22.4 The American Revolution

1. 22.4 The American Revolution Experience and new ways of thinking help spur the American colonies to shed British rule and create a new nation.

2. Britain and Its American Colonies • The American Colonies Grow • American colonies grow large and many people move there during the 1600s and 1700s • Colonies make money through trade with Europe • Columbian Exchange – sending goods to and from America • Some trade laws help the colonists (example: Navigation Acts) • Colonists identify less and less as British citizens

3. Tension • British-Colonial Tensions Arise • Britain and American colonies win the French and Indian War in 1763 • Britain taxes colonists to help pay the war debts (money owed after a war) • Colonists argue that British cannot tax them without their consent • The colonists don’t have someone voting for them in the British Parliament

4. British Acts, Colonial Reaction • Stamp Act • British: Passed a new tax on printed items (newspapers, playing cards, etc.); required a stamp to show you paid • Colonists: Were angry! They boycotted British goods & formed the group Sons of Liberty • Sugar Act • British: Lowered tax on imported molasses but added new taxes on other sugar goods; searched homes to catch smugglers • Colonists: anyone caught smuggling went to British court; they were upset, but mostly merchants • Townsend Acts • British: Passed lots of new taxes on British goods, including tea • Colonists: Boycotted more goods; began getting aggressive

5. War Begins • Growing Hostility Leads to War • Colonists protest tea tax with “Boston Tea Party” in 1773 • http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party • Colonists meet in Philadelphia to address British policies (1774); First Continental Congress • British and Americans exchange fire at Lexington and Concord in 1775

6. Declaration of Independence • Declaration of Independence—document justifying colonial rebellion & American freedom • Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration, stating all the reasons for the Revolution and why America should be its own nation

7. Americans Win Independence • Success for the Colonists • Despite British military power, colonists have advantages: • Motivating cause of freedom • Help from the French • War’s expense for Britain • British surrender at Battle of Yorktowne (1781)

8. Americans Create a Republic • Articles of Confederation • The first attempt at setting up a new government • Problems: • Articles create legislature only, no executive or judicial branches • States have a lot of power, national government does not • Result is a weak national government that fails to provide unity and order

9. Americans Create a Republic • A New Constitution • Leaders call a Constitutional Convention in 1787 to revise the Articles • Group instead creates a new government under the U.S. Constitution

10. Americans Create a Republic • Constitution contains many new political ideas • Government’s power comes from the PEOPLE • People have to approve what government does; VOTE • Power should be spread out among several groups • No ONE person should be in charge • People should have free speech & be able to practice any religion • People have certain rights that can’t be taken away

11. Americans Create a Republic • The Federal System • Constitution creates three branches of government • Legislative, executive, judicial • Provides checks and balances—ensures branches share power equally • Ex: President can sign or veto a bill from Congress • Promotes federal system—power divided between national and state governments • The Bill of Rights • Some fear too much national power, few protections of rights • Leaders win support for the Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights • Ten amendments to the Constitution that protect freedoms