1. Birth of the American Republic

2. Britain Becomes a Global Power
Location – position to control trade
Favorable business climate
1700s – Britain general on the winning side of European conflicts
Territory expansion at home
In 1760 George III began 60-year reign and he set out to reassert royal power
By mid-1700s string of prosperous colonies along Atlantic coast
Britain applied mercantilist policies to regulate trade but the Navigation Acts were not strictly enforced
Religiously & ethnically diverse, social distinctions blurred, free discussion and colonists felt entitled to rights as English citizens, had colonial assemblies that exercised control over local affairs

3. Colonists Express Discontent
The Seven Years War and the French and Indian War had drained British treasury.
King George & Parliament felt colonists should help pay for war
Sugar Act 1764 – imposed import taxes
Stamp Act – 1765 – taxed newspapers and pamphlets
“No Taxation Without Representation!”
After a series of violent clashes…colonists/protestors and soldiers met in Boston in March 1770 …..Boston Massacre then in December 1773 – Boston Tea Party….
Tensions increased and representatives from each colony met in Philadelphia in a Continental Congress to take action ….

4. Colonists Declare Independence
April 1775 – Lexington and Concord…”shots heard round the world”
1776 – Second Continental Congress set up Continental Army
Thomas Jefferson penned Declaration of Independence
“Life Liberty and property”
Popular Sovereignty
Social contract – right to rebel
July 4, 1776 – Declare Independence

5. American Revolution Continues…
British Advantages
Colonists Advantages
Trained soldiers
Huge fleet
Greater resources
1/3 of colonists were Loyalists
Support of some Native American tribes
Knowledge of geography of continent
Strong leader – George Washington
Support of some Native American Tribes
After Battle of Saratoga (1777) – Support of French, Spanish and Netherlands

6. A New Constitution
1781 – French fleet blockaded Chesapeake Bay forcing British Army in Yorktown, VA to surrender
Treaty of Paris (1783) formally ended the war
Articles of Confederation were first constitution…
1787 nations leaders again gathered in Philadelphia to draft new Constitution
The Framers of the Constitution were heavily influenced by the ideas of the philosophes like Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau
It has endured for almost 200 years as a symbol of Freedom and an inspiration for democracy and independence all over the world