1. Unit 2 Chapter 5 Section 3: The American Revolution
World history

2. Main Idea
Enlightenment ideas led to revolution, independence, and a new government for the United States

3. Question Column
What were some of the causes of change and crisis in the American colonies?
How was the struggle for independence affected by Enlightenment concepts?
How did American colonists form a new government?
see slides 3 & 4 “forming a new identity” & “opposing briish policies”
see slides 6 “declaring independence”
see slides 8 & 9 “articles of confederation” & “the constitution”

4. Forming a New Identity
from 1600s to 1170, English North American colonies grew to over 2.1 million people
colonies offered cheap land, class system was absent, allowing individuals to advance quickly
after 150 years as colonies, people identified with their colony more than Britain

5. Opposing British Policies
Britain imposed new taxes on the colonies as a result of the French and Indian War in 1763
1765: Stamp Act-tax on official documents that were stamped, repealed in 1766
1767: new taxed on glass, paper, tea. Merchants threatened to boycott, Britain sent in troops
1770: Boston Massacre
1773: Sons of Liberty caused Boston Tea Party, British closed port, passed Intolerable Acts
1774: First Continental Congress called in Philadelphia to list grievances

6. Revolution Begins Sons of Liberty prepared for war
April 19,1775: British troops confronted militiamen at Lexington
Jan. 1776: Thomas Paine’s Common Sense helped the patriot cause

7. Declaring Independence
1776: during Second Continental Congress, committee formed to write Declaration of independence
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin were familiar with Enlightenment concepts
Jefferson wrote the draft, adopted by Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

9. The Revolutionary War
June 1775: George Washington assigned commanding general of the army
June 1775: British evacuated Boston
Battle of Long Island: Wash defeated
Trenton: British defeated
1777: Philadelphia fell to British, Wash in Valley Forge
1777: British defeated at Saratoga
next 2 years American forces strengthen
British attempt to divide colonies in two
Sept 1781 Cornwallis surrounded at Yorktown, Virginia
October 19, 1781: Britain surrenders
Sept 1783: Treaty of Paris recognizes U.S. independence

10. Articles of Confederation
1781: first U.S. government before the constitution
no power to tax, or to negotiate with other governments
national government too weak to govern effectively

11. The Constitution
1787: delegates met in Philadelphia at a Constitutional Convention to revise Articles
George Washington presided, but James Madison played leading role
Constitution created a federal system of government, dividing power
Enlightenment influenced

12. The Bill of Rights Constitution failed to protect rights of citizens
first 10 amendments did this
Rights advocated by Voltaire, Locke, Rousseau
freedom of speech, religion, due process