the colonists in America and Great Britian In 1773 to protest an import tax on tea the colonists will dump a large load of British tea in the Boston Harbor. This will be come to known as the Boston Tea Party

This will add to tensions and in 1774 represenatives from every colony except Georgia gathered in Philidelphia to form the 1st Continental Congress. This group formed to protest the treatment of Boston but this had little to no affect on King George III therefore they formed the 2nd Continental Congress to take further action

On April 19, 1775 British Soldiers and American Militia men exchanged fire on the village of Lexington and Concord. The second continental congress agreed to raise an army and organize it under a man from Virginia named George Washington. The colonial leaders used enlightenment theories to spread support for the revolution.

On July 4th, 1776 the Second Continental Congress met and created the Declaration of Independence This was written primarily by Thomas Jefferson and was written firmly on the ideals of John Locke and the Enlightenment When the deceleration is published the British will quickly go to all out war with them.

In the first part of the war the colonials will begin to lose battle after battle. George Washington's rag tag group of men had no chance taking on the most powerful country in the world. Eventually over time and careful planning the colonials will win the war.

Success of the Colonists 1. the motivation for the colonists were much greater than that of the British 2. Overconfident British generals made several strategic battle mistakes Time itself was on the side of the American colonists (even though the British won battle after battle they can still lose the war)

This will make war extremely expensive especially for the British subjects 3,000 miles away The Americans did not fight this war alone. Louis XVI had little sympathy or care for the American Colonies but he LOVED the idea of putting it to the British.

In 1781 combined forced of about 9,500 Americans and 7,800 French troops trapped the British Army commanded by Lord Cornwallis near Yorktown, Virginia Unable to escape Cornwallis eventually surrendered The Americans shocked the entire world and this defeat of the British will let the world know we are not to be trifled with.

America Creates a Republic 13 states will recognize a need for a government They will ratify the constitution of 1781 This plan will be known as the Articles of Confederation It was deliberately created to have a weak government. Why?

A Weak National Government No executive or judicial branches under this system Each state regardless of size only had 1 vote Could declare war, enter into treaties, and coin money ( BUT……..) Could not regulate trade or collect taxes. It could only request contributions from states.

In February 1787 approved a constitutional convention to revise the Articles of Confederation Will eventually create a system of checks and balances Our new constitution will set up a federal system which will separate powers between the states and national government Lastly we will need and require for the individual states a Bill of Rights