1. Issues and Events of the Revolutionary Era

2.  8.1(C) Explain the significance of 1776  8.4(B) Explain the roles played by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington  8.4(C) Explain the issues surrounding the American Revolution, including declaring independence; the Articles of Confederation

3. The American Revolution, which began in 1775, pitted American colonists against Great Britain, one of the world’s mightiest military powers.

4. Colonists were unwilling to live under British rule and desired a democratic, representative government. A committee was formed to draft the Declaration of Independence.

5. 1776 The Declaration of Independence A committee composed of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson submitted a landmark document Jefferson had drafted, in which the colonies declared themselves to be independent.

6. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, the document that declared the American colonies’ independence from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington played key roles during the American Revolution.

7. George Washington  Served as commander-in- chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution  Defeated the British General Cornwallis in the Battle of Yorktown  Served as the president of the Constitutional Convention  Served as the first president of the United States gwpapers.virginia.edu/

8. Thomas Jefferson whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tj3.html  Wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in 1776  Served as minister to France from 1785 to 1789  Served as the third president of the United States  Sent negotiators to arrange the Louisiana Purchase

9. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson played key roles during the Revolution. Test your knowledge by matching these two men with their accomplishments. Check Your Understanding (see worksheet)

10. In order to determine what you know about these two men, match each of the following accomplishments with either : George Washington by pressing Thomas Jefferson by pressing T.J. G.W. T.J. G.W. 1.Wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.

11. Try again!

12. Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Press to continue

13. In order to determine what you know about these two men, match each of the following accomplishments with either : George Washington by pressing Thomas Jefferson by pressing T.J.G.W. T.J. G.W. 2.Served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

14. George Washington served as commander- in-chief of the Continental Army. Press to continue mizbee.tripod.com/flag.htm

15. In order to determine what you know about these two men, match each of the following accomplishments with either : George Washington by pressing Thomas Jefferson by pressing T.J.G.W. T.J. G.W. 3.Defeated the British general Cornwallis in the Battle of Yorktown.

16. George Washington defeated the British General Cornwallis in the Battle of Yorktown. Press to continue western.cc.ok.us/~mdgraham/yorktown.jpg

17. In order to determine what you know about these two men, match each of the following accomplishments with either : George Washington by pressing Thomas Jefferson by pressing T.J. G.W. T.J. G.W. 4.Served as the third president of the United States

18. Thomas Jefferson served as the third president of the United States. Press to continue

19. Issues That Prompted the Colonists to Declare Independence The Declaration of Independence listed the reasons why the colonists were no longer willing to live under British rule. They wanted control of the colonies and respect for the colonists’ rights.

20. 5.The two key issues that sparked the colonists to declare their independence from Great Britain were -- control of the colonies and respect for the colonists’ rights freedom of religion and the right to bear arms Native American rights and slavery foreign trade and restrictions on immigration A B C D Check Your Understanding (see worksheet)

21. Sorry, Incorrect Press to try again Press to Review information

22. After the French and Indian War Britain had passed new laws and restrictions on the colonies.

23. In the Declaration of Independence The colonists complained that the British king…  suspended their legislatures and abolished their laws  imposed taxes without their consent  deprived them of trial by jury  kept standing armies in the colonies in times of peace  quartered troops among the colonists

24. The Declaration of Independence also expressed colonists’ desire for a democratic, representative government. After several years of warfare, the colonists defeated the British Army.

25. Following the colonists’ victory, the United States created a government based on a document called the Articles of Confederation.

26. Articles of Confederation However  The Articles of Confederation were approved by Congress in 1777.  The document was the first national constitution of the United States.  The Articles created a single national governing body called the Confederation Congress.  Congress had the power to make laws with the approval of 9 of the 13 states.

27. However, the Articles had a number of weaknesses!  Inability of Congress to amend the articles without the approval of all 13 states  Lack of an executive branch  Inability of Congress to regulate trade between the states  Inability of Congress to impose taxes

28. 6.Which of the following powers was granted to the national government under the Articles of Confederation? The power to make laws The power of the executive branch to veto legislation The power to tax The power to control trade between the states Check Your Understanding (see worksheet) AAAA BBBB CCCC DDDD

29. Correct. Under the Articles of Confederation, the Confederation Congress possessed the power to make laws with the approval of nine of the 13 states.

30. Incorrect. Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no separate executive branch. The national government consisted of the Confederation Congress, in which each of the 13 states had a single vote. Review Information Try Again

31. Incorrect. Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government could not impose taxes. Review Information Try Again

32. Incorrect. Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government could not control trade between the states. Review Information Try Again

33. Press the Hand to review the Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

34. By 1787 many Americans had become dissatisfied with the way the national government functioned under the Articles of Confederation. On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia to revise the Articles. However, the result was the creation of an entirely new document.

35. Congratulations! You have completed the tutorial on Issues and Events of the Revolutionary Era. Now check your understanding by completing the additional questions on the worksheet.

36. This tutorial was created by Kathy Powell, a teacher at Jersey Village High School. It is the property of Cypress- Fairbanks I.S.D. mizbee.tripod.com/flag.htm