1. Unit 1 Declaration of independence
Standard: SSCG2 The student will analyze the natural rights philosophy and the nature of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Essential Question: Why did Americans break away from England? How did key European Enlightenment thinkers’ ideas about government influence our founders as our government was formed?
Learning Target: I can identify events that led to the separation of the American colonies from England. I can explain how the Founding Fathers pulled form the ideas of the European Enlightenment to justify independence.

2. Disagreements With Great Britain
New ideas about government changed Colonial relationship with England.
Great Awakening
Colonists question religious authority
Enlightenment
Colonists question political authority
New spirit of liberty (freedom)
Colonists renew ideas that they should have same rights as people in England
King & Parliament made laws for America
Favored British interests over colonists’ interests
Americans had no say in what happened in England
Governors selected by king, colonists had no say in choosing these leaders

3. Disagreements With Great Britain
The French & Indian War
Proclamation of 1763
Colonies expanding westward
Tensions with France
1754 – French & Native American allies attack settlers in Appalachian Mts
Britain sends troops to fight/protect colonists
1763 – Britain wins
Controls all French land to Mississippi River
King forbids colonists from settling west of Appalachians
Sends 10,000 soldiers to enforce
Colonists react angrily
Many want to own land
Think king is punishing Colonies
Think king is limiting economic growth

4. Disagreements With Great Britain
In 1765 King & Parliament pass Stamp Act to collect taxes.
To pay for debt (costs) of French & Indian War
Law requires colonists to buy “stamps” to put on documents
Newspapers, legal documents, even playing cards
Colonists boycott
Refuse to buy British goods
Claim only their elected leaders can tax
Based on English Bill of Rights
For 100 years colonists had only been taxed by local assemblies
Stamp Act Congress
Request king & Parliament remove tax
Calls this oppression
1766
Stamp Act repealed
Declaratory Act enacted
Parliament has absolute right to tax and make laws for Colonies

5. Disagreements With Great Britain
England continues to tax Colonies and Colonies continue to express discontent.
Townshend Acts (1767)
Taxed imports to Colonies
Strict rules about smuggling
Allowed “unreasonable searches and seizures”
Colonists boycott again
Repealed in 1770, except for tea tax
Tea Act (1773)
Allowed a specific tea company to import tea without paying tax
Boston Tea Party – colonial protest
Coercive Acts (1774)
To punish New England, Boston
Colonists called them Intolerable Acts
Some laws violated English Bill of Rights

6. Disagreements With Great Britain
Rather than be frightened into respecting British rule by Coercive Acts, colonists band together to challenge British authority.
First Continental Congress
September 1774
Draft letter to king
Asks for colonists to be treated as British citizens
Call for total boycott of British goods, ban on trade with Britain
War begins
1775 – Battles of Lexington & Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill
Second Continental Congress asks for peace - “Olive Branch Petition”
King declares Colonies are in rebellion
Support for independence grows
Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense”
Used John Locke’s ideas about natural rights
Argued for rebellion against king’s abuse of power

7. Disagreements With Great Britain
One Sentence Summary
One Sentence Summary
Colonial feelings about England were…
The French & Indian War…

8. Disagreements With Great Britain
One Sentence Summary
One Sentence Summary
One Sentence Summary
The Stamp Act…
English taxes on the Americans…
Colonists challenged British authority by…