TEK 8.4C
Important Events of the
American Revolution
Causes of the American Revolution• The French & Indian
War (1754 – 1763)– Great Britain & France
fought for control of North America (especially rich Ohio River Valley).
– Treaty of Paris (1763) ended war. Britain won. Claimed Canada and most of North America east of Mississippi River.
Causes of the American Revolution
• Results of French & Indian War:– Great Britain in financial
crisis as result of French & Indian War. King George III (British King during American Revolution) & Parliament enacted new laws to pay off Britain’s national debt.
– British would tax American colonies to pay debt for French & Indian War.
King George IIIKing George III
Causes of the American Revolution
• “No Taxation Without Representation!”– Sugar Act (1764) - Forced colonists to pay tax (duty)
on molasses or risk arrest– Stamp Act (1765) - Tax on all paper goods– Townshend Acts (1767) - Tax on tea, glass, paper,
and lead– Intolerable Acts (1774) - Shut down Port of Boston
until destroyed tea was re-paid– Quartering Acts (1774) - Forced some colonies to
pay for housing of British soldiers
*Angry colonists & merchants agreed to boycott British goods.
*The Sons of Liberty, led by men such as Samuel Adams, sometimes used violent tactics: tarring & feathering, vandalism, etc.
Colonial reaction to British taxes:
Samuel Adams
Boston Tea Party
Battles of the American Revolution• Battles of Lexington &
Concord (April 1775)– In spring 1775, British
troops marched toward Concord, Massachusetts to seize illegal weapons stockpiled by colonists.
– April 18, 1775 - Paul Revere & others rode out to spread the word that British were coming. British soldiers fought w/ minutemen at Lexington & Concord. First battles of the American Revolution.
The Shot Heard The Shot Heard ’Round the ’Round the
World!World!
Paul Paul RevereRevere
• Second Continental Congress (1775)– Colonial leaders met
again in May 1775. Agreed to recognize colonial militia as the Continental Army & appointed George Washington as its commander.
General George Washington
Declaring Independence• Declaration of
Independence (1776)– List of grievances (complaints)
sent by colonies to King George III of England.
– Written by Thomas Jefferson. Stated that “all men were created equal” and that they had “unalienable” rights that could not be taken away (such as life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).
– Government’s legitimate power can only come from the consent of the governed.
– Delegates from each of the 13 colonies officially adopted it July 4, 1776. Ben Franklin, John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson
• Loyalists and Patriots– Loyalists –
opposed independence and remained loyal to British King.
– Patriots – supported independence and saw the political opportunities in an independent America.
Loyalists
Patriots
Battles of the American Revolution• Battle of Saratoga (1777)
– Americans defeated major section of British army at Saratoga in October 1777.
– France had secretly aided Patriots since 1776. Saratoga victory by Patriots bolstered France’s belief that Americans could win the war. As a result, France signed alliance w/ Americans and openly joined their fight.
– France sent troops, navy ships and military leaders like Marquis de Lafayette to lead French forces in Virginia during last years of war.
– Ben Franklin traveled to France during war & helped convince French leaders to aid Americans!
Marquis de Lafayette
Ben Franklin
Battles of the American Revolution
• British Surrender at Yorktown (1781)– French & American
troops surrounded British on Yorktown peninsula.
– October, 1781, British General Cornwallis surrendered. Yorktown last major battle of American Revolution. Americans had shocked the world and defeated Great Britain!
Cornwallis’ Surrender at Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown:Yorktown: ““The World Turned Upside Down!” The World Turned Upside Down!”
End of the American Revolution• Treaty of Paris of 1783: Britain formally
recognized U.S. independence– Granted U.S. huge boundaries stretching to the
Mississippi in the west, the Great Lakes in the north, and to Spanish Florida in the south
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