1. The Birth of a New Nation

2. Warm-up – Translate this paragraph into your own words
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government,…….”
Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence

3. The French and Indian War (1754-1763)
England and France go to war over colonial territories
The Navigation Acts – laws that gave England control of colonial trade

4. British Victory in French and Indian War
Britain (England) wins but is heavily in debt.
Expects the colonies to help pay cost in the form of increased taxes.
Colonist begin revolt.

6. The Albany Plan of Union (1754)
Plan proposed by Ben Franklin for the colonies to unite for mutual defense
Rejected but shows that the colonies are considering unifying.

7. Proclamation Line of 1763
No colonial settlements beyond the Appalachian Mtns.
Prevents conflict w/ Native Americans but enrages farmers who wish to have more land.

8. Stamp Act (1765) British tax on newspapers and legal documents
First tax on colonies by Parliament
“No taxation without representation” – becomes slogan of revolution
Boycott - Colonists refuse to buy British products

9. Declaratory Act (1767)
Parliament ‘declares’ it has the right to make decisions for and tax the colonies “in all cases”

10. Townshend Acts (1766)
Set of laws that further restricted colonial rights
Writs of Assistance general warrants to search any property at any time without cause, can seize property from colonists

11. The Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770)
British soldiers shoot into angry crowd and kill 5 colonists
Became propaganda (a cause) for those who wanted revolution with the British

13. The Tea Act (1773)
Made British East India Tea exempt from taxes and cheaper than colonial tea.
Gives British a business advantage.

14. The Boston Tea Party (1773)
Colonists dump English tea into Boston Harbor to protest tea act.

15. The Coercive/Intolerable Acts (1774)
Took away colonists civil rights, including trial by jury

16. The First Continental Congress (1774)
12 Colonies send delegates (representatives) to Philadelphia to address concerns.
Send request to king demanding rights be restored

17. The Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 1775)
British soldiers and colonists fight first battles of Revolution.
“The shot heard round the world” – influenced independence movements around the world

18. The 2nd Continental Congress (1775-1776)
Delegates returned to Philadelphia to determine next step
Eventually decide to fight for independence

19. The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
Document declaring the colonies free from British control
American Revolution lasts from 1775 to 1783
United States Constitution is ratified by 1789