The American Revolution

The American Revolution We are finally free!!!

Patriots v. the Redcoats Do Now: What do you notice about the differences between the American soldier (Patriot) and the British Soldier (Redcoat)? How do you think this effected the war?

Efforts to Keep the Peace Battle of Bunker Hill Even after the fighting, colonists wanted to avoid a war Second Continental Congress- sent Olive Branch Petition to King George III King George orders to “bring the traitors to justice”

Revolutionary Spirit Thomas Paine urges colonists to form a republic in his pamphlet Common Sense Spring of 1776, Continental Congress appoints Thomas Jefferson as the head of the committee in charge of writing the Declaration of Independence

Signing the Declaration The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 John Hancock and all colonial delegates signed the document BUT the Patriot army still had to fight to defend its bold words and officially get their new land

Reading Time! In your textbooks, read from page 67-70 When you have finished, silently and individually create a flow chart for the events during the American Revolution You have 25 minutes to complete this flow chart Your flow map should be on a separate piece of paper

Ouch…War Hurts Tension between the Patriots and Loyalists Damage to land, villages, farms and major colonial cities Economic consequences: fall of foreign trade, inflation and low wages

Do Now: Complaints, Complaints • With your table, write a list of complaints you have about the treatment of young people • Your list should have at list 5 complaints (for example: recess should be longer, school should start later, etc.) • Then answer the following questions with your partner: • Who would you send your complaints to? • What makes you think your complaints are worth while? • What events inspired your complaints? • Have you done anything already to make changes for young people? • Who is willing to sign the complaints and face the consequences?

Let’s Talk Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote Declaration of Independence Stated reasons the colonies had to break away from England Said that the king of England had violated their rights in the Magna Carta from 1215

Rationale But Why?! Purpose To tell King George that he no longer controlled them. List out all the reasons they were going to become independent. Tell the world that they were not a new country. King George continued to ignore colonists rights. Told King George all the rights he took away. The world now knew that the colonies were standing up against the most powerful country in the world.

Loyalty Many Americans felt connected to their colony The people of the colonies elected their own representatives to colonial assemblies (governments)

Mixed Feelings Also considered themselves English citizens Believed Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights applied to them Magna Carta limited kings power, English Bill of Rights limited the king even more

The Declaration Declaration of Independence spread to the colonies Declaration posted and read in towns and cities

Reading Time (part 2) Pages 656-659 Read the Declaration of Independence silently and independently Write a letter explaining the Declaration of Independence to someone who lives in another country

Letter Format • Preamble • Explain why you are writing • The Right of People to Control their Government • Explain what rights you believe people have • Oppressive Acts of the British King • List and explain at least 5 things the king did • Efforts of the Colonists to Avoid Separation • Explain what you tried to do to avoid war • The Colonies are Declared Free and Independent • Sum up what will change now that you are independent

And So Our Nation Begins…

The American Revolution