American Revolution 13 Colonies New England Subsistence farming

American Revolution

13 Colonies • New England – Subsistence farming • Middle Colonies – “Holy Experiment” – William Penn-Quakers • Southern Colonies – Indentured servants slaves – Agriculture=Tobacco, cotton

Colonies and England • Colonies used for economic gain for Great Britain • Mercantilism – When a country exports more than it imports • British Parliament did not really interfere in the legislatures (governments) of American coloniesperiod of salutary neglect

American Culture • Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening emphasized individualism which led American colonists to lean toward political independence • Both events brought colonists together shared experiences

French and Indian War • Colonists and British vs. French and Indians • Colonists and British come out victorious • French sent out of North America and Britain left with massive debt

French and Indian War (Cont. ) • Britain begins to enforce taxes and add more taxes to Colonists – “share the burden of the empire” • Colonists think taxes are unfair and want representation in Parliament • Revolutionary activity begins…. .

Regulated/Taxed • Proclamation of 1763 – Britain tells the Colonists they can’t move west of the Appalachian Mountains • Britain begins to enforce taxes in the colonies – Stamp Act, Sugar Act, etc.

• Colonists say they want to be represented in Parliament in Britain if they were going to pay taxes “No taxation without Representation!” Pennsylvania Journal and Advertiser sarcastically suggests affixing this stamp to imported goods

Tensions Heighten! • British troops never left colonies after French Indian War • Boston Massacre- 1770 - British troops/civilians get into fight 5 colonists dead, anti-British propaganda

• Britain repealed all taxes except…tea tax – Tea Act- British want monopoly on tea-1773 Boston Tea Party • Lexington & Concord (1775)- British and colonists get into a “fight” • 1 st “battle” of the revolution, unclear who fired first

Colonists Unite! • The Continental Congress – Formed by colonists to counteract British actions – George Washington voted commander of the army – Declaration of Independence- written by Thomas Jefferson

War! • Continental Army formed – Patriots, Minutemen • British Army -Redcoats or Loyalists • French backed Patriots ($)

• Reasons for American victory – Geography advantage (home) – Desire to win – Unconventional fighting methods • General Cornwallis (British) forced to surrender at Yorktown in 1781

• Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 – Recognized independence of American colonies (United States of America)

Ruling a New Nation • Articles of Confederationnation’s “first constitution” – Didn’t work too much power to states • Constitution– federal system- power shared between the national gov’t and the states gov’ts • Bill of Rights- first 10 Amendments in Constitution – Freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly, etc.

• Conflict Summary – Constitutional monarchy vs. rights of colonial assemblies • Political Outcome – American Revolution – New American Republic

• Long-Term Outcomes – Spread of democratic ideals – 1 st successful revolution from “mother country” • Related Documents – Declaration of Independence – United States Constitution

American Revolution = Political Change • Goal of colonists to achieve political independence in the colonies – It worked! • AMERICA!!!