1. American Revolution
Press

2. The Causes The American people were strongly independent.
They wanted to do things for themselves. Great Britain was a long way away.
The American people didn't want people an ocean away telling them how to live their lives.

3. Building of the Revolution
The road to revolution built slowly over time. Many events fed the growing desire of the thirteen colonies for independence.

4. French and Indian War
The British government decided to make the American colonies pay a large share of the war debt from the French and Indian War.

5. The Colonists Loyalists Patriots
They wanted to remain loyal to Britain and thought they would eventually get representation in Parliament
They resisted British taxation and felt the colonies should declare independence

6. Proclamation of 1763
This prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains.
While Britain did not intend to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order.

7. Taxes
The British tried to collect taxes that the American people considered harsh.

8. Sugar Act
The Sugar Act taxed sugar made in the colonies or any plantation in America, coffee, molasses, rum, and wines.

9. Quartering Act
Britain ordered that colonists were to house and feed British soldiers if necessary.
The Quartering Act of 1765 said that colonists had to quarter, cook, clean and clothe British soilders in thier own houses.

10. Stamp Act
The stamp tax was a tax that was imposed on every document or newspaper printed or used in the colonies.

11. Townshend Acts
These taxes were imposed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea.
Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax… leading to more troops in Boston
This Act assigned duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. This led to some “tar and feathering.”

12. Boston Massacre
The colonists and British soldiers openly clashed in Boston.
This event was used as an example of British cruelty despite questions about how it actually occurred.

13. Tea Act
To assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America.

14. Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists disguised as Indians dumped tea overboard from three ships in Boston Harbor.

15. Intolerable Acts
These were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and placed restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor.

17. “Taxation without Representation"
The American people also thought that they should be able to send their own people to Britain's Parliament or at least vote for Britain's lawmakers.
The combination of the harsh taxes and the lack of an American voice in Parliament gave rise to the famous phrase "taxation without representation."

18. Liberty
The colonists called for an independent America, colonies free from British rule and interference.

19. Preparing for War
Americans started stockpiling guns and ammunition in violation of British laws.
Their defense of such a stockpile led to shots being fired .
The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

20. Lexington and Concord
Press
In April, British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
At Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed.
At Concord, the British troops were forced to retreat with the loss of 70 men. This was the first instance of open warfare.

21. "Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
Captain John Parker

22. In the end, the American Revolution grew out of increasing restrictions placed upon the colonies by the British.
It is estimated that only one-third of the colonists were in favor of rebellion.
One-third continued to side with the British.
The last third were neutral concerning the rebellion and break from Great Britain.

23. Governing a New Nation
Press

24. Articles of Confederation
This plan was adopted in 1777 but wasn’t ratified until 1781
It contained :
A central government
A one-house Congress
Each state had one vote
Congress could declare war and make peace
It could deal with other nation and settle disputes between the states

26. Articles of Confederation
The plan was weak… it was intentional
Americans feared a strong central government
It couldn’t enforce laws (approved by 9 states)
It couldn’t levy taxes
It couldn’t regulate trade
There was no chief executive
The only courts were the state courts

27. Articles of Confederation
The Articles were designed to place the power into the individual states
They were seen as closer to the people and popular will
They feared a repressive government
However, Americans realized that this was not the way to build an effective and stable government

28. The Constitution People were unhappy with the weak government
Delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles
They realized that it would not work
They decided to write a constitution

29. The Constitution
They unanimously chose George Washington as presiding officer
They adopted a federal system of government
The central or federal government could:
Declare war
Raise armies
Make treaties
Coin money
Regulate trade with foreign governments

30. Three Branches of Government
Executive Branch, president, enforced laws
Legislative Branch, Congress, made laws
Judicial Branch, federal courts, interpreted the laws
Each branch acted as a check on the power of the others
It was ratified and went into effect in 1789

31. Bill of Rights Some Americans didn’t like the Constitution
They feared it didn’t protect the rights of individuals
As a result, ten amendments were added known as the Bill of Rights
Freedoms guaranteed:
Religion
Speech
Press
Assembly
Petition
Freedom from Illegal search and seizure
The right to a jury trial

32. Effects It was a major world event
It put into the practice the ideas of political philosophers of the Enlightenment
The American democratic government was a landmark in world history and an important influence
Because of the American Revolution, it gave people still under absolute monarchies and privileged classes… HOPE!