American Revolution April 19, 1775-September 3, 1783

Causes of the American Revolution

Proclamation of 1763 In 1763, Parliament issued the Proclamation of 1763, which ordered colonists not to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British government believed this would keep peace with the Native Americans. The colonists thought the British government should not interfere.

MAP OF PROCLAMATION OF 1763

The Stamp Act In 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp Act. It forced colonists to pay a tax on almost everything printed on paper—newspapers, legal documents—even playing cards. The colonists reacted so strongly against the tax that Parliament revoked it a year later.

The Stamp Act

The Townshend Acts In 1767, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, which taxed lead, glass, paper, paint, and tea imported to the colonies. Colonists resisted by refusing to buy these items. The tax was lifted on everything except tea.

Boston Tea Party In 1773, British East India company sent ships full of tea to Boston Harbor. On December 16, colonists dressed as Mohawks boarded the ship and dumped the tea in the water. The event became known as the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party

The Intolerable Acts In 1774, to punish the colonists for dumping the tea, the British passed even stricter laws. The colonists called these laws the “Intolerable Acts” because the colonists decided they would not tolerate (accept) them. The First Continental Congress met to protest the Intolerable Acts. Every colony except Georgia sent delegates, or representatives. In Sept. 1774, the congress demanded that the Intolerable Acts be taken back and that the colonist be given more power in making decisions.

War Begins The war began when fighting broke out in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. Minutemen were members of groups of armed men who were ready at a minute’s notice to take to the field against the British. The British were called “redcoats” due to the bright red color of their uniforms.

Soldiers Minutemen Redcoats

The Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May 1775, a month after the American Revolution had begun. The colonists realized that they must fight together against the British if they were to defeat the British. George Washington was nominated to be the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army— everyone voted for him.

American Strengths PATRIOTISM: People willingly gave lives to defend liberty Knowledge of the LAND Fighting tactics taught by the NATIVE AMERICANS Aid from FRANCE- during the first two years of the war, France secretly supplied the rebels with 90% of their gunpowder GEORGE WASHINGTON inspired courage and confidence

American Weaknesses Men- the Continental Army never had more than 20,000 troops Many soldiers only enlisted for SIX months or a year Men were not trained for BATTLE GUNS AND POWDER were in short supply Lack of FOOD, UNIFORMS, AND MONEY

British Strengths 50,000 well-trained troops 30,000 Hessian (German) mercenaries hired to help fight Loyalists (colonists loyal to King) Plenty of food, ammo, guns, uniforms Navy was the strongest in the world

British Weaknesses Distance from England to America (hard to command) King George could not convince British people it was important to defeat Colonists Britain was fighting in other places Britain was overconfident of winning

End of the War In 1781, at the Battle of Yorktown, Washington defeated Lord Cornwell’s troops with the help of the French The peace treaty, “Treaty of Paris” was signed in 1783 Britain recognized the colonies as an independent country and their need to expand west

Results of the American Revolution The thirteen colonies became an independent nation called the United States of America, which was recognized by Britain. Britain gave the United States the land east of the Mississippi river, north to Canada, and south to the border of Florida. All British control of American trade was lifted. A new government with elected representatives was formed under the Articles of Confederation. The successful revolution encouraged other people, especially the French, to overthrow their governments.

People of the Revolutionary War Americans George Washington Benjamin Franklin Patrick Henry John Adams Samuel Adams Ethan Allen Nathan Hale Paul Revere Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson

People in the Revolutionary War British King George III Benedict Arnold Gen. Cornwallis

Independence Day