THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

CAUSES Enlightenment ideas –Personal freedoms and equality Britain’s policy of mercantilism and lack of understanding of its colonies Debt incurred during the Seven Years War Taxation without representation

KEY PLAYERS: King George III – King of Great Britain Thomas Jefferson – penned the Declaration of Independence George Washington – Commander-in-chief of the American army General Cornwallis – leader of the British forces during the revolution

TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World (Battle of Lexington/Concord) April, 1775 – First armed conflict

Battle of Breed’s Hill (Bunker Hill) June, 1775 – 1/6 of all British officers killed in the war died here. Only battle in long siege of Boston

Declaration of Independence July, 1776 – 2 nd Continental Congress issues formal declaration of separation from Britain

Battle of Trenton Washington crosses the Delaware December 1776 – Hessian army crushed. Casualties: U.S. 4, Britain 900

Battle of Saratoga October 17, 1777 – turning point of the war Convinced French of U.S. strength Britain surrenders 5800 men

Battle of Charleston December 1779 – British gain control of the South

Battle of Yorktown October 19, 1781 – British (Cornwallis) surrenders to Washington as French and American forces trap British on peninsula

Articles of Confederation FIRST CONSTITUTION OF THE U.S. Because the states feared concentrated power, the Articles did little to provide for a strong central government Weaknesses – it did not provide for the ability to –collect taxes –Raise an army –Regulate trade –Create a national currency

TREATY OF PARIS 1783 Granted independence to the American colonies Gave the U.S. control of the western territory from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Summer of delegates met to revise the Articles of Confederation Ended up creating a new constitution which provided for: –3 branches of government –Power to levy taxes, raise an army, regulate trade, and create a currency –Had to be ratified by 2/3 of the states to go into effect

1789 – Constitution adopted Ratified by 9 states Provided for a Bill of Rights with the 1 st 10 amendments

RESULTS OF THE REVOLUTION Creation of a new nation with a constitution based on enlightened principles Freedom from British oppression Inspiration to other nations seeking enlightened ideals and freedom from absolutism