The American Revolution UNIT 2: The American Revolution (1775-1783)

Standards & Objective: Standard 1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the conflicts between regional and national interests in the development of democracy in the United States. OBJECTIVE: Describe how the government in Britain influenced colonial governments. Indicator 1.2: Analyze the early development of representative government and political rights in the American colonies, including the influence of the British political system and the rule of law as written in the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights, and the conflict between the colonial legislatures and the British Parliament over the right to tax that resulted in the American Revolutionary War. Indicator 1.3: Analyze the impact of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution on establishing the ideals of a democratic republic.

Causes of the American Revolution: The colonists brought the ideas of representative government with them from England. Magna Carta Recognized the rights of Englishmen to be consulted on the levying of taxes. Basis of the English Parliamentary system Established the idea of a jury of one’s peers. Basis of English Judicial system.

2. English Bill of Right People had the right to be consulted on taxes through their representatives. The power of the King (the executive) should be limited by Parliament People have the right to religious freedom Included in the 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights 3. English law clearly stated that everyone had to obey the law, even the king. 4. The rules of the English legal system were clear, well-understood and fairly enforced. 5. The colonial charters granted by the king included statements that English colonists continued to enjoy the rights of Englishmen.

B. Early Colonial Governments applied English principals to their own laws. Examples of early representative governments: House of Burgesses (Va.) Allowed by the Virginia Company in Jamestown as a way of maintaining order in the colony and attracting new colonists. Virginia did not have a true democracy Only property owners could vote. A social elite developed, and others began deferring to them. By the 1620’s, the king had appointed a Royal Governor, further limiting democracy in Virginia

The above depicts the signing of the Mayflower Compact. b. Mayflower Compact (New England) Government derives its authority from the people. The above depicts the signing of the Mayflower Compact.

Discussion Question! Write this question at the bottom of your notes page: What influences to our government can you see from Britain? Answer the question using notes and our discussion.

c. New England town meetings Puritans supported representative government in Massachusetts Bay These ideas were spread to other parts of New England as Puritans migrated. Male members of the church governed their society through town meetings At first, only male members of the church were allowed to vote By the end of the 1700’s, all male property owners could vote. d. All thirteen colonies established a representative assembly which had the right to levy taxes. By the time of the Revolution, most colonies had a royal governor, which limited their representative governments.

C. Conditions in England during the 1600’s affected the development of representative government in the colonies. During the English Civil War (1640s), the English government left the colonies alone to develop their own governments. Parliament’s control on the colonies was limited by distance and desire. John Locke’s Social Contract Theory Man had natural rights to life liberty and property The authority of the government rests on the will of the people

D. The end of Salutary Neglect after the French and Indian War. Remember: After the 1720s the English government followed a policy of salutary neglect, leaving the colonies to govern themselves. The colonial assemblies had the right to tax the citizens of their colonies. It was the change of this policy that riled the colonists into revolt. French and Indian War (1754-1759) Great Britain and France both claim and fight for the western colonies Great Britain wins but acquires a huge debt Great Britain decides that the American colonists should repay the debt due to the war being fought on their soil Join, or Die Political Cartoon by Benjamin Franklin A political cartoon calling for the American colonies to band together for protection against the Indians and the French. First published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754.

2. Navigation Acts: After the war, Parliament ended salutary neglect and enforced their mercantilist policies by cracking down on smugglers. England viewed colonial sales to other countries as an economic threat. The Navigation Acts: were laws that restricted colonial trade, and ensured that only England benefited from the trade.

3. England establish Admiralty Courts (during the Sugar Act) Colonial merchants accused of a crime would be brought to England Case heard by only a judge, which violated the rights to a trial by jury (in the Magna Carta) Judges were often corrupt, because they got bonuses for the amount of fines they collected from the “guilty” Colonists protested the courts and increased smuggling

Checking for Understanding: Discussion Section: Start of Revolution What were some early documents that influenced the representative governments in the colonies? Was the Virginia House of Burgesses a truly democratic government? Why or why not? According to Locke’s Social Contract Theory, the power to govern comes from whom? Parliament’s control over the colonies was limited by what two things? Why were the colonists angry when Britain established the Admiralty Courts? How did they respond to these?

4. England imposed taxes on the colonies to help pay for the war debt. Sugar tax Indirect (import) tax on molasses Stamp Act Direct tax on paper goods (documents, envelopes, letters, stamps, etc) Colonists strongly opposed the Stamp Act because it was a direct tax on the colonists Tax: Money that people pay to their government.

c. Colonial Response Parliament’s failure to recognize the exclusive right of the colonial assemblies to collect taxes led to the cry of “taxation without representation” Protested the loss of ‘rights of Englishmen’ The colonists created groups to fight England’s abuses The Sons and Daughters of Liberty Led riots and helped spread communication of colonial grievances.

