Road to the Revolution England’s Conflict with France and the Colonies

Leading Up to the American Revolution  1750: Purpose of colonies is to supply raw materials to Britain  Mercantilism  : Britain and France fight to control North America. (7 years War = French and Indian War)  1763: Treaty of Paris ends the war  Britain wins the war but has a massive debt from the war  Britain imposes taxes on the colonies to pay for the war.

Britain takes on the Colonies King George III Charles Townshend

The Stamp Act  Internal Tax  Colonist purchased stamps for required items “No taxation without Representation” Stamp Act Congress

Sons of Liberty Used violence to get their goals accomplished Sam Adams

Colonial Muscle MMMMore Boycotts BBBBoston Massacre

New Guy – New Idea – More Violence Lord North Tea Act Boston Tea Party

The Last Straw Coercive Acts AKA Intolerable Acts – 1774 BBBBoston Port Act AAAAdmin of Justice Act MMMMassachusetts Government Act Also Passed QQQQuartering Act QQQQuebec Act

Shot Heard ‘Round the World  April 19, 1775  Lexington and Concord  Red Coats vs Minutemen

George Washington  1775–1783: Commander-in-Chief of Revolutionary Forces  1789: Became the first President of the United States

Second Continental Congress

Common Sense  Written by Thomas Paine  It was first published anonymously on January 10, 1776, during the American Revolution

Declaration of Independence

 Thomas Jefferson – main author  A formal stated desire to separate from Britain (must)  Highlighted a belief that the government must protect the rights of the people….  NATURAL RIGHTS (life,liberty,pursuit of happiness)

Battle of Saratoga: The Turning Point  1777:  Considered the turning point in the War  Importance of this battle  The French Join The Colonies!

Lafayette:  French military officer who volunteered to fight for the colonies against Britain  Becomes a general and serves under George Washington  Gains French support and convinces French to send essential reinforcements

Siege of Yorktown: 1781  Lafayette pursued Cornwallis to Yorktown where George Washington and the French defeat the British.  Lord Cornwallis Surrenders.  Last Major battle of the American Revolution

The War Ends, Now What?  Articles of Confederation  First try at a Constitution  Ratified in 1781  Intentionally Weak  No ability to tax the states  Why?

U.S. Constitution (1789) and Bill of Rights  2 nd try after the Articles of Confederation  Balance of power between federal government and the individual states  The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution are called the ???  The states would not ratify the U.S. Constitution unless this was included:  7 articles, 27 amendments

Impact of American Revolution Around the World  Serves as guide for future democratic governments and revolutions around the world:  French Revolution