The American Revolution

Review QuestionsReview Questions What are the main ideas of the Enlightenment

philosophers? How do they challenge the powers of Absolute

Monarchs?  

John Locke Thomas Hobbes

Voltaire

Great Britain’s New Great Britain’s New LawsLaws

Imposed on colonists to help pay for the war debts caused from the French and Indian war.

Stamp Act- (1765) Stamp Act- (1765) Required colonists to pay a tax

for an official stamp on all newspapers, legal documents, and other public papers.

Taxation without Representation - Colonists are outraged that Parliament taxed them without representatives there to plead their case. The colonists decide to boycott English goods.

Parliament repeals the Stamp Act in 1766.

Townshend Acts- Townshend Acts- (1767) (1767) a new series of taxes on glass, paper, paints, and

tea. Boston Merchants were furious call for another

boycott. British send over troops to keep order in the city,

most of which are harassed by the colonists leads to Boston Massacre (1770)

The Conflict Heats up…The Conflict Heats up… Sons of Liberty- (1773) a group of rebellious

Bostonians led by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere carry out the Boston Tea Party.

British close the port of Boston and pass the Intolerable Acts (these are regulations that limit the freedom of the colonist).

The War BeginsThe War Begins April 19, 1775 Sons of Liberty had hidden weapons in the

countryside. British soldiers found out and started searching for them.

Lexington, Massachusetts: First battle of American Revolution “The Shot Heard Round the World”

Leaders Leaders Thomas Paine

wrote pamphlet Common Sense, which argued that the colonist should be free.

Thomas Paine

LeadersLeaders Second Continental Congress

Committee formed to write a document declaring the colonies’ independence from Great Britain.

John Adams- well-educated man who believed in the enlightenment ideas

Thomas Jefferson- wrote the declaration incorporating ideas the Enlightenment

George Washington- commanding general of the army

Benjamin Franklin- was in Paris, France at the time asking for help in the war.

Colonist Win!Colonist Win! British surrendered to General Washington on

October 19, 1781. Treaty of Paris (September 1783)- British

government formally recognized the independence of the United States.

ConsequencesConsequences The colonist form a

new government Articles of

Confederation (1781) Constitution (1787)

French Revolution (1787-1799)

Haitian Revolution (1791-1803)