AP World History: The American Revolution

Period 4 and 5

A) European nations were competing with each other for:

1. World resources

2. Military strength

3. Political superiority

B) Britain had become a global power

1. Had beaten the Spanish Armada

2. Gained Nova Scotia and Newfoundland from the Treaty of Utrecht (recall this treaty had ended the Wars of the Spanish Succession)

3. Gained French Canada at the end of the French and Indian War (1754 – 1763), and the 7 years War

4. Added Scotland to the United Kingdom

5. Had colonies on the eastern North American coast

6. Britain practiced the policy of mercantilism; it exploited its colonies for their natural resources.

I Historical ContextI Historical Context

II Causes of the American RevolutionA) The Navigation Acts regulated American colonial trade, but was not strictly

enforced. Britain’s national debt nearly doubled after the French and Indian War. This led to the passing of new taxes.

1. Sugar Act 1764 (tax on sugar and molasses; used for the making of rum)

2. Stamp Act 1765 (tax on newspapers and pamphlets) Protests led to its repeal in 1766 but in its place…

3. Declaratory Act 1766 (Parliament had complete authority over the American colonies)

4. Townshend Acts1767 (Import tax on tea, paint, glass, and lead)

B) These new taxes led to rebellions.

1. March 1770 Boston Massacre: British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of American colonists who were pelting snowballs. Led to the death of 5 protesters.

2. December 1773 Boston Tea Party: Colonists dressed up as Native Americans and threw tea into the Boston seaport to protest the Townshend Acts. Led to the cancellation of the Townshend Acts, but also the passing of the Intolerable Acts in 1774 (the port of Boston was closed, and town meetings were banned).

3. The First Continental Congress met in 1774…

“Last Night 3 Cargoes of Bohea Tea were emptied into the sea. This Morning, a Man of War sails. This is the most magnificent Movement of all.” —John Adams (1773)

Causes of the American Revolution Continued…

C) The First Continental Congress met in 1774 in Philadelphia with 56 delegates including George Washington, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry. They agreed to boycott British goods, form an armed militia, and appeal to the British Monarch. King George III refused colonist representation in Parliament (“no taxation without representation”).

D) American colonists stockpiled weapons in Concord, Massachusetts. In April 1775 800 British troops marched through Lexington on the way to Concord. Paul Revere famously cried “The British are coming!” The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the official beginning of the American Revolutionary War, and became known as the “shot heard around the world”. It is uncertain who fired first.

E) 1776 the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, and voted to declare independence from Britain.

III The Declaration of IndependenceA) Thomas Jefferson was the main author.

B) Divided into 4 main parts1. Preamble2. Declaration of rights3. List of Grievances4. Resolution

C) John Hancock first to sign in large print

Anyone who signed it and was caught would be hanged

“We must all now hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately." —Benjamin Franklin

*Many historians assert that John Locke was the inspiration behind the infamous line “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. However, some historians have argued that Liebnitz (who gave us calculus!) was even more of an inspiration. “Who has wisdom, loves everybody. Who has wisdom, looks for the useful of all. Who has wisdom, gains a lot. Who has wisdom is a friend of God. God's friend has happiness. In the same way the most wisest is happy...Who has wisdom, is righteous. Who is righteous, has happiness." - Liebniz

The Declaration of Independence Continued…IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political

bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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 to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

The Declaration of Independence Continued…

…We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately (attributed)." – Ben Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

The Key Players

Benjamin FranklinKing George III

Thomas Jefferson

George Washington

III The War Continued…A) Patriots supported the Revolution. Loyalists supported the British. The British were known as “Redcoats” or “Lobster Backs”.

B) The British were winning in the beginning. The tide turned with the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. The British “won” the war but had more casualties. George Washington took command of the American army 2 weeks into the battle. “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” - Israel Putnam Another turning point of the war was the Battle of Saratoga in 1777; approx 5000 British surrendered to Washington.

C) The American colonies formed an alliance with France in February 1778. France declared war on Britain the next month. Spain declared war on Britain in 1779 and chased the British out of Louisiana and Florida.

D) The final battle was at Yorktown in 1781. The British were pinned by French and American fleets.

E) The Treaty of Paris officially ended the war in 1783.

IV France and the American RevolutionA) France's interest in the American fight for independence stemmed from France's humiliating defeat during the Seven Years War at the hands of its ancient enemy, England. As French historian Henri Doniol has put it, "Almost immediately after the peace of 1763, it (the French Government) sought in the tendency of the English colonies to revolt against their mother country the occasion by which we would avenge ourselves upon England and tear up the treaty of Paris".B) As early as 1774, Vergennes, the French foreign minister, had sent secret emissaries to explore the American colonists' commitment to independence. In the spring of 1776, Congress dispatched Silas Deane to France as a secret commercial agent to see if he could make arrangements for the purchase of military supplies on terms of credit. C) Thanks to Benjamin Franklin's excellent diplomatic skills, a treaty was quickly signed between France and the United States in 1777.

