Revolutionary War

Revolutionary War Unit 1, Part B SOL VUS.4a-c

French and Indian War • Fourth war between France and Great Britain • Known as the Seven Years War in Europe • France and Great Britain were competing for a world empire • Great Britain will win after struggling early during the war

France will lose all land east of the Mississippi River and Canada • Because of the cost of the war and other problems, Great Britain will pass several actions which angered the colonists

Proclamation Act of 1763 • prohibited settlement west of the Appalachian Mts., an area the colonists had just fought to win (it was too expensive for the British to protect the colonists from the Natives)

New Taxes • Britain passed taxes on legal documents (STAMP ACT), tea, and sugar to help pay for the war and for troops to help protect the colonists.

The colonists refused to pay direct taxes because they felt they were not directly represented by the Parliament of Great Britain (TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION)

Resistance to British Rule • 1770--Boston Massacre--five colonists killed by British soldiers after the soldiers opened fire on a group of anti-British demonstrators (African American Crispus Attucks was the first to be killed)

1773--Boston Tea Party-- Colonists protested the passage of the Tea Act by destroying tea belonging to the East India Company. They boarded ships and dumped it into the harbor. Great Britain put Boston under martial law and ordered the tea paid for.

The original version of the presentation includes a video clip here. I can not insert it without violating our agreement w. UnitedStreaming….but, you can. Alternately, you could delete this frame.

1774--First Continental Congressmeeting in Philadelphia to discuss the problems with Britain. Twelve out of thirteen colonies were represented (GA). It was the first time the colonies had acted together.

1775--Lexington and Concord-- War began after a brief skirmish between British soldiers and the Minutemen. (citizen solders who could be ready in a minute)

The original version of the presentation includes a video clip here. I can not insert it without violating our agreement w. UnitedStreaming….but, you can. Alternately, you could delete this frame.

Differences among the Colonists • 3 main groups 1.Patriots • believed in completeindependence from England • inspired by the ideas of Locke and Paine

as well as the words of Patrick Henry “Give me liberty, or give me Death” • Provided the troops for the American army, which was led by George Washington (who was also from Virginia)

2. Loyalists (Tories) • remained loyal to Britain based on cultural and economic ties • believed that taxation of the colonies to pay for British troops to protect American settlers from Indian attacks

3. Neutrals • The many colonists who tried to stay as uninvolved in the war as possible

John Locke • During the Enlightenment (period in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries) new ideas developed about the rights of people and their relationship to their rulers.

Locke’s ideas more than any other person influenced the American belief in self-government.

All people are free, equal, and have “Natural Rights” of life, liberty, and property that cannot be taken away.

All original power resides in the people, and they consent to enter into a “Social Contract” among themselves to form a government to protect their rights.

In return, the people promise to obey the laws and rules established by their government, establishing a system of “ordered liberty”

Government’s powers are limited to those the people have consented to give to it. Whenever government becomes a threat to the people’s natural rights, it breaks the social contract and the people have the right to alter or overthrow it.

Locke’s ideas about the sovereignty and the rights of the people were radical and challenged the centuries old practice throughout the world of dictatorial rule by kings, emperors, and tribal chiefs

Thomas Paine and Common Sense • Thomas Paine was an English immigrant to America who produced a pamphlet known as Common Sense that challenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of England

Common Sense was read and acclaimed by many American colonists during the mid 1770s and contributed to growing sentiment for independence from England.

Declaration of Independence • The eventual draft of the Declaration of Independence, reflected the ideas of Locke and Paine. • Authored by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

“That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government…”

Jefferson then went on to detail many of the grievances against the king that Paine had earlier described in Common Sense.

Factors leading to colonial victory 1.Diplomatic Factors • Benjamin Franklin negotiated a Treaty of Alliance with France. The French recognized the American nation and provided supplies, a navy and troops which helped the Americans win.

2.Military factors • George Washington, general of the American Army, avoided any situation which threatened the destruction of his army, and kept the army together when defeat seemed inevitable.

Americans benefited from the presence of the French army and navy at the Battle of Yorktown, which ended the war with an American victory

Revolutionary War