The American Revolution

Chapter 6Section 4

Main Ideas Enlightenment ideas

helped spur the American colonies to shed British rule and create a new nation.

The revolution created a republic, the United States of America, that became a model for many nations of the world.

Introduction The Glorious Revolution gave

England a constitutional monarchy. Laws limited King’s power.

Philosophes, such as Voltaire, considered England’s government the most progressive in Europe.

Did the colonists agree? Tyranny Overthrow the government

& create their own nation

Britain and Its American Colonies

1600s-1700s – British settlement along the eastern shore of North America.

George III – King of Great Britain in 1760

Colonies were successfully growing Population had grown from 250,000

to 2,150,000 between 1700 and 1740

Economically, the colonies thrived on trade with Europe.

Colonists’ Identity By the mid-1700s, colonists had been

living in America for 150 years. Were they citizens of their colony or of

Great Britain? Colonists saw themselves as less

British and more as Virginians or Pennsylvanians.

Each colony had its own government and much independence.

However, colonists were still British subjects and had to obey British laws.

Navigation Act

1651 – British Parliament passed the Navigation Act.

This trade law prevented colonists from selling their most valuable products to any country except Great Britain.

Colonists had to pay high taxes on French and Dutch imports.

Britain’s Policies Britain’s policies benefited both the

colonies and Britain. Britain bought raw materials from

colonies at a low price. Manufactured the materials and sold

the goods back to the colonies. Despite the trade restrictions, the

colonies thrived. All good things must come to an end…

Americans Win Independence 1754 – War broke out

between the English & French on the American continent.

What was this conflict called? French and Indian War Why was it called this? French had many Indian allies War ended in 1763 Britain seized nearly all of the

French land.

War’s Over. Now what? Wars cost a lot of money. Britain wanted colonies

to pay for war because they benefited, too.

1765 - Parliament passed the Stamp Act.

Colonists had to pay a tax to have an official stamp put on wills, deeds, newspapers and other printed material.

Response to Stamp Act Colonists were outraged! Never before had they paid taxes

directly to the British government. Colonial lawyers argued that the

stamp tax violated their natural rights. Accused government of

“taxation without representation.”

Colonists had no representation in Parliament.

Growing Hostility Leads to War Over the next decade,

hostilities increased. Some favored independence. 1773 – in a protest to an

import tax on tea, colonists dumped a large amount of British tea into the Boston Harbor.

King George III, was infuriated by the Boston Tea Party. Closed the port of Boston.

First Continental Congress The harsh tactics of Britain made some

colonists furious. 1774 – representatives from every

colony except Georgia gathered in Philadelphia to form the First Continental Congress.

Protested the treatment of Boston. King paid little attention to their

complaints. Decided to form the Second

Continental Congress.

Second Continental Congress 1775 – British soldiers and

America militiamen exchanged gunfire in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Second Continental Congress voted to raise an army and organize for battle under the command of George Washington.

The American Revolution began.

The Influence of Enlightenment Colonial leaders used Enlightenment

ideas to justify independence. Colonists asked for the same

political rights as the people of Britain. King refused.

Colonists felt justified in rebelling against a tyrant who broke the social contract.

Whose idea was the social contract?

Declaration of Independence July 1776 – Second

Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence. Written by Thomas

Jefferson Based on ideas of

Locke & the Enlightenment

Argued for natural rights.

Contents of the DOI Locke had asserted that

people had the right to rebel against an unjust ruler.

Therefore, the DOI listed George III’s abuses.

Ended by declaring the colonies’ separation from Britain.

Success for the Colonists British did not

agree with the DOI. Led to war. Colonies won.

Reasons for Success 1. Americans had a stronger motivation for fighting. 2. Overconfident British generals made several mistakes. 3. Americans had time on their side.

British were fighting an overseas war. 3,000 miles away from home Very expensive

British finally called for peace.

French Enter the War Louis XVI of France wasn’t

concerned with the ideals of the American Revolution.

He did, however, want to weaken his rival, Britain.

1781 – 9,500 Americans & 7,800 French trapped a British army commanded by Lord Cornwallis.

Cornwallis surrendered.

Americans Create a Republic After declaring

independence, states realized the need for a national government.

All 13 states ratified the constitution in 1781.

Plan for a government = Articles of Confederation

Articles suggested a republic. Citizens rule through

elected representatives.

A Weak National Government Purposely created a weak

national government, so that states would have most control.

No executive or judicial branches. States had one vote in Congress. Congress could: declare war,

enter into treaties & coin money Congress could not: collect taxes

or regulate trade. 9 of 13 states had to ratify new

laws.

Limits on National Government Limits produced many

problems. National government

needed money to operate, but it had to be requested from the states.

Several states issued their own money.

Even placed tariffs on goods from neighboring states.

A New Constitution Colonial leaders finally

recognized the need for a strong national government.

1787 – Congress approved a Constitutional Convention to revise the AOC.

Delegates were familiar with the ideas of Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau.

Creating a New Government Who should be

represented in Congress?

How many representatives should each state have?

Some compromises, some new approaches to governing.

Used the ideas from the Enlightenment.

The Federal System Delegates distrusted a powerful

central government. Established three separate branches:

Legislative, Executive & Judicial Used a system of checks and

balances. Presidential veto Congressional override with 2/3

vote Federal System: Power is divided

between states and nation.

The Bill of Rights September 17, 1787 - Delegates

signed a new constitution. In order for it to become law, 9

out of 13 states had to ratify it. Supporters of the Constitution =

Federalists. They argued in The Federalist

Papers that the new government would provide a balance between powers.

Anti-Federalists Anti-Federalists did not

support the Constitution. They felt it gave the central

government too much power.

They pushed for a bill of rights to protect citizens’ rights.

The Federalists agreed to adding a bill of rights, to get it approved.

Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10) 1st - freedoms of press, religion, speech,

assembly and petition 2nd - Right to bear arms 3rd - People are not required to quarter

soldiers 4th - Search and seizure 5th - Due process 6th - Trial by jury 7th - Trial by jury in civil cases 8th - Prohibits excessive bail or punishment 9th - Declares rights not mentioned to people 10th - Powers not given to national

government belong to the states