THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (1775-

1783)

Aim: What acts of Parliament lead to increased tensions between Britain and

the American colonies? Stamp Act 1765:

Required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for every legal document, license, newspaper, pamphlet, almanac

Imposed stamp duties on playing cards and dice

Aim: What acts of Parliament lead to increased tensions between Britain and

the American colonies? Stamp Act Protests:

Sons of Liberty organized to secretly protest the Stamp Act Samuel Adams

Colonial Assemblies pass laws to circumvent Stamp Act

Stamp Act Congress: issued the Declaration of rights and Grievances Stated that Parliament lacked the

power to impose taxes on the colonies because colonists were not represented in Parliament

Boycott British goods 1776 Parliament repeals the Stamp

Act

Aim: What acts of Parliament lead to increased tensions between Britain and

the American colonies? Declaratory Act

1766: asserted Parliament’s full right to make laws that have the power to bind the colonies in all cases

Aim: What acts of Parliament lead to increased tensions between Britain and

the American colonies? Townshend Acts

1767: Indirect taxes levied on

imported materials Ex: glass, lead, paint,

paper Mostly importantly tea

Colonial reaction: Boycott

British reaction: Stationed British troops

in Boston

Aim: What acts of Parliament lead to increased tensions between Britain and

the American colonies? Boston Massacre

1770

Aim: What acts of Parliament lead to increased tensions between Britain and

the American colonies? Boston Tea Party 1773:

Tea Act- East India Company given concessions in colonial tea business

Shuts out colonial merchants

Aim: What acts of Parliament lead to increased tensions between Britain and

the American colonies? Intolerable Acts:

1774 Shut down Boston harbor Quartering Act:

authorized British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes

General Thomas Gage appointed the new governor of Massachusetts Martial law: rule imposed

by military forces

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of

the American Revolution? First Continental

Congress 1774 56 delegates Philadelphia Declaration of colonial

rights Colonies have the right to

run their own affairs Supported protests British use of force would

should warrant colonial use of force

Agreed to reconvene if demands were not met

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of

the American Revolution? Fighting at Lexington

and Concord: Minutemen: or civilian

soldiers that began to stockpile firearms and gunpowder

General Gage sends troops toward Concord to investigate the stockpiling of firearms

Paul Revere, William Dawes, Samuel Prescott warn that the British are coming

Battle of Lexington

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of

the American Revolution?

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of the American

Revolution? Second Continental

Congress 1775: Goal: Debate colonists next

move John Adams radical plan

(Massachusetts): Each colony set up their own

government Declare colonies

independent Name a general to lead the

Continental Army John Dickenson moderate

plan (Pennsylvania): Called for reconciliation

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of the American

Revolution?

Second Continental Congress 1775: (cont.) Appointed George

Washington General of the Continental Army

Printing of paper money to pay troops

Committee to deal with foreign nations

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of the American

Revolution?

Battle of Bunker Hill: 450 colonists die Over 1000 British Deadliest battle of

the war

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of the American

Revolution?

Aim: How did the tensions between Britain and the colonists lead to start of the American

Revolution? Olive Branch

Petition 1775: Urged a return to

“former harmony” between Britain and colonies

British reaction: King George III rejected

the petition Stated colonies are in

state of rebellion Ordered naval

blockade of American coast

Aim: How did the signing of the Declaration of Independence lead to

opposing factions within the colonies? Thomas Paine’s –

Common Sense: Published

anonymously Called for

independence Economic and social

opportunities for all Increase trade with

foreign nations Creation of a society

free of tyranny

Aim: How did the signing of the Declaration of Independence lead to

opposing factions within the colonies? Thomas Jefferson drafts the

Declaration of Independence: Promotes natural rights of “Life,

Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

Government power derived from the governed

Influenced by Enlightenment ideas

Right to abolish governments that challenge unalienable rights

All men are created equal July 4, 1776 Declaration of

Independence adopted

Aim: How did the signing of the Declaration of Independence lead to

opposing factions within the colonies? Loyalists:

those who opposed independence and remained loyal to the Crown

Patriots: supporters of independence

Aim: What were the significant battles of the American Revolution?

Defeat in New York: General William

Howe and Admiral Richard Howe lay siege to New York

Plan was to isolate New England

Washington forced to retreat

Aim: What were the significant battles of the American Revolution?

Battle of Trenton: Victory for

Washington Surprises the

British Hessian (mercenary soldiers)

Aim: What were the significant battles of the American Revolution?

British fight for Philadelphia: General Howe and

the British capture Philadelphia

Continental Congress flees city

Aim: What were the significant battles of the American Revolution?

Battle of Saratoga: American colonists are

victorious General Horatio Gates

General Howe never meets up with General Burgoyne “Gentlemen Johnny”

Result: British troops do not

venture to far inland for the remainder of the war

International aid to American Revolutionaries increase

Aim: What were the significant battles of the American Revolution?

Valley Forge 1777-1778

Aim: How did international aid help the American colonists win the Revolution?

European allies: Friedrich von Steuben

(Prussian) Helped train colonial

soldiers Stand at attention Execute field

maneuvers Fire and reload quickly Wield bayonets

Aim: How did international aid help the American colonists win the Revolution?

European allies: (cont.) Marquis de Lafayette

(French) French reinforces key

to winning the war

Aim: How did international aid help the American colonists win the Revolution?

British change strategy 1778: Shift operations to

southern colonies Goal:

Rally Loyalist support

Reclaim former colonies

Slowly fight way back north

Aim: How did international aid help the American colonists win the Revolution? British change

strategy 1778: (cont.) British success in the South

1780 General Charles Cornwallis Capture Georgia and South

Carolina British loses in the South

1781 Nathaniel Greene and

Daniel Morgan lead Continental Army Succeed at weaken British

forces Redcoats surrender at

Cowpens, South Carolina

Aim: How did international aid help the American colonists win the Revolution?

British surrender at Yorktown: French

reinforcements help to defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown

October 17, 1781 Cornwallis surrenders

Aim: What were the effects of the American victory in the American Revolution?

Treaty of Paris1783: John Adams, Benjamin

Franklin, and John Jay negotiate treaty

Recognize American independence

Set boundaries of nation Atlantic Ocean to

Mississippi River Canada to Florida

Treaty does not specify when British would evacuate American forts

British could collect debts

Aim: What were the effects of the American victory in the American Revolution?

Impact: Revolutionary ideals set a

new course for American society

Class distinctions began to blur

Rise of egalitarianism Ability, effort, and virtue

No increased rights for women or slaves

Native American interests in jeopardy

Set out to establish a Republic