1. Important Events of the American Revolution
TEK 8.4C
Important Events of the American Revolution

2. Causes of the American Revolution
The French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
Great Britain & France fought for control of North America (especially rich Ohio River Valley).
Treaty of Paris (1763) ended war. Britain won. Claimed Canada and most of North America east of Mississippi River.

3. Causes of the American Revolution
Results of French & Indian War:
Great Britain in financial crisis as result of French & Indian War. King George III (British King during American Revolution) & Parliament enacted new laws to pay off Britain’s national debt.
British would tax American colonies to pay debt for French & Indian War.
King George III

5. Causes of the American Revolution
“No Taxation Without Representation!”
Sugar Act (1764) - Forced colonists to pay tax (duty) on molasses or risk arrest
Stamp Act (1765) - Tax on all paper goods
Townshend Acts (1767) - Tax on tea, glass, paper, and lead
Intolerable Acts (1774) - Shut down Port of Boston until destroyed tea was re-paid
Quartering Acts (1774) - Forced some colonies to pay for housing of British soldiers

6. Colonial reaction to British taxes:
*Angry colonists & merchants agreed to boycott British goods.
*The Sons of Liberty, led by men such as Samuel Adams, sometimes used violent tactics: tarring & feathering, vandalism, etc.
Samuel Adams
Boston Tea Party

7. Battles of the American Revolution
Battles of Lexington & Concord (April 1775)
In spring 1775, British troops marched toward Concord, Massachusetts to seize illegal weapons stockpiled by colonists.
April 18, Paul Revere & others rode out to spread the word that British were coming. British soldiers fought w/ minutemen at Lexington & Concord. First battles of the American Revolution.
Paul Revere
The Shot Heard ’Round the World!

8. Second Continental Congress (1775)
Colonial leaders met again in May Agreed to recognize colonial militia as the Continental Army & appointed George Washington as its commander.
General George Washington

9. Declaring Independence
Declaration of Independence (1776)
List of grievances (complaints) sent by colonies to King George III of England.
Written by Thomas Jefferson. Stated that “all men were created equal” and that they had “unalienable” rights that could not be taken away (such as life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).
Government’s legitimate power can only come from the consent of the governed.
Delegates from each of the 13 colonies officially adopted it July 4, 1776.
Ben Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson

10. Loyalists and Patriots
Loyalists – opposed independence and remained loyal to British King.
Patriots – supported independence and saw the political opportunities in an independent America.
Loyalists
Patriots

11. Battles of the American Revolution
Battle of Saratoga (1777)
Americans defeated major section of British army at Saratoga in October 1777.
France had secretly aided Patriots since Saratoga victory by Patriots bolstered France’s belief that Americans could win the war. As a result, France signed alliance w/ Americans and openly joined their fight.
France sent troops, navy ships and military leaders like Marquis de Lafayette to lead French forces in Virginia during last years of war.
Ben Franklin traveled to France during war & helped convince French leaders to aid Americans!
Marquis de Lafayette
Ben Franklin

12. Battles of the American Revolution
British Surrender at Yorktown (1781)
French & American troops surrounded British on Yorktown peninsula.
October, 1781, British General Cornwallis surrendered. Yorktown last major battle of American Revolution. Americans had shocked the world and defeated Great Britain!
Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:
“The World Turned Upside Down!”

13. End of the American Revolution
Treaty of Paris of 1783:  Britain formally recognized U.S. independence
Granted U.S. huge boundaries stretching to the Mississippi in the west, the Great Lakes in the north, and to Spanish Florida in the south