Revolutionary Era

U.S. History

Proclamation of 1763

• After the French and Indian War, the British issued the Proclamation to protect Native American lands as well as colonists.

• Britain didn’t want a bloody Indian uprising and wanted to prevent any conflicts.

Proclamation of 1763

• Colonists saw the Proclamation as an infringement upon their rights.

British Mercantilism

• The British controlled colonial trade to benefit Britain.

• This policy affected most colonial businesses.

• Colonists wanted economic interdependence without constraints on trade.

More Conflict with Britain

• Colonists began to boycott British goods to protest taxation without representation

• Stamp Act taxed paper items, such as books

• Colonists refused to pay the taxes demanded by Parliament.

Situation becomes Intolerable

• British passed Intolerable Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party.

• Colonists called the First Continental Congress to discuss situation

Common Sense

Thomas Paine encouraged colonists to think about independence through his pamphlet, Common Sense.

2nd Continental Congress

• Delegates voted to organize a nation army and appointed George Washington as commander in chief

• A Declaration of Independence from Britain was written by Thomas Jefferson

Declaration of Independence

• Document was the most important accomplishment of the 2nd Continental Congress

• “ We hold these truths to be self-evident…. endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” as result of being human

Revolutionary Era

This major era in U.S. History is characterized by individuals who sought to create an independent American republic and events which led to independence from Britain.

Revolutionary Era

• Colonists had advantage over British troops due to the long distance from Europe.

• Another advantage was that the colonial militia fought on their home territory.

Battles of the Revolution

• 1st shots of the Revolution were fired at Lexington

• Victory at Saratoga led to France sending military aid to the Patriots. This became the turning point of the Revolution with Patriots at an advantage.

Battles of the Revolution

John Paul Jones, naval commander, refused to surrender his ship to the British. He said, “I have not yet begun to fight!”

Battles of the Revolution

• Final victory for the Patriots came at Yorktown.

• British General Cornwallis surrendered his troops and ended the conflict. War was over; Patriots won!

Treaty of Paris

• Signed in 1783, this treaty recognized U.S. independence from Britain.

• The treaty set the western boundary of the United States at the Mississippi River.

Good Luck on Your Test!