England stationed troops in the colonies to re-gain control. 2. The Stamp Act Congress Led an effective boycott which led to the repeal (cancelling) of the Stamp Act. England stationed troops in the colonies to re-gain control. This angered and alienated the colonists Led to the Boston Massacre (see next slide) Red coat or Redcoat is a historical term used to refer to soldiers of the British Army because of the red uniforms formerly worn by the majority of regiments.

What advantages do the redcoats have that the colonists do not What advantages do the redcoats have that the colonists do not? How could this engraving contribute to the growing support for the Patriots’ cause?

Repealed as a result of colonists’ boycott. d. The Townshend Acts: England taxed the colonies to raise money to pay the salaries of the governors and judges so they were independent of colonial control. Repealed as a result of colonists’ boycott. The Bostonian Paying the Excise-Man, 1774 British propaganda print referring to the tarring and feathering of Boston Commissioner of Customs. The men also poured hot tea down Malcolm's throat. Note the noose hanging on the Liberty Tree, and the Stamp Act posted upside-down

e. Tea Act: Gave the British-controlled East India Company the exclusive right to sell tea, which was the most consumed beverage in the colonies. This would have made the tea cheaper, but there was still a tax on the tea. The colonists accused England of trying to “trick” them into paying a tax levied by Parliament. Resulted in the Boston Tea Party

Political cartoon showing the reaction to the Boston Tea Party Political cartoon showing the reaction to the Boston Tea Party. Boston was not the only city to have a “tea party.” They took place in Charleston, New York, Annapolis, and others.

f. Coercive “Intolerable” Acts Created in response to the Boston Tea Party g. Colonial responses First Continental Congress Lexington and Concord “Shot heard ‘round the world” Began the Revolutionary War The "shot heard 'round the world“ comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Concord Hymn" (1837), and referred to the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. This 1775 first shot was fired during an armed standoff between British forces and local militia in Lexington, escalating into engagements at the battles of Lexington and Concord.

E. Common Misconceptions The colonists were not protesting against the taxes because the taxes were too high. The colonists were not attempting to form a new form a government. The colonists did not want representation in Parliament, since they would have been outvoted. The colonists were trying to hold onto the government that they had developed during the time of salutary neglect. The colonists wanted England to recognize that only their colonial legislatures had the right to impose taxes on the colonists.

Checking for Understanding: Discussion Section: Acts of Parliament Why did Great Britain start taxing the colonies? What was the reason behind the slogan, “No taxation without representation?” What groups were formed in response to England’s abuses? What was a major cause of the Boston Tea Party?

Declaration of Independence II. The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution established the ideals of a democratic republic. The Declaration of Independence Written in the 2nd year of the war Meant to explain the reason of the colonist’ fight It addressed those within the colonies who remained loyal to the king or were uncommitted to the fight for independence. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It declared that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire.

John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson was selected as the main author of the document.

Patriots: Colonists who were for independence. Loyalists: Colonist who were opposed to independence.

3. Explains the concept of limited government based on the ideas of John Locke The principles of equality The natural rights of “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” The purpose of government to “secure those rights” and the “right of the people to alter or abolish” government when natural rights are not protected by government.

4. Specifically addresses the reasons why the colonists went to war. The King, not the Parliament, had violated the rights of the colonists. Everything the “he” did broke the bonds between the king and his loyal colonial subjects. All of “his” actions unified the colonies against a common enemy. King George III of Great Britain.

5. French involvement during the war By declaring their independence, the Americans made it possible to form alliances with other nations. Although the French king did not support democracy, he supported the colonists against France’s traditional enemy, Britain. After the Americans defeated the British at the Battle of Saratoga, the French thought that the colonists might actually win. The French treaty provided the colonists with naval support and supplies which helped them defeat the British at Yorktown.

North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1783

6. After the Revolution, Americans began to put the principles of the Declaration into practice. The Declaration of Independence impacted newly formed state governments and the Articles of Confederation after the Revolution. These governments relied primarily on the role of the legislature and severely limited executive power. Northern states passed laws to gradually emancipate their slaves. States allowed religious freedom Male property owners could vote. Most American males owned property.

7. Some promises made by the Declaration of Independence remained unfulfilled by certain groups. Since 1776, the idea that “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights … [to] life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” has been a rallying cry for those denied their rights, both in the United States and throughout the world.

Checking for Understanding: Discussion Section: American Revolution Why was the Declaration of Independence written? Who was the intended audience? What are some concepts of Locke’s limited government that are included in the document? According to the document, who had violated the colonists’ rights? What was one significant result of the Battle of Saratoga? After the revolution, how did the Declaration of Independence impact the new state governments?