The American Revolution What caused the American Revolution? Who were the main “players” in the Revolution? What were the consequences of the Revolution?
Review Questions What are the main ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers? How do they challenge the powers of Absolute Monarchs? John Locke Voltaire Thomas Hobbes
Great Britain’s New Laws Imposed on colonists to help pay for the war debts caused from the French and Indian war. Great Britain began to assert its right to impose laws on the colonies. Why need to impose new taxes? GB defeat French in the French and Indian War (1763) and cost a lot of money. GB decided to make the colonies pay part of the cost in the form of new taxes.
Stamp Act- (1765) Required colonists to pay a tax for an official stamp on all newspapers, legal documents, and other public papers. Taxation without Representation - Colonists are outraged that Parliament taxed them without representatives there to plead their case. The colonists decide to boycott English goods. Parliament repeals the Stamp Act in 1766.
Townshend Acts- (1767) a new series of taxes on glass, paper, paints, and tea. Boston Merchants were furious call for another boycott. British send over troops to keep order in the city, most of which are harassed by the colonists leads to Boston Massacre (1770)
The Conflict Heats up… Sons of Liberty- (1773) a group of rebellious Bostonians led by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere carry out the Boston Tea Party. British close the port of Boston and pass the Intolerable Acts (these are regulations that limit the freedom of the colonist).
The War Begins April 19, 1775 Sons of Liberty had hidden weapons in the countryside. British soldiers found out and started searching for them. Lexington, Massachusetts: First battle of American Revolution “The Shot Heard Round the World”
Leaders Thomas Paine wrote pamphlet Common Sense, which argued that the colonist should be free. Thomas Paine
Leaders Second Continental Congress Committee formed to write a document declaring the colonies’ independence from Great Britain. John Adams- well-educated man who believed in the enlightenment ideas Thomas Jefferson- wrote the declaration incorporating ideas the Enlightenment George Washington- commanding general of the army Benjamin Franklin- was in Paris, France at the time asking for help in the war.
Colonist Win! British surrendered to General Washington on October 19, 1781. Treaty of Paris (September 1783)- British government formally recognized the independence of the United States.
Consequences The colonist form a new government Articles of Confederation (1781) Constitution (1787) French Revolution (1787- 1799) Haitian Revolution (1791-1803) The American Revolution was the first war in which old ideas about government were challenged by the ideas of the Enlightenment. Others were inspired by this and decided to fight for their rights and freedom too.