1. CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
WHAT LED TO
JULY 4, 1776?

2. What is the 4th of July all about?

3. Why do you celebrate July 4th? What’s it all about???

4. July 4th is all about July 4, 1776
But what happened then? The 13 American colonies declared their separation from England – “Declaration of Independence”

6. Did people have reasons for wanting to be separate?

7. Have you ever seen this flag?

8. What happened?
July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence 1776: We fight the British in New York, South Carolina, & New Jersey 1777: We fight the British in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York 1778: We fight the British in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Rhode Island, & Georgia 1779: We fight the British in North Carolina, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, & Georgia 1780: We fight the British in South Carolina & North Carolina 1781: We fight the British in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland November 1782: British sign “Articles of Peace” September 1783: TREATY OF PARIS

9. Four Reasons for Revolution
War
Oppression
Taxes
Independence

10. FRENCH & INDIAN WAR
Britain goes to war with France over land holdings in North America,
Indians help the French against the British and the colonists
France loses the war, along with all territory in North America (except New Orleans)
England wants the colonists to help pay for the war

12. BRITISH OPPRESSION
The British become more and more oppressive toward the American colonies
King George thought of the colonies as “children”
King George tightens control
Proclamation of 1763

14. TAXES Huge, heavy taxes on the Colonists: Stamp Act 1765
Townsend Act 1767
“No taxation without representation”

15. Student Learning Activity
YOU are going to be taxed! Jeans Pens or pencils Glasses Shoes Jewelry Socks Shoes Notebooks

16. INDEPENDENCE
As the British became more oppressive and unfair, the Colonists became more and more desirous of INDEPENDENCE
Sons of Liberty: “Join or Die”

17. Events Leading to Revolution
Boston Massacre, 1770
Boston Tea Party, 1773
Intolerable Acts
Continental Congress
Declaration of Independence

18. What would you be willing to give up?
Television Computer games Toys
Computer CD’s Tapes
Radio Basketball Internet
Pop Baseball Electricity
Jeans Soap Gum
Chips Shampoo Plumbing
Comic books French Fries Jewelry
Bicycle Hair Dryer Pizza
Dolls Tea

19. The colonists wanted freedom to choose for themselves…
Political freedom
Economic freedom
Religious freedom
Social freedom

20. So, what were the basic causes leading to the American Revolution?
War
Oppression
Taxes
Independence

21. Student Learning Activity
THOUGHT: Have you ever felt unfairly mistreated or oppressed?
ACTIVITY: Based on all you have learned so far, what would you have done had you lived back then – supported the British, supported the “revolutionaries,” or remained neutral? WRITE a paragraph explaining your answer, and we will discuss in class.