The 13 English Colonies Rebel Chapter 16 Lesson 3 Pages 249-252

Causes of the American Revolution European countries operated under the policy of mercantilism Colonies existed to make the home country rich European countries regulated trade Stamp Act passed was a revenue tax meant to raise money Colonists had to pay a tax for all kinds of printed goods: newspapers, playing cards, wills, and marriage licenses. An official stamp on the document proved it had been paid

“No Taxation Without Representation! “ Colonists claimed only the colonial legislatures could impose taxes Parliament and the king rejected that idea Claimed Parliament represented all citizens even in colonies Colonists reacted violently to Stamp Tax Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766

Getting Ready… Colonist began stockpiling weapons 1st shots of the American Revolution fired at Lexington, Massachusetts in April 1775 Second Continental Congress organized an army By July 4th 1776 Congress had adopted the Declaration of Independence – Jefferson used many of John Locke’s ideas about Social Contract

The War of American Independence American disadvantages: Great Britain had the largest & strongest professional army and navy American army made of untrained recruits American navy only had a few ships American advantage: Great leaders – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin Knew the land they were fighting on

American Help Ben Franklin convinced France to help by sending: Soldiers Money Ships Supplies With the help of the French navy, Washington was able to block off the British at Yorktown, Virginia British surrendered and the war was over in 1781 (1775-1781)

Setting Up a New Nation 1st written plan of government was the Articles of Confederation which did not create a strong central government. It did not cover many issues. State delegates decided to meet and write a new plan – US set up a Federal System: Power shared between the national and state governments

How was the new government set up? Government divided into 3 branches: Legislative, executive, and judicial A system of checks and balances used so no one branch of government could gain too much power Writers of the Constitution borrowed ideas from Montesquieu Before the Constitution could go into effect, 9 out of the 13 states had to ratify, or approve the document

The Ratification of the Constitution Many states did not think the Constitution gave enough rights to the citizens: If the Constitution was ratified, one of the 1st jobs would be to add a Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights guaranteed: Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition; the right to bear arms…etc. Many of the rights are similar to the natural rights of the Enlightenment.

Putting it all together… Why did the British Empire need money? What caused the American Colonies to rebel against British rule? Whose ideas did Jefferson use when he wrote the Declaration of Independence? Why did he use those ideas? What advantages and disadvantages did the American colonists have in the war against the British? What was wrong with the new government under the Articles of Confederation? Explain how the new government under the Constitution was set up. Why was the addition of the Bill of Rights important to the new Constitution?