1. The English Colonies Rebel: The American Revolution
Melissa Williamson
9th grade World History

2. The English Colonies Rebel
Divine Right: idea that monarchs have the right to rule from God
Petition of Right: Parliament alone could impose taxes
No one could question King Charles I or James I in England
The English Colonies Rebel

3. James I and Charles I both believed that the Church of England was still too much like the Catholic Church.
Puritan House of Commons opposed the kings
Puritans vs. Protestants
Oliver Cromwell led the Roundheads against Charles I and his Cavaliers
Charles I surrendered and was tried, convicted, and beheaded as a traitor in 1649
The English Civil War

4. Cromwell seized control of the government and declared England a commonwealth, or republic
1653: Cromwell turned England into a military dictatorship
Military dictatorship: rule by one person, backed by the armed forces
The people wanted a constitutional monarchy, or limiting the power of the monarch by law.
The English Civil War

5. The Glorious Revolution
Restoration: period between 1660 and 1688 because the monarchy was brought back (brought back to its original form)
William and Mary asked to rule England, but had to sign English Bill of Rights
No bloodshed during this peaceful transition of power, so it is known as the Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution

6. British aided the colonists and natives against the French trying to take over territory in the new world
The war and its new possessions put an economic strain on the British Empire
The need for money became a major problem between Great Britain and the 13 colonies
French and Indian War

7. Causes of the American Revolution
Mercantilism: a nation’s prosperity depended upon a vast supply of silver and gold from its colonies
British did this through the regulation of trade
Stamp Tax: tax paid for all paper products in the colonies
Revenue tax: to raise money, not regulate trade
“No taxation without representation”
Repealed in 1766
Causes of the American Revolution

8. The War Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776
Britain had the largest, strongest army and navy in the world
The American army consisted of untrained recruits who served short periods of time and only had a handful of ships
American advantage: strong leadership such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams
The War

9. The French, Dutch, and Spanish all sent ships, money, soldiers, and supplies to aid the Americans fight their British enemy
Cornwallis surrendered in October of 1781
The War

10. Articles of Confederation
First written plan of government for the new nation
Stated deliberately adopted a plan that did not create a strong central government
Articles of Confederation

11. Inspired by the ideas of the French philosopher Montesquieu
Set up a federal system
Federal system: power is shared among national, state, and local governments
System of checks and balances
Executive, legislative, judicial branches
National government granted powers of army, regulate trade, impose taxes, and create a national system of money
Nine states had to ratify the Constitution before it could be nationally imposed
Constitution

12. Bill of Rights First 10 amendments to the Constitution
Guarantee freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition; the right to bear arms; freedom from housing soldiers; freedom from unlawful search and seizure; the right to a fair and speedy trial; and freedom from excessive bail, fines, and punishment
To many people in the 1700s, the American Revolution was the fulfillment of Enlightenment ideals
Bill of Rights