France and the American Revolution Continued…

D) The official attitude of the French government toward the American Revolution in 1776 and 1777 was essentially a recognition of belligerency. This was the case at the fall 1776 arrival of the Continental Congress's official diplomatic mission to Europe led by Benjamin Franklin.E) Watchful waiting by French diplomacy came to an end when the news of the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga reached Paris on December 4, 1777. The American victory caused a reversal of British policy toward the Americans. Lord North's government immediately prepared to send to the America a mission with an offer of peace on the basis of home rule within the Empire — something that the Colonies would have been only too glad to accept in 1775.

France and the American Revolution Continued…

F) This diplomatic move became known to Vergennes, and he became alarmed that a peace between the parent country and the American rebels might be a real possibility. Two Franco-American treaties were rapidly concluded. The first was a treaty of amity and commerce, which bestowed most-favored nation trading privileges and also contained cooperative maritime provisions.G) The second was a treaty of "conditional and defensive alliance." It provided, among other things, that in case war should break out between France and Great Britain as a result of the first treaty, France and America should fight the war together, and neither would make a peace or truce with the enemy without the formal consent of the other. Nor would they "lay down their arms until the Independence of the united states shall have been formally or tacitly assured by the Treaty or Treaties that shall terminate the War."

IV The Treaty of ParisA) The Treaty of Paris

officially ended the American Revolution

B) It set many geographic borders, including U.S. and Canada

C) Florida was returned to Spain

D) British merchants had to pay for lost items, and loyalists had to pay a penalty.

Some Loyalists were “tarred and feathered” and put on ships bound for Canada or

Great Britain

V The Articles of ConfederationA) Written by John Dickson in 1777

B) Ratified in 1781. Governed Americans in 1781-1787

Strengths WeaknessesCongress had the power to wage warCongress could sign treaties and appoint ambassadorsCongress could set up post officesCongress could settle conflicts between states

NO President (Executive) NO Courts (Judicial)NO Taxing Power (monetary problems)The national government could not force the states to obey federal lawsStates could issue their own currencyOne vote per state regardless of population9/13 states to pass a law13/13 states to amend (make changes)

VI The Road to Our ConstitutionA) Northwest Ordinance of 17871. Set up rules for statehood once 60,000 people2. Outlawed slavery in new states (Northwest territories)3. Free education in new states

B) Shays Rebellion

1. Led by former Continental army captain Daniel Shay

2. Farmers wanted government to stop taking their land

3. Formed an army that attacked local militias

4. Showed that the Articles could not protect them.

C) May 1787 55 delegates met at the Constitutional Convention. (The only state not represented was Rhode Island) After the addition of the Bill of Rights, the Constitution was fully ratified on May 29, 1790.

The Road to Our Constitution Continued…D) Compromises:

1. The Great Compromise: smaller vs. large states

2. The 3/5 Compromise: slave vs. non-slave states

E) Checks and Balances

The Road to Our Constitution Continued…H) The Bill of Rights!Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.Amendment II: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.Amendment III: No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.Amendment V: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

The Road to Our Constitution Continued…

Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII: In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

HW Questions1. Fill in your Period 4 Chart for the American Revolution.2. What insights does the preamble to the Declaration of

Independence provide as to the causes of the Revolutionary War? Do you think that the Declaration of Independence was justified? *Use evidence from the document!

3. How and why did France help the patriots?4. What would the consequences have been had America lost the war

(both short and long term)? 5. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? How was the

Constitution superior?6. Describe the main compromises made to ratify the Constitution. Do

you agree with the compromises?7. Why do you think the US Constitution has lasted for 225 years?Extra Credit: Using at least two sources from different perspectives, do you think that the

Patriot Act and the activities of the NSA, OR Obama’s healthcare plan have violated the constitution by expanding the powers of the executive branch? *Cite all sources.

Key Vocabulary3/5 Compromise

American Constitution

American Revolutionary War

Articles of Confederation

Battle of Bunker Hill

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Battle of Yorktown

Benjamin Franklin

Bill of Rights

Boston Massacre

Boston Tea Party

Checks and Balances

Constitutional Convention

Declaration of Independence

Declaratory Act

First Continental Congress

French and Indian War

George Washington

Great Compromise

Intolerable Acts

John AdamsJohn HancockKing George IIILeibnizLoyalistsNavigation ActsNorthwest Ordinance of 1787PatriotsPaul RevereSecond Continental CongressShays RebellionStamp ActThomas JeffersonTownshend ActsTreaty of Paris