The American Revolution

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The American Revolution
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Questions

• Why was there a revolution?
• Why did it succeed?
• What were its consequences for Britain?

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Causes

• Colonies tended toward independence
• French threat gone
• Enforcement of old laws
• Constitutional arguments inconsistent
• Focus on Parliament

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Two Parliamentary Ideas

• British Parliament of whole empire (virtual
  representation)
• America Colonial legislatures separate

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Economic Factors Primary
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Timing

• Peace of Paris
• 1760s politically unstable in Britain

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Why America Won

• British military disadvantages
• America huge
• American army wouldnt engage
• Supply train
• No clear military objective
• Franco-American alliance (1778)

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Why America Won, part 2

• British political disunity
• Not necessarily pro-American
• Distaste for fighting fellow subjects

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Consequences

• Independence
• French gain territory
• Spanish get Florida and Minorca
• British lose prestige
• Imperialism now needs non-economic justification

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Effects in Britain

• Kings power begins to decline
• Economic Reform Act (1782)
• Spirit of reform