1. The American Revolution
SOL VUS-4

2. How did the colonists’ ideas about government differ from those of the English Parliament?
Governmental Beliefs
English Parliament believed
Colonists believed
had legal authority over the colonists
their local assemblies had legal authority
They should not be taxed
had the right to tax the colonists
no taxation without representation

3. New political ideas about the relationship between people and their government helped to justify the Declaration of Independence.
The revolutionary generation formulated the political philosophy and laid the institutional foundations for the system of government under which American’s live.

4. The American Revolution was inspired by ideas concerning natural rights and political authority, and its successful completion affected people and governments throughout the world for many generations.

5. How did the ideas of John Locke and Thomas Paine influence Jefferson’s writings in the Declaration of Independence?
The ideas of John Locke
The period known as the “Enlightenment” in Europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw the development of new ideas about the rights of people and their relationship to their rulers.
John Locke was an Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas, more than any other’s, influenced the American belief in self-government.

6. Locke’s Writings
All people are free, equal, and have “natural rights” of life, liberty, and property that rulers cannot take away.
All original power resides in the people, and they consent to enter into a “social contract” among themselves to form a government to protect their rights. In return, the people promise to obey the laws and rules established by their government, establishing a system of “ordered liberty.”

7. Locke’s Writings
Government’s powers are limited to those the people have consented to give to it.

8. Locke’s Writings
Whenever government becomes a threat to the people’s natural rights, it breaks the social contract, and the people have the right to alter or overthrow it.

9. Locke’s Social Contract
Give up
some
Rights
Protect
Those
Rights
Consent
Obey gov’t laws
BUT IF
Rights
And form a
new government
Breaks contract &
threatens rights
People have right to abolish
that government

10. Thomas Paine and Common Sense
In his pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine, an English immigrant to America, challenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of England.
It was widely read and contributed to a growing feeling for independence from England.

11. The Declaration of Independence is commonly thought to be broken into 4 parts that you must recognize:
Preamble
Declaration of Natural Rights
List of Grievances
Resolution of Independence

12. Declaration of Independence
Equality of
Opportunity
The Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, reflected the ideas of Locke and Paine. It became a road map for the new republic.
Unalienable
Rights
Life
Pursuit of
Happiness
Liberty
List of grievances

13. Jefferson’s Words
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
“To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
“…whenever that government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to…abolish it, and institute a new government.”
Locke’s ideas

14. Political participation (equality)
The key principles of the Declaration of Independence increased political, social, and economic participation in the American experience over a period of time.
Political participation (equality)
Extending the franchise
Upholding due process of law
Providing free public education
Social participation (liberty)
Abolishing slavery
Extending civil rights to women and other groups
Economic participation (pursuit of happiness)
Regulating the free enterprise system
Promoting economic opportunity
Protecting property rights

15. The ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence contradicted the realities of slavery and the undemocratic nature of political participation in the early decades of the new republic.
The Declaration of Independence became a road map for the new republic as it extended the franchise, provided for equality of opportunity, and guaranteed “unalienable rights”

16. So why do we fight for independence?
1. Inspired by the Enlightenment.
2. Mounting differences between the colonists and the English.
Mounting colonial resentment after increased involvement by the English (taxes, etc)
Sparked at Lexington and Concord.

17. English-American Differences
French and Indian War
The rivalry in North America between England and France led to the French and Indian War. In the end, the French were driven out of their
BEFORE
territories in Canada and west of the Appalachians.
AFTER

18. Make a note: Early Colonial Period 1600-1700
A. Britain had adopted policy of
salutary neglect (non-interference)
B. Colonies existed to supply raw materials
to the mother country (mercantilism)
C. Colonies too difficult to control (3000
miles away)

19. Impact of the French and Indian War
The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited settlement west of the Appalachians because it was costly for the British to protect.
New taxes were put on legal documents (the “Stamp Act”), tea, and sugar to pay
for costs of the war
and for the British troops stationed to protect the colonies.
TAXES !

20. Proclamation of 1763

21. Impact of the French and Indian War
Resistance mounting toward REVOLUTION!
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party
“Minutemen” fire at Lexington and Concord
First Continental
Congress

22. What is the opinion of the artist behind this historical representation of the Boston Massacre?

23. What is the purpose of this political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin?

24. Patriots v. Loyalists

25. Differences among the colonists
The colonists were divided into three main groups during the Revolution:
Patriots
Believed in complete independence from Britain
Inspired by the ideas of Locke and Paine and the words of Virginian Patrick Henry (“Give me liberty, or give me death!”)
Provided the troops for the American Army, led by Virginian George Washington
Loyalists (Tories)
Remained loyal to Britain because of cultural and economic ties
Believed that taxation of the colonies was justified to pay for British troops to protect American settlers from Indian attacks
Neutrals
The many colonists who tried to stay as uninvolved in the war as possible

26. The beginning of the American Revolution
Resistance to British rule in the colonies mounted, leading to war:
War began when the “Minutemen” in Massachusetts fought a brief skirmish with British troops at Lexington and Concord.

27. Factors that contributed to the victory of the American rebels
Diplomatic
Benjamin Franklin negotiated a Treaty of Alliance with France after the turning point battle Saratoga.
The war did not have popular support in Great Britain.

28. The American victory at Saratoga was an extremely important one; it was the war’s Turning Point. It showed Europe that the new country might really be able to win the war.
This was something that France, especially, had wanted ever since being defeated by the British earlier in the French and Indian War. It helped gain French assistance for the American Revolution.

29. The American rebels will, in part, win their independence because the British government grew tired of the struggle soon after the French agreed to help the Americans.
Treaty of Alliance
France and USA

30. Aspects of Colonial Victory!
Military:
Washington’s leadership
avoiding situations that would put his men in immediate danger * inspiring men
French Army and Navy at the Battle of Yorktown which ended the war.
British grew tired of the war after the French joined the fight—knew the war would drag on longer with more deaths and costs

31. Washington at Yorktown after the surrender.

32. Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:
“The World Turned Upside Down!”
Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

33. America after the Treaty of Paris

34. North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783

35. Essential Questions:
1. How did the ideas of John Locke and Thomas Paine influence Jefferson’s writings in the Declarations of Independence? 2. How did the Declaration of Independence become a road map for the new republic as it extended the franchise, provided for equality of opportunity, and guaranteed “unalienable rights”? 3. What differences existed among Americans concerning separation from Great Britain? 4. What factors contributed to the victory of the American rebels?