1. The American Revolution
Section 4
The American Revolution
Enlightenment ideas help spur the American colonies to shed British rule and create a new nation.
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2. The American Revolution
SECTION 4
The American Revolution
Britain and Its American Colonies
The American Colonies Grow
• American colonies grow large and populous during
1600s, 1700s (E. Coast of N. America)
-1700 pop. = 250k pop. = 2.15 million
• Colonies thrive economically through trade with Europe
- Britain’s Navigation Act starts to restrict trade (1651)
i. Colonies may only sell to Britain
ii. Colonies pay high tax on French or Dutch goods
-rules favor the economy of ? _______
- other trade laws add restrictions, taxes
• Colonists identify less and less as British subjects and more as citizens of their colony
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3. "No taxation without representation"
SECTION 4
Americans Win Independence
British–Colonial Tensions Arise
• Britain & Colonies fight war against “French and Indians” in (get French land in N America)
• Britain taxes colonists (Stamp Act) to help pay war debts and for future costs of their defense
-wills, deeds, newspapers, etc.
-Colonists mad over 1st direct tax paid to British Gov.
• Colonists argue that British cannot tax them
without their consent (no members in Parliament)
- idea from?______________
"No taxation without representation"
Continued . . .
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4. Growing Hostility Leads to War
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continued Americans Win Independence
Growing Hostility Leads to War
• “Boston Tea Party” (1773) dump tea into Boston Harbor to protest tea tax
-George III closes entire port
• Colonists meet in Philadelphia to address British
policies (1774) “First Continental Congress” and decide to protest
-protests ignored by King George III
• British and Americans exchange fire at
Lexington and Concord in April 19, 1775
• Colonists meet at “Second Continental Congress”
-vote to raise army under command of G. Washington
-Issue Declaration of Independence from Britain
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5. The Influence of the Enlightenment
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continued Americans Win Independence
The Influence of the Enlightenment
• Colonial leaders push for indep., rely on
Enlightenment ideas (natural rights, self-government)
• Declaration of Independence —document
justifying colonial rebellion
• Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration,
uses ideas of Locke
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British Advantages
1. Professional, well-equipped, well-trained, army and Navy (the best in the world?)
- control seas and ports
2. Much more wealth to fight war
3. Occupy most major cities in Colonies
4. ~1/3 of Colonists loyal to Britain (“loyalists”)
5. Win most all early battles
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6. Advantages & Success for the Colonists
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continued Americans Win Independence
Advantages & Success for the Colonists
1. Motivation much stronger,
• Colonists fighting for:
-Freedom -Homes/Families -lives
• British fighting for:
-land 3,000 miles away -Money
2. Control Countryside
3. Home-field advantage (familiar with geography and British are not)
4. French assistance (money, troops, Navy)
5. war’s expense for Britain, citizens tired of tax
6. British Generals overconfidence
-Tactical Mistakes
7. Difficult for British to get reinforcements and supplies due to distance across Atlantic
• British surrender at Yorktown in 1781 after being surrounded by G. Washington; colonists win the war

7. Americans Create a Republic
SECTION 4
Americans Create a Republic
A Weak National Government
• Articles of Confederation set gov. plan for new republic
• Articles create legislature only, no executive or
judicial branches
• Result is weak national gov. that fails to provide unity and order (can’t tax or print money)
A New Constitution
• Leaders call Constitutional Convention in 1787 to
revise articles
• Group instead creates a new gov. under US Constitution
• contains many political ideas of the Enlightenment (sep. of powers, checks & balances, natural rights)
• creates 3 branches of gov. (executive, legislative, judicial)
• reflects idea of popular sovereignty- gov. has power from the people, and is created by agreement of people
Continued . . .
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8. • Provides checks and balances —ensures branches share power equally
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continued Americans Create a Republic
The Federal System
• Provides checks and balances —ensures
branches share power equally
• Promotes federal system —power divided
between nation and states (or Local v. National)
The Bill of Rights
• Some fear too much national power, few
protections of rights
• Leaders win support for Constitution by adding a
Bill of Rights
- ten amendments to Constitution that protect freedoms
Legacy –US Constitution becomes 1st modern democracy and model for many other democratic constitution in world
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9. 1. Freedoms of: speech, religion, press, assembly (idea of________?)
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continued Americans Create a Republic
1. Freedoms of: speech, religion, press, assembly (idea of________?)
2. Bear arms (have a firearm)
3. No troops in homes in peacetime
4. No unreasonable search or seizure
5. Gov. can not take life, liberty, property (◄ideas of ______) without due process of law (◄ idea originally from _________?), no self incrimination
6. Speedy, public trial by jury
7. Use of common law
8. No cruel or unusual punishment
9. Rights are not restricted to those listed 1-8
10. Powers not given to National Gov. or restricted by constitution belong to states (what system________?)