1. The American Revolution Chapter 8, Lesson 4

2. New Rulers in Britain ●1714: End of the Stuart dynasty o Last Stuart ruler (Queen Anne) died without an heir o Throne is offered to Queen’s nearest relatives-- Protestant rulers of the German state of Hanover ●Cultural Barriers o George I did not speak English o George I and George II did not understand British system of government o Chief ministers allowed to deal with Parliament

3. North American Colonization ●After 7 Years’ War, Britain controlled Canada and 13 colonies (modern day United States) o Well-populated (more than 1 million people by 1750) o Very prosperous (rich in natural resources) ●Control of colonies o In theory, colonies were run by British Board of Trade, the Royal Council, and Parliament o In reality, colonies had legislatures that acted independent of Britain o Merchants did not want Britain controlling their affairs

4. Revolution ●After 7 Years’ War, British leaders wanted to tax the colonies to cover the costs of the war and pay for cost of keeping an army in the colonies for protection ●Stamp Act passed in 1765 o Required certain printed materials to carry a stamp showing the tax had been paid o Violent opposition led to its repeal in 1766 o Immediate crisis solved, but cause of dispute not solved

5. Revolution ●First Continental Congress o Met in Philadelphia in September 1774 o Create to counteract British actions o Urged colonists to take up arms and organize militias ●Fighting erupts in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, in April 1775 o Second Continental Congress creates an army and puts George Washington in charge ●Declaration of Independence o Written by Thomas Jefferson o Approved by Second Continental Congress July 1776

6. British Defeat ●Colonies get support from France o Supplied the colonies with weapons and money o French officers served in Washington’s army o France recognizes the U.S. as a country in 1778 ●British Gen. Cornwallis forced to surrender to Washington’s forces at Yorktown in 1781 o Britain decides to end the war o Treaty of Paris passed in 1783 and recognized the independence of the colonies

7. Articles of Confederation ●First government of the U.S. ●Former colonies feared the power of a strong central government ●Articles of Confederation created a weak central government o No power to tax o No power to enforce laws o No national army or navy o No central money system o No control over trade between the states

8. U.S. Constitution ●Second government of the U.S. (1787) ●Creates a federal system o National government and state governments share power ●Separation of powers o Based on Montesquieu’s ideas o 3 branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) o Checks and balances

9. Bill of Rights ●12 proposed, 10 adopted o Freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly o Right to bear arms o Protection from unreasonable search and seizure o Guaranteed trial by jury, due process of law, and property rights ●Derived from natural rights proposed by 1700’s philosophes and John Locke ●European intellectuals saw the American Revolution as a confirmation of Enlightenment ideas