American Revolution

American Revolution The teen colonies rebel (no surprises here, except we won!)

objectives • Explain the causes and effects of the American Revolution • Explain the role of the enlightenment on the American Revolution

Think of it as a power struggle • Britain really want America to accept their power and authority • The problem is that they have been an absent-T land lord for the past 100 years • America has grown in a different direction heavily influenced by the French enlightenment and the British hate the French • It is all about parents (British) getting the children (colonies) to do something they do not want to do (pay taxes)

The characters • Mom and Pops played by Great Britain • The uncooperative children played by the13 colonies and their governments • The bad influences played by the enlightened ideas (French)

Benign neglect or salutary neglect • American had been left alone for over 100 years (mom and pops were living it up they had won the lottery with colonization) • America was self-governing and self sufficient ( the children had been left home alone) • Overrun with smugglers for every possible good (mom and pop had no clue) • America knew what freedom was and was accustomed to self government

Treatment of colonies • British has passed many laws in America that were not enforced, taxes were ignored (the children are misbehaving) • Britain protected the American colonies from being overtaken by the natives and most recently the French (French and Indian War) • Britain wanted repayment for it’s protection and was attempting to regain lost power in the colonies

The British try to take charge in America • The Stamp act • First to tax the people directly • Stamp for all legal documents • Disobeying the law = vice admiralty courts - no jury • Resulted in loss of respect for the king and his office holders

Response to the stamp act • Sons of liberty • 1765 demonstrated and protested against the act • No stamps were sold • Declaration of rights and Grievances

Stamp protest • What does this mean? • Why is the stamp a skull and crossbones?

Declaration of Rights and Grievances • The colonist defense against the stamp act • Stated Parliament had no power to tax the colonies because they are not represented in parliament • The colonies act as one • Act repealed

The 2nd attempt • 1767-Townshend act • Indirect taxes on the rich • Glass, lead paint, paper • These are luxury goods. Who cares if we tax the rich? Right? • Tea tax

American Response • Response to the Townshend act • Organized resistance • Boycotts-drink coffee • No taxation without representation

The British fight back • Increased military presence • Competition for jobs • Fist fight in a shipyard • The Boston Massacre • 5 people die in the MASSACRE

The Massacre propaganda

The Townshend act repealed • They leave the tea tax • America rioters were to be taken to England for trial • Will not pay tax on tea • Boston tea party

America Responds • Committees of correspondence • Mass and Vig • Communication line for colonies to report threats on American liberties • 1774 most colonies involved

The Boston tea party • 1773 British East India Trading company pay no taxes on their tea • Undersell colonial tea merchants-or smugglers • Another protest-dec 18, 1773

The Boston tea party • 50 members of the SOL • 3 Ships-the Beaver, Eleanor, Dartmouth/dressed as Indians • 9659 sterling into the water • We will not accept British authority

Boston Tea Party

British react • King George III • 1774 the intolerable acts passed • Shut down Boston Harbor-colonist refused to pay for damages • Quartering act = more soldiers • Martial law in Boston

The intolerable acts • Outraged citizens • Made the colonies more unified • September 1774-first continental Congress • Declaration of colonial rights

Getting ready to fight • Stock pile weapons minutemen • British General Gage learns of the preparations sends troops from Boston to Concord • Paul Revere’s ride 4-18-1777

Ride of Paul Revere • 3 men-Revere, Dawes, Prescott • The Regulars are coming • Revere was captured • The Famous poem • The real deal

At Lexington and Concord • First shots of the war • Don’t know who started it “the shot heard around the world” • 8 minutemen were killed 9 wounded 1 Brit solider injured • Lasted 15 min • Later the ambushed

The war was in motion • Things move more slowly back then…

Remember the causes • Salutary neglect and the British debt after the French and Indian war were 2 causes of the war but there is one more • ENLIGHTENED IDEAS

Patriots or American • American Advantages • Leadership-Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, • Home field –we know the land • Guerrilla warfare-borrowed from the natives during the French and Indian war- IT WON THE WAR FOR US • The French yes the French and the Prussians-without them we could not have fought the British Army

British or Loyalist • British Advantages • Better organization • Better equipment • More Money • Better navy • American John Paul Jones

Key battles • The British take an early lead • Saratoga is the turning point of the war • York town is the end of the war and YES America wins

Self Government and Smuggling Begin Neglect French and Indian War British want re-payment Taxes (ex) Use Enlightened Ideas to validate Protest Americans Protest and Rebel (ex) American Revolution Some taxes revoked except -------

How did we win • Help from the French • Home field advantage • Militia • British Mistakes

New Government • Articles of Confederation 1781-1789 • No power to tax • No power to regulate interstate commerce • No court system • No executive branch • Constitution 1789-present • Solved the problem of the AOC

USA paves the way • Inspiration for French Revolution • Latin American Revolutions

Effects of the American Revolution • American colonies are independent • They will experiment with a new kind of democracy, based on enlightened ideas and the practicing English government • They will inspire others to rebel against their mother countries

American Revolution