The American Revolution

Valentines Day Trivia!!! 1. How many boxes of Chocolate were sold for Valentine’s Day last year in the United States? 2. What is the most popular item to buy for someone on Valentine’s Day? 3. Approximately what percentage of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased by women? 4. Approximately how many Valentine’s Day cards are given each year worldwide? 5. What percent of pet owners give gifts to their animals?

Trivia Answers 1.36 million boxes of chocolate 2.A card 3.85 percent of cards are purchased by women 4.1 billion 5.3 percent

Common Sense  Common Sense- Pamphlet published to encourage the English colonists in North America to declare their independence from Britain  Written by Thomas Paine

The 13 English Colonies  Navigation Acts- Passed by Parliament to allow Great Britain to control colonial trade and manufacturing  Colonists felt entitled to the rights of English citizens  Colonists shared common values & increasing sense of own identity separate from that of Britain

Growing Discontent  King George III thought the colonists should help pay for French & Indian War  “No taxation without representation”  Based on Enlightenment ideas: John Locke  Because colonists had no representatives in Parliament, Parliament had no right to tax them

Early Clashes  “Boston Massacre”- British soldiers in Boston opened fire on a crowd, five died  Boston Tea Party- Colonists hurled British tea into the harbor to protest tax on tea  Continental Congress- Representatives from each colony gathered in Philadelphia; war broke out between Britain & colonists

Declaring Independence  Second Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Britain  Thomas Jefferson: Principal author, lays out grievances against Britain  Clearly reflects ideas of John Locke  Popular Sovereignty- All government power comes from the people  Claimed that people had the right to abolish unjust government  July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted & signed

American Revolution  English Advantages: professional soldiers, huge fleet, money & Loyalists- colonists who supported Great Britain  Colonist Advantages- Fighting on own soil, controlled countryside  Battle of Saratoga- turning point; colonists triumphed over Britain, convinced the French to form alliance

Colonist Victory  Alliance w/ France gave colonists supplies, trained soldiers & ships  Valley Forge- Brutal winter; colonists suffered from cold, hunger, disease  Washington forced surrender of British army at Yorktown  Treaty of Paris- Ended war, Britain recognized independence of United States of America

New Constitution: 1789  Enlightenment ideas: Locke, Montesquieu & Rousseau  Social contract into which people entered  Separation of powers  Federal Republic- Power divided between the national government & states  Bill of Rights- First 10 amendments to constitution, recognized idea that people had basic rights