American Revolution World History

Causes of the American Revolution 1.England’s Neglect of the Colonies 2.Taxation without Representation 3.Limitation of Individual Rights 4.Unfair Taxation 5.Mercantilism 6.Trade Restrictions 7.Enlightenment Ideas ** Place the causes in the cloud on your worksheet

Grievances Major Acts put on the colonists by King of England ** Place grievances in the rain drops on your worksheet 1.Quartering Act: colonists must house British troops 2.Sugar Act: placed a tax on sugar goods 3.Stamp Act: tax on all paper goods 4.Tea Act: import tax on tea arriving in colonies 5.Townshend Acts: Necessary items from England were directly taxed at ports. (ex: lead, glass, cloth) 6.Navigation Act: no trading with other countries 7.Currency Act: no paper money 8.Intolerable Act: British punished the colonists and placed military rule over Boston, Massachusetts

Would You Like A Cup of Tea? Samuel Adams (leader of the Sons of Liberty) –Encourage conflict with British Authorities –Leader of “Boston Tea Party” Protest against tax on import of tea Colonist Raiders dump 342 chests of tea into water In return, King George III ordered British Navy to close port of Boston & troops occupy Boston

Boston Tea Party

1 st Continental Congress September 1774 Protested the Intolerable acts Accomplishments: –colonies boycott British goods

1776

2 nd Continental Congress The Continental Congress meets again. On July 4, 1776 Congress issued the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson **Write this in T. Jefferson lightening bolt! Wrote the Declaration of Independence Used John Locke’s enlightenment ideas –“Life, Liberty, and Property” Believed in “Unalienable Rights” –Rights that one is born with and should not be taken away such as: “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness”

Declaration of Independence Write this in D.O.I. lightening bolt: starting friction with the British! Written by Thomas Jefferson July 4, 1776 Included the following: 1.Listed the grievances of the colonists/ George III’s abuses against the colonists 2.Document ended with the declaration of colonies breaking ties with Britain

Why did colonist win vs. the British? 1.American motivation to fight was much stronger than British b/c they were defending their homeland 2. Overconfident British generals made several mistakes 3.Fighting an overseas war 3,000 miles away too expensive for Britain French helped trap British army in an important battle in Virginia

Articles of Confederation 1781: 13 States ratified the U.S. Constitution Established the U.S. as a Republic Created a weak national government No Branches of Government Congress – had no power to collect taxes or regulate trade

George Washington George Washington was the leader of the Continental Army during the American Revolution George Washington and James Madison believed that Shay’s Rebellion proved the need for a strong national government On May 25, st meeting of the Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles of Confederation

The U.S. Constitution Signed September 17,1787 In order for a law to be passed 9 of 13 states had to approve. Federalists - supporters of Constitution wanted balance between national and state governments Anti-federalists - feared central government would have too much power. Wanted Bill of Rights

U.S. Constitution

Bill of Rights **Place in the umbrella that protects U.S. citizens from grievances Added the Bill of Rights to Constitution to appease anti-federalists It is the: 1 st 10 Amendments Protected basic rights –R: Religion –A: Assembly –P: Petition –P: Press –S: Speech

Bill of Rights

The U.S. Constitution Fixes the Grievances 1.Congress meets every year 2.Congress has authority to impose taxes 3.No quartering of troops without consent 4.Civil cases have trial by jury 5.Individuals granted due process of law

Effects of American Revolution 1.Colonies win independence from Britain 2.New government is created a)First under the Articles of Confederation, then the Constitution 3.Constitution created 4.Bill of Rights Drafted 5.Influences later revolutions, including the French Revolution