The American Revolution

1776-1781

Declaration of Declaration of Independence Independence (1776)(1776)

Declaration of Independence Quotes

1. “We hold these truths to be self-evident”

2. “that all men are created equal”

3. “that they are endowed by their creator”

4. “with certain unalienable Rights”

5. “that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Britain Americans

Advantages ? ?

Disadvantages ? ?

On the Eve of the On the Eve of the Revolution ?Revolution ?

Loyalists vs. Patriots

• Patriots – Fought for Independence

• Loyalists – Loyal to England

LoyalistLoyalist

StrongholdsStrongholds

General George Washington & the Continental Army

Crossing the Delaware

William Howe = Failure

You Benedict Arnold you!

Key Battles• Saratoga – October 17, 1777

– Patriot Victory– French pledged support

• Valley Forge – no victory– Testament to will of Patriots

• Yorktown – October 19, 1781– French cut-off British supplies– British surrendered– War is over!!!

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783

Results?

• Britain forced to officially acknowledge United States independence

• Britain ceded land south of Canada and East of Mississippi to the Atlantic Ocean

Was it a social Revolution as well as a political one?

What effects did it have on….• Loyalists & Religious Minorities?

• Slaves?

• Native Americans?

• Women?

Abigail Adams

Articles of Confederation

• First gov. of U.S. –– Each state had one vote– States kept most power– Central gov. could…

• Declare war, peace, sign treaties• Standardize money

NW Ordinance of 1787• Identified manner of dividing NW

Territory.

• This would impact the growth of the U.S.

Problems, Problems, Problems

• Gov. could not collect taxes

• Each state had equal vote regardless of population

• No executive branch

• No national court

• No national unity

Shays’ Rebellion

• Farmers in Mass. Protested over tax increases

• Formed a militia

• Attempted to seize weapons arsenal

• State had to send troops to put down rebellion

The Constitutional Convention

• Virginia Plan – Rep’s in Congress based on pop.

• New Jersey Plan – Each state has one vote

• The Great Compromise– Two houses in Congress– Senate – equal votes– House of Rep’s – rep’s based

on

population

James Madison – Father of the Constitution

Do Slaves Count?

• Southern States wanted to count slaves as population for representation.– Three-fifths compromise…– Each slave would count as 3/5 of a person.– Huh?

A Federal System

• Constitution set guidelines for new government

• Strong Central Gov’t / Weaker State gov’ts.

Checks & Balances

• 3 Branches– Executive– Judicial– Legislative

Ratification: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists – favored strong national government

• Anti-federalists – feared a strong (oppressive) government

individual rights

The Compromise

• The Bill of Rights –– the First Ten

Amendments to the Constitution