The American Revolution The Colonists Revolt The American Revolution

American Revolution

Thirteen Colonies So meanwhile… England set up 13 colonies in America (all details will be covered in US History, next year)

The Birth of the American Republic (All possible with Enlightenment ideas) The colonists were mad that they were paying high taxes and are not being represented in British Parliament. “No taxation without representation” King George III- King of England- passed laws that made the colonists pay for their own defense. Issued the Quartering Act

Boston Tea Party- protested the tax on tea Boston Massacre- 5 colonists died and they called it a massacre

Common Sense Tomas Paine wrote Common Sense said, “It is common sense… we must break away from the British”

Declaration of Independence The Colonists wanted to be free from the British. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. It was adopted July 4, 1776. King George III does not accept the Declaration and fights to keep the colonists. The American Revolution

The American Revolution- British fight the Colonists because they do not want to lose control of the colonies. Battle of Saratoga, Valley Forge, the Colonists convince the French to help them against their rivals, the British. In the end, under pressure from George Washington, the British surrender at Yorktown (Battle of Yorktown) in 1781. Colonists win their independence. Two years later they sign the Treaty of Paris… ending the war

The Colonists build a government from scratch using Enlightenment Ideas. The written work was called The Constitution. The ideas included democracy, freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition… right to bear arms