KEY TERMS Stamp Act Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Franklin George
Washington Treaty of Paris James Madison Federal system
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FORMING A NEW IDENTITY First settlement 1600 Colonies expanded
rapidly 1770 population 2 million people Land was plentiful and
cheap English class system largely absent
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FORMING A NEW IDENTITY Individuals could advance through hard
work and intelligence Mid 1770s colonies established for 150 years
British subjects but allowed independence Each colony had its own
government Began to identify with the colony and not Britain
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OPPOSING BRITISH FORCES 1760s conflict between Britain and the
colonies 1763 Britain wins the French and Indian War War was
expensive Since removal of French benefited colonists Britain
wanted colonies to pay part of the costs
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OPPOSING BRITISH FORCES 1765 Parliament passed the Stamp Act
Official stamp must be on all documents Newspapers Legal documents
Other public papers Colonial leaders were outraged Taxes passed
without representation
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OPPOSING BRITISH FORCES Boycotted English goods Stamp Act
repealed 1766 1767 British imposed new taxes Glass Paper Paints
Teas
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OPPOSING BRITISH FORCES Boston, Massachusetts one of the
largest colonial cities called for another boycott British sent
troops to keep order in the city Bostonians harassed troops on the
street
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OPPOSING BRITISH FORCES 1770 British discipline snapped Troops
killed five men Known as the Boston Massacre Most of Townshend Acts
repealed Tax on tea remained
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OPPOSING BRITISH FORCES 1773 group of Bostonians called the
Sons of Liberty dumped hundreds of crates of tea overboard Boston
Tea party Britain closed Bostons port Passed the intolerable acts
Limited freedom in the colonies
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OPPOSING BRITISH FORCES Colonists called the First Continental
Congress in Philadelphia in 1774 Gave list of grievances to British
government Plan to reconcile differences with British was presented
and voted down
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REVOLUTION BEGINS Sons of Liberty expected a war Hid weapons in
the countryside of Boston April 1775 British troops marched out of
Boston Lexington and Concord too find the weapons
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REVOLUTION BEGINS April 19 British troops confront 75 colonial
militiamen in Lexington Shots rang out Revolution begins Not all
colonists were patriots Many colonists remained loyal to
England
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REVOLUTION BEGINS Common Sense written by Thomas Paine Argued
the colonies had grown and no longer need Great Britain They
deserved independence Helped patriots gain support for the cause of
independence
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STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE First war in which old ideas of
government were challenged Patriots created a nation built on the
ideas of the Enlightenment
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DECLARING INDEPENDENCE Second Continental Congress 1776
Committee to write a Declaration of Independence John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin were the leaders
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DECLARING INDEPENDENCE Jefferson used ideas from Locke and
Rousseau July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence adopted by
Continental Congress Drew ideas from the English Bill of Rights
Right to trial Right to elect members of parliament Right to
independent judicial system
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR George Washington assigned commanding
general of the army Americans had little money Advantage of
fighting on own land
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Began poorly for the British Americans
positioned cannons overlooking Boston British troops evacuated
British troops defeat Washington at the Battle of Long Island
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Continental Army driven into New Jersey
Crossed the Delaware and defeated British troops at Trenton 1777
British defeat Washington in New Jersey Washington moves to
Pennsylvania
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Philadelphia fell to the British
Washingtons army spent the winter at Valley Forge British winning
in upstate New York Battle of Saratoga British surrendered
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Benjamin Franklin was seeking a Treaty
with France Victory at Saratoga convinced the French to help
colonists Next two years Americans strengthened their forces
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR British strategy to divide the colonies
in two British captured Savanna, Georgia in 1778 Charleston, South
Carolina 1778 American made numerous attacks on the British
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR September 1781 French and American armies
surrounded the British After weeks of siege Lord Cornwallis and his
troops surrendered at Yorktown October 19, 1781 American colonists
won their independence
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR September 1783 British signed the Treaty
of Paris Recognized Americas independence Set up geographic
boundaries for the United States Received greater territory than
the 13 colonies Americans had to build a nation
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FORMING A NEW GOVERNMENT Articles of Confederation Approved
1781 Made national government weak (avoid abuses) Government had no
power to tax Could not negotiate foreign treaties Government was
weak and ineffective
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THE CONSTITUTION 1787 delegates met in Philadelphia
Constitutional Convention George Washington presided James Madison
played a leading role Delegates met for four months
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THE CONSTITUTION 1787 signed the Constitution 1789 Constitution
ratified Constitution created a federal system of government
Federal system-certain powers are held by the federal government
other powers reserved for the State government
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THE CONSTITUTION National government divided into three
branches Executive branch- the president power to carry out laws
Judicial branch-interprets the laws Congress the legislative
branch- makes the laws
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THE CONSTITUTION Congress has two branches Lower house- House
of Representatives Upper house- the Senate System of checks and
balances so one branch does not become too powerful
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THE CONSTITUTION Influenced by the Enlightenment Founding
principle that government exists for the people Reflects Locke and
Rousseau Idea of government by the consent of the people
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THE BILL OF RIGHTS Wanted protection for the rights of citizens
Bill of Rights- first ten amendments to the Constitution Protect
natural rights by Voltaire, Locke, and Rousseau Freedom of speech
and religion Guarantees due process of law
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IMPACT OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Americas revolution had an impact
on other countries French King supported the American Revolution
His government was far from those ideals Taxed people without mercy
Loss of Seven Years War
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IMPACT OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Frances support of the Americans
worsened their economic problems French Revolution 1789 Inspired by
the American people Soldiers who fought, wisdom of the Framers of
the Constitution made us an example against oppression
