1. The American Revolution
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Change and Crisis
Faces of History: George Washington
Struggle for Independence
Map: The Revolutionary War
Forming a New Government
Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
Video: The Impact of the Declaration of Independence

2. The American Revolution
Main Idea
Enlightenment ideas led to revolution, independence, and a new government for the United States.
Reading Focus
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?

3. Change and Crisis Forming a New Identity Mid-1770s
By the mid-1700s dramatic new Enlightenment ideas had spread to North America, inspiring the British colonists to forge a new nation.
British colonies had expanded rapidly along east coast since early 1600s
Offered opportunities not available in Great Britain
Land plentiful, cheap
Class system absent
Good chance for advancement through intelligence, hard work
Forming a New Identity
Population over 2.1 million
Colonies had been established nearly 150 years
Allowed large measure of independence, though still British subjects
Each had own government, made own laws
Began to identify less with Britain
Mid-1770s

4. Opposing British Policies
Britain began to assert its right to impose laws on colonies
Britain defeated France in French and Indian War, 1763
France had to give up its North American colonies
Britain decided to make colonies pay part of war costs in taxes
New Tax
Stamp Act, 1765, required colonists to pay tax for official stamp on all newspapers, legal documents, other public papers
Colonial leaders outraged Parliament taxed them without representatives there to plead case
Called for boycott of English goods, act repealed 1766

5. Opposing British Policies
Townshend Acts
1767, British imposed taxes on glass, paper, paints, tea
Boston merchants called for another boycott
British sent troops to keep order, Bostonians harassed troops
Boston Massacre
1770, British discipline snapped
British troops shot, killed five men
Most of Townshend Acts partially repealed, tax on tea remained
Boston Tea Party
1773, Sons of Liberty boarded ships in Boston Harbor, dumped crates of tea overboard, British closed port
Parliament passed Intolerable Acts, regulations limiting freedom of colonists

6. Opposing British Policies
First Continental Congress
Called in Philadelphia, 1774
Colonists listed grievances against British
Plan to reconcile differences with British presented
Plan voted down

7. Shot Heard ‘round the World
Revolution Begins
Sons of Liberty expected war, hid weapons in countryside and towns west of Boston
April 1775, British troops marched out of Boston to find weapons
British troops confronted colonial militiamen in Lexington
Shots rang out; the American Revolution began
Shot Heard ‘round the World
Not all colonists wanted independence from Britain
Thomas Paine argued in 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense, that colonies no longer needed British rule
Said colonies deserved independence
Paine’s pamphlet helped gain popular support for cause
Common Sense

9. What did the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts have in common?
Compare
What did the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts have in common?
Answer(s): Both imposed taxes on the colonies.

10. Struggle for Independence
The American Revolution was the first war in which old ideas about government were challenged by the ideas of the Enlightenment. The Patriots created a nation based on these ideas.
Second Continental Congress, 1776
Committee formed to write document declaring colonies’ independence
Declaring Independence
Members familiar with Enlightenment concepts
Adams, Jefferson, Franklin
Jefferson wrote draft incorporating ideas from Locke, Rousseau
Committee
Elegant expression of Enlightenment political philosophy
Drew ideas from English Bill of Rights, 1689
Individual, society rights, freedoms
Declaration

11. Beginning of Revolution
The Revolutionary War
Commanding General
Second Continental Congress assigned George Washington as army’s commanding general
Courageous, resourceful leader
Beginning of Revolution
Evacuated Boston, June 1775
Began poorly for British
Americans positioned cannons overlooking city
Early Battles
British defeated Washington in Battle of Long Island
Washington crossed Delaware, engineered surprising victory at Trenton
Valley Forge
British defeated Washington in New Jersey
Washington moved into Pennsylvania, spent bitter winter at Valley Forge

12. Strategies in the South
The Revolutionary War
The British won battles in upstate New York during the summer of 1777, but in October the Americans won the Battle of Saratoga. The victory was crucial as Benjamin Franklin was in Paris seeking aid from the French. This alliance became a turning point in the war.
American forces strengthened over next two years
British tried to divide colonies in two
Captured Savannah, 1778, Charleston, 1780
Americans made numerous attacks on British in South Carolina
Strategies in the South
French and American armies surrounded British, Yorktown, September 1781
Lord Cornwallis surrendered after siege of several weeks
American colonists won independence, October 1781
Victories in the North
British government formally recognized the independence of the United States with the Treaty of Paris, in September of 1783.

14. The Revolutionary War The Treaty of Paris
Set the geographic boundaries for the new United States
Gave Americans much greater territory than original 13 colonies
Americans gained all land east of Mississippi River and north of 31st parallel
End of war just the beginning
Americans faced task of building new nation

15. What events led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
Sequence
What events led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
Answer(s): Second Continental Congress declares colonies' independence from Britain; Washington assigned commander of army; American forces strengthened; French and American armies defeat British army; colonists win independence

16. Forming a New Government The Articles of Confederation
Colonists had to learn to work together, form new government
First government established by Articles of Confederation, approved 1781
National government made deliberately weak to avoid abuses of power
Government had no power to tax, could not negotiate with foreign nations
Articles produced government too weak to govern effectively
Delegates met at Constitutional Convention, 1787, to revise Articles
Instead wrote Constitution
George Washington presided over convention
James Madison negotiated main points
The Constitution
Constitution created federal system of government
Certain powers reserved to federal government, others for states
Three branches of government: executive, judicial, legislative
System of checks and balances
Federal System

17. Forming a New Government
Influence of Enlightenment thought on Constitution very powerful
Founding principle, government exists for the people
Reflected Locke’s and Rousseau’s idea of government by consent of people
Division of government into three branches reflected Montesquieu’s idea of separation of powers

18. Impact of American Government
The Bill of Rights
Opponents to Constitution said it failed to protect citizen’s rights
Wanted protection of individual’s rights added to Constitution
Congress added Bill of Rights, first 10 amendments to Constitution
Protected natural rights advocated by Voltaire, Locke, Rousseau
Impact of American Government
News of successful American revolution impacted other governments
Although French King Louis XVI supported Americans, France experienced own revolution, 1789
America had shown it was possible to oppose tyranny
Soldiers’ courage, Constitution framers’ wisdom, shining examples

19. Find the Main Idea
How did the Constitution and the Bill of Rights change the government and society of the United States?
Answer(s): caused anger about taxation without representation; colonial leaders supported creation of new nation; committee formed at Continental Congress; Jefferson wrote draft; adopted by the Congress

21. Video The Impact of the Declaration of Independence
Click above to play the video.