American Revolution

Prelude to the American Revolution Great Britain’s Policies Toward the Colonies: Britain’s Neglect (before 1763 Colonies had self-government) Effects of the French and Indian War (1754-1763)- Britain won Reestablished control & made colonies pay for some of the war Strict control (after 1763) Enforced Navigation Acts (only export goods to Great Britain, taxed goods shipped) Fought colonial smugglers Taxes (tea and sugar; Stamp Act- stamp tax on printed material) Prohibited westward migration beyond the mountains Quartering of soldiers (living in people’s homes)

The Colonists Rebel: Smuggle goods to avoid import taxes Boycott (refusal to buy) British goods Organize committees to coordinate anti-British efforts Spoke and wrote against British policies Boston Tea Party- 1773 colonists dumped British tea in Boston Harbor “No taxation without representation” (in British Parliament) First Continental Congress- 1774- recognized Parl. rights to regulate trade, yet the colonies had the right to make their own law Lexington and Concord 1775- colonial minutemen fired upon British troops—start of the American Revolution!!! Second Continental Congress: (1776) Thomas Jefferson wrote Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

Grievances Against King George III (As listed in Declaration of Independence) King’s actions against the colonists were those of an absolute tyrant with unlimited power King dissolved legislative bodies and called them together in unusual and distant places King dissolved the representative Houses and refused others to be elected King deprived them of the right to a trial by jury King imposed taxes upon them without their consent King abolished laws and altered forms of government King made war against the colonies, burned homes, and captured and killed colonial citizens King kept standing armies in the colonies in times of peace and made the superior to the law

Grievances What were the 3 top grievances of the colonists List 3 top grievances of students at Stratford High School List 3 grievances of the American people of 2012

Important American Revolution Figures John Adams- spoke out boldly in favor of independence from England (used Enlightenment ideas about government) Patrick Henry- famous orator in favor of independence; “Give me liberty or give me death” Samuel Adams- favored independence from Britain; lead the Boston Tea Party Thomas Paine- (1776) wrote Common Sense—a pamphlet demanding independence from Britain and attacking the monarch

Which Document will Rule? Articles of Confederation Weak central government No power to tax No executive ( president) No power to control trade US Constitution Established 3 branches of government Executive / Legislative / Judicial System of checks and balances Make sure one branch does not become too powerful or tyrannical Bill of Rights Protections of individual liberties Popular Sovereignty System in which the people are supreme