1. The American Revolution

2. The American Colonies 1607- 1750s
Colonies prosper when left alone
Three ways colonies are tied to England/ Great Britain
Economy- Trade
Mercantilism and the Navigation Acts
Culture- Enlightenment and Great Awakening
Militarily- expansion/ frontier wars Protection from French and Natives

3. The French and Indian War
Causes:
Control of the Ohio Valley
Course:
(‘54- ’60?!)
The French were winning most of the time
Fought mostly in New York and Penn.
PM Pitt turned European front over to the Prussians and sent more troops to North America
The British won after Battle of Quebec

4. The French and Indian War
Results:
Treaty of Paris (1763)
British got Ohio
British got Canada
British got the Miss. River (except N.O)
British most powerful country in the world!!!!
Proclamation of 1763:
British DEBT
How resolve the debt? Pay for protection??

5. British and colonial relations worsen
Sugar Act:
Stamp Act 1765:
Tea Act
Townshend Acts 1767
Intolerable Acts

6. Colonial response to the Acts
Protests
Committees of Correspondence
Boston Tea Party
Boston Massacre
Continental Congress

7. Fighting the American Revolution
British Strengths
British Weaknesses
American Strengths
American Weaknesses

8. Fighting the American Revolution
April, 1775
Lexington and Concord
British troops sent to seize colonial weapons
August, 1775
George III declared COLONIES in rebellion War official
British were winning at most of the time
Control of major cities
Continentals/ guerillas won’t surrender countryside
Americans win after Yorktown!
Treaty of Paris (1783)

10. Fighting the American Revolution
African Americans-
not enlisted, at first
1778- GW approves enlistment of free blacks
Got ~5,000
Why- opportunity to show self-worth
Mostly for labor, guides, or as spies
1775/9- British freed all slaves who joined them ~500
Native Americans- most side with the British to protect their lands

11. Fighting the American Revolution
Women
Mostly behind the scenes
Running their home/ farm/ business
Raise money/ supplies
Sewing
Melting lead
Nurses
Spies

12. Common Sense Thomas Paine calls for separation from GB
Speaking out about independence
Signals a change in public opinion

13. The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
To explain why we fight
No new ideas, lots of “cut and paste”
Main points:
Life, liberty, property
Abuses by King George III
Parl. hasn’t fixed the problems
Sooooooo, we declare independence

14. Articles of Confederation
An alliance of independent states
Weak central government
One branch legislature
No power to tax, get supplies, or men to fight
Shay’s Rebellion shows weaknesses
1787- Convention to revise Articles
… Constitution