4.2 The American Revolution

• History
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

So, what do Americans celebrate every 4th of July?

1. the discovery of America by Columbus
2. the signing of the Declaration of Independence
3. the start of the American Revolution
4. the end of the American Revolution

when you are independent it means

1. you can take care of yourself without help from someone else
2. you cannot take care of yourself without help from someone else

So, who became independent
from who?

1. the 13 American colonies from Spain
2. the 13 American colonies from New Amsterdam
3. slaves in the 13 colonies from their owners
4. the 13 American colonies from Britain

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

• In the 18th century, Spain, France, the Dutch Republic and Britain all had colonies in North America.
• Britain had 13 colonies on the east coast.
• In 1776, the 13 colonies broke free from their motherland Britain.
• On July 4th they signed the Declaration of Independence.
• They decided to be a Republic and called it: the United States of America.

Ch 4.2: The American Revolution.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

• Britain did not accept the USA's independence and fought a war against the 13 "rebel" colonies.
• This war is known as "the American War of Independence" or "the American Revolution".
• in 1783 the USA won and Britain accepted the loss of their colonies.

1776

today

What has changed and what has continued?

These are the main questions of this lesson:

1.  what the relationship was between Great Britain and the American colonies.
2. why the American colonies rebelled against Great Britain
3. how several incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress
4. how the war between Britain and the colonists led to the birth of the USA.
5. the influence of the Enlightenment on the Declaration of Independence
6. why the USA is a federation.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

By answering the 6 main questions you create a handy summary of the lesson.

When you need to learn for a test, you can start by trying to answer the 6 questions by yourself, in your own words.

Were you able to answer the 6 questions? Congratulations, you understand the lesson!!

Now you can fill in the details: names, dates, key words etc.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 1. What was the relationship between Great Britain and the American colonies?

• The American colonists were British subjects. The colonists had to follow British laws. The British king was also their king.

4.2: Main questions

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

     This is important: it is the CAUSE of the American Revolution. 

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

• The colonists needed to pay taxes to Britain, but they had nothing to say about how they were ruled. They were not represented in British parliament.

Colonists organised in MILITIA:

civilians with guns

The British had a professional army: known as "the Red Coats"

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

• The colonists needed to pay taxes to Britain, but they had nothing to say about how they were ruled. They were not represented in British parliament.
• British soldiers (red coats) were stationed in the colonies. The colonists needed to pay for their living expenses.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

• The colonists needed to pay taxes to Britain, but they had nothing to say about how they were ruled. They were not represented in British parliament.
• British soldiers (red coats) were stationed in the colonies. The colonists needed to pay for their living expenses.
• Mercantilism: Colonists could only trade with Britain (the motherland), using British ships.
• Enlightenment ideas:

Check lesson 4.1 about the Enlightenment.
Find out which philosopher(s), and which ideas, might have inspired colonists to revolt against Britain.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

• The colonists needed to pay taxes to Britain, but they had nothing to say about how they were ruled. They were not represented in British parliament.
• British soldiers (red coats) were stationed in the colonies. The colonists needed to pay for their living expenses.
• Mercantilism: Colonists could only trade with Britain (the motherland), using British ships.
• Enlightenment ideas:
• John Locke said people had a duty to overthrow unfair rulers. 
• Adam Smith was against mercantilism.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. which incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress?

• 1770: the Boston Massacre
• 
  

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. which incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress?

• 1770: the Boston Massacre
• 1773: the Boston Tea Party
• 
  

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AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 3. which incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress?

• 1770: the Boston Massacre
• 1773: the Boston Tea Party
• harsh measures from the British government:

     - Boston harbour closed

     - extra British army sent to America to control patriots

Result: colonists see British government as a common enemy.

To face this threat they unite and form "the Continental Congress" in 1774

Continental Congress (1774): representatives from the 13 colonies meet in Philadelphia to organise the resistance against Britain

the Continental Congress is the legislative power of the USA, like the States General in the Netherlands.

US Congress today

US Congress building; the Capitol

E pluribus unum – Latin for "Out of many, one"

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 4. how did the war between Britain and the colonists 

lead to the birth of the USA?

• In 1775 the Continental Congress decided that the colonies would form an army called the Continental Army  under the leadership of General George Washington.
• War began.
• When the British didn't give up, Congress decided that the 13 colonies would become independent.
• July 4th, 1776: Declaration of Independence. This was the birth of the USA.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 5. What was the influence of the Enlightenment 

     on the Declaration of Independence? 

• The ideas of basic human rights, which even kings could not take away, were very popular in the colonies.
  
• See John Locke's idea of "natural rights" and a social contract between ruler and the people in lesson 4.1

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

6. why is the USA a federation?

See handout.

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