Aim: How did the colonies achieve independence from Britain?

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Part I – Statement of Philosophy “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the govern; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government…” Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Part II – List of Grievances “HE has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly…” “HE has kept among us, in time of peace, standing armies…” “For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us…” “For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world…” “For imposing taxes on us without our consent…”

Treaty of Paris 1783: In 1783, the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution. There were several parts to the Treaty:   1. The United States is an independent nation.

2. The boundaries of the United States are: Mississippi River in the west Canada in the north Spanish Florida in the South

3. Each side agrees to pay the debt it owes to the other. 4. British must return all enslaved colonists. 5. Congress would recommend that the states return any property taken from the Loyalists.

POLITICAL EFFECTS 1. The United States is now an independent nation. 2. They need to create a new government to run the country.

Social Effects 1. Over 25,000 colonists died and 10, 000 British Troops 2. 100,000 Loyalists, Slaves, and Natives flee to Canada

Economic Effects 1. U.S. takes on a $27 Million debt from the war 2. Many soldiers were in debt

The Articles of Confederation Structure   One branch of government: Congress, responsible for making national laws Each state had one (1) vote in Congress No executive branch (President) – To enforce the law No judicial branch (Supreme Court) to settle disputes between states and citizens Decision-making 9 of 13 states had to approve a proposal before it could become a law All the states (13 of 13) had to agree to change an existing law Money and Finances The Articles of Confederation could not collect taxes directly from the citizens The Articles of Confederation had to ask the individual states for money The Articles of Confederation could print and borrow money Each state could regulate trade with other states Each state could tax its residents Protection The Articles of Confederation managed agreements with other countries and Native Americans The Articles of Confederation could appoint military officers Only the states could establish militias No national army existed Other The Articles of Confederation established a postal system weights and measures courts consequences for piracy