1. American Revolution

2. What is it? War of independence from Great Britain (England)
Colonies vs. England

3. Events that lead to WAR Debt after French and Indian War
Taxation to colonies by British Government
Sugar, Stamp, Townshend
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party, 1771
Intolerable Acts- harsher laws for colonies

5. First Continental Congress
Main people from colonies met in Philadelphia 1774
They met to organized a plan for war and create militias

6. Questions
Why did the American colonies declare their independence from the British Empire?

7. Second Continental Congress
Fighting begins April 1775, in Lexington and Concord
2nd Continental Congress-formed army
Commander in Chief- George Washington
Declaration of Independence, 1776
Written by Thomas Jefferson
“free and independent states absolved from all allegiance to the British crown”

8. War Begins British Strong military power Enormous financial resources
Continental Army
Amateurs for short time
Aided by French and others
Arms and money
Officers served

9. Question
Why did foreign countries support the American cause?

10. War Ends
At Yorktown in 1781
British General Cornwallis was forced to surrender
Treaty of Paris recognized independence of American colonies
Americans gained land West of Mountains to Mississippi River

12. New Country 13 colonies were independent states
Own interests
No interest in creating a UNITED country
Articles of Confederation-1st American Constitution (1781)
Weak national government
Couldn’t deal with national problems

13. Constitutional Convention
1787, 55 delegates met in Philly to revise articles
Wrote a new plan for a new government
They wrote the CONSTITUTION

14. Constitution
Created a federal system (power would be shared between national and state governments
National- taxes, raise an army, regulate trade
State- other rules- transportation

15. Three Branches of Government

16. Bill of Rights
1789 Congress proposed 12 amendments, 10 were approved by the states
Guaranteed freedom or religion, press, speech, petition, and assembly.
Right to bear arms
Protect themselves against searches
Granted a trial by jury
Due process of law

17. Question
What was the main difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?