Section 3 Page 558http://www.glencoe.com/video_library/index_with_mods.php?CHAPTER=17&PROGRAM=9780078745256&VIDEO=4021

The American Revolution

GREAT BRITAIN (ENGLAND) CONTROLLED 13 COLONIES IN NORTH AMERICA

-colonies used to bring wealth home through trade-many colonists were upset by having to serve Britain and King George III

“No Taxation Without

Representation”

Navigation Acts – colonists could only import/export items to and from England

Stamp Act – taxed all paper products

Sugar Act – taxed many imports

protests occur against taxes

no taxes unless they have people to make decisions in the Parliament

Boston Tea

Party– colonists dressed as Indians and dumped 340 boxes of imported tea into the ocean

King George Fights Back

Sends soldiers to Boston to control the colonists’ behavior Colonists get organized

Continental Congress – leaders from each colony met in Philadelphia, PA to resolve the crisis.

The colonies declared Independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.

decide to separate from Britain (Declaration of Independence)

say that their natural rights are being violated

The Boston Massacre

Declaration of Independence

(1776)

Revolutionary War (The American Revolution) begins

British soldiers (redcoats) led by General Cornwallis arrive in the Americas

Americans not prepared for war

-limited weapons and organization-some Americans were Loyalists – people who still supported the King

The colonists and British Army began fighting in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.

The 2nd Continental Congress set up an Army called the Continental Army, George Washington was their commander in chief.

British DefeatThe French and other

foreign countries were eager to gain revenge against the British.

The British surrendered to American and French forces in Yorktown in 1781.

The war ended, the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, recognizing the independence of the American colonies.

Advantages for the Americans

-know the land-have more to gain and fight harder-strong military leaders-help from FranceColonists are able to win the war and

become free

The Birth of a New NationThe former colonies, now states feared

a strong central government.The Articles of confederation (1781),

created a government that lacked the power to deal with the nation’s problems.

1787- delegates met in PA at the Constitution Convention to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Decided to write a new plan for an entirely new government.

The ConstitutionThe Constitution created a

federal system which the national government and the state governments shared powers.

Separated into three branches. (Montesquieu)

After ratification, or approval, by 9 of the 13 states, the constitution took effect.

New Government for the U.S.

Articles of Confederation

The U.S. Constitution

1st constitution of the U.S.

limited government’s power

no president or court system

each state had more power than the national government

new and current set of laws for the U.S.

uses ideas from the Enlightenment

created a republic - government run by the people

people can elect members of government (G. Washington 1st pres.)

3 branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial)

Bill of Rights – 1st 10 amendments (changes) to constitution, gave basic rights to citizens

The Bill of RightsPromised during negotiations over

ratification, the new Congress proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution. (Bill of Rights)

Freedom of Speech, press, religion, petition, and assembly.

Gave Americans the right to Bear Arms.Guarantee trial by JuryMany of the rights in the Bill of Rights

were derived from the Natural rights proposed by the 18th century philosophies.