The American Revolution

1
The American Revolution

• What caused the American Revolution?
• Who were the main players in the Revolution?
• What were the consequences of the Revolution?

2
Review Questions

• What are the main ideas of the Enlightenment
  philosophers?
• How do they challenge the powers of Absolute
  Monarchs?  

John Locke
Voltaire
Thomas Hobbes
3
Great Britains New Laws

• Imposed on colonists to help pay for the war
  debts caused from the French and Indian war.

4
Stamp Act- (1765)

• Required colonists to pay a tax for an official
  stamp on all newspapers, legal documents, and
  other public papers.
• Taxation without Representation - Colonists are
  outraged that Parliament taxed them without
  representatives there to plead their case. The
  colonists decide to boycott English goods.
• Parliament repeals the Stamp Act in 1766.

5
Townshend Acts- (1767)

• a new series of taxes on glass, paper, paints,
  and tea.
• Boston Merchants were furious call for another
  boycott.
• British send over troops to keep order in the
  city, most of which are harassed by the colonists
  ? leads to Boston Massacre (1770)

6
The Conflict Heats up

• Sons of Liberty- (1773) a group of rebellious
  Bostonians led by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere
  carry out the Boston Tea Party.
• British close the port of Boston and pass the
  Intolerable Acts (these are regulations that
  limit the freedom of the colonist).

7
The War Begins

• April 19, 1775
• Sons of Liberty had hidden weapons in the
  countryside. British soldiers found out and
  started searching for them.
• Lexington, Massachusetts First battle of
  American Revolution ? The Shot Heard Round the
  World

8
Leaders

• Thomas Paine
• wrote pamphlet Common Sense, which argued that
  the colonist should be free.

Thomas Paine
9
Leaders

• Second Continental Congress (May, 1775)
• Committee formed to write a document declaring
  the colonies independence from Great Britain.
• John Adams- well-educated man who believed in the
  enlightenment ideas
• Thomas Jefferson- wrote the declaration
  incorporating ideas the Enlightenment
• George Washington- commanding general of the army
  
• Benjamin Franklin- was in Paris, France at the
  time asking for help in the war.

10
Colonist Win!

• British surrendered to General Washington on
  October 19, 1781.
• Treaty of Paris (September 1783)- British
  government formally recognized the independence
  of the United States.

11
Consequences

• The colonist form a new government
• Articles of Confederation (1781)
• Constitution (1787)
• French Revolution (1787-1799)
• Haitian Revolution (1791-1803)

12
Questions (Due tomorrow)

• 1). How did the enlightenment influence the
  American Revolution?
• 2). Which enlightenment thinkers do you see
  represented by the American Govt that formed
  after the revolution?
• 3). Who are some of the main figures of the U.S.
  Revolution?
• 4). Do you believe the Colonists should have
  revolted or not? Explain your reasoning.
• 5). Explain two direct causes that led to the
  American Revolutionary War?