Post on 15-Dec-2015
American Revolution
United States
Purpose for fighting
Poorly trained Military
Lack of money
Home Field advantage
Weak leadership until George Washington
Great Britain
Strongest Navy and Army in the world
Superior leadership
No allied support
Home across the ocean
Had to supply own materials and supplies
1500-1700’s- America was broken and settled by the French, British, and Spanish
Colonies were mostly British
1754- French and Indian War
The French will give the Great Lakes area to the British
The British will have the area from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River
Will end with the Treaty of Paris
The British Government felt that the colonist should help pay for
the war costs
King George III
1760- 1820
King of Great Britain and Ireland
Son of Fredrick, Prince of Wales
Acts and Taxes
To help pay for the war the colonist were given taxes and acts
Sugar Act
1764
Taxed Sugar and other Imports
Stamp Act
1765
Taxed anything printed
“ No taxation without representation”
Loyalties divided among the colonist
Patriots- wanted independence from Great Britain and were willing to fight for it
Loyalists- opposed independence and wanted to stay part of Britain
Boston Tea Party
1773
East India Tea Company
Only place Colonist can buy the tea
Monopoly
Sons of Liberty dress up as Native Americans and dump the tea into the harbor
Dumping the tea off the side of the ships
Intolerable Act
1774
Numerous acts and taxes passed by Parliament
Was in response to the Boston Tea Party
King George wanted to punish the colonist
Will infringe upon the civil liberties of the colonist
1775
British troops marched to take over arsenals
Lexington and Concord
Capture leaders of the Sons of Liberty
Patriots are waiting for them
First shots fired
Declaration of Independence
Write a letter to King George III
Representatives of the colonies meet
Reasons why they revolted
List of grievances against the King
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Influenced by John Locke
Natural Law
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
Signed July 4,1776
Battle of Saratoga
October 1777
Turning point of the war
France enters the war as the U.S ally
Battle of Yorktown
1781
Last battle of the Revolutionary War
Treaty of Paris
1783
Benjamin Franklin negotiates peace
Americans gain more territory
Articles of Confederation
1777
Founding fathers met to establish
1st form of government in the United States
Weak-Americans feared a strong central government
Like England's
Wanted to ensure individual rights and freedoms
States have more power
National government couldn’t do anything for the good of the nation as a whole
Constitutional Convention
May 1787
State delegates meet to “revise” the Articles of Confederation
Writes a whole new Constitution
United States federal system of government
Idea of Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu
3 Branches of Government
Executive
President
Enforces laws
Legislative
Congress
Makes laws
Two houses
House of Representatives
Senate
Judicial
Supreme court
Interprets laws
Check and Balances
Bill of Rights First 10 amendments of the Constitution
Protects Civil liberties