The American Revolution Background to the Constitution

Warm Up: How would life in the US be different if we had the rights in the right column? In the Constitution  Right to practice your religion  Right to vote  Right to protest  Right to not be searched by police for no reason  Right to a jury trial In the Constitution  Right to practice your religion  Right to vote  Right to protest  Right to not be searched by police for no reason  Right to a jury trial NOT in the Constitution  Right to a good job  Right to a decent house  Right to adequate food  Right to adequate medical care  Right to a good education  Right to a safe neighborhood NOT in the Constitution  Right to a good job  Right to a decent house  Right to adequate food  Right to adequate medical care  Right to a good education  Right to a safe neighborhood

Before 1776*  The 13 colonies are owned and controlled by King George III of Britain

Colonization*  The whole point of the 13 colonies is to make money for Britain (the “mother” country) Colonists send cotton, tobacco, rice, timber ($$$$) 13 Colonies Colonists buy British tea, sugar, paper, clothes Britain

Anger in the Colonies*  Middle and upper class whites in the colonies are angry at:  More and more taxes (on tea, sugar, paper, etc.)  Harsh colonial laws  Having no voice in the British government  Middle and upper class whites in the colonies are angry at:  More and more taxes (on tea, sugar, paper, etc.)  Harsh colonial laws  Having no voice in the British government

The Boston Massacre*  Anger at British soldiers ends with 5 Boston colonists dead

Boston Tea Party*  In 1773, colonists dump British tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxes on tea

Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride William Dawes

1776*  Declaration of Independence is signed on July 4, 1776  The War of Independence begins  a.k.a. the American Revolution  Declaration of Independence is signed on July 4, 1776  The War of Independence begins  a.k.a. the American Revolution

Famous lines from the Declaration  “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

1781*  The 13 colonies defeat Britain & win the war  a new country is officially recognized: The United States of America  The 13 colonies defeat Britain & win the war  a new country is officially recognized: The United States of America

1787*  55 wealthy white men meet in Philadelphia to write a Constitution for a new American government

Summary  Write a sentence summary  Summary = the main points of what you took notes about  Write a sentence summary  Summary = the main points of what you took notes about