American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Power point created by Robert MartinezPrimary Content Source: The Americans

The concept of The concept of diffusiondiffusion can refer to can refer to the spreading of ideas and the spreading of ideas and governments. The United States of governments. The United States of America was influenced by many America was influenced by many early forms of representative early forms of representative government originating from government originating from Western Europe. Western Europe.

The American Revolution and the The American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution are prime U.S. Constitution are prime examples of the concept of diffusion.examples of the concept of diffusion.

When England sought to impose When England sought to impose new taxes on the colonists new taxes on the colonists

without their consent in the without their consent in the 1760s and 1770s, this set off a 1760s and 1770s, this set off a chain of events that ended with chain of events that ended with

American independence.American independence.

The colonists enjoyed several The colonists enjoyed several democratic institutions based on democratic institutions based on English political tradition. In the English political tradition. In the

Magna Carta of 1215Magna Carta of 1215, the English king , the English king promised not to take away property or promised not to take away property or to imprison freemen except according to imprison freemen except according to the laws of the land or trial by jury. to the laws of the land or trial by jury.

In addition, the king agreed not to In addition, the king agreed not to impose new taxes without consent by impose new taxes without consent by

a council of his nobles.a council of his nobles.

Later, the English developed a Later, the English developed a representative legislature known as representative legislature known as

ParliamentParliament. .

Other democratic traditions Other democratic traditions developed among the colonists developed among the colonists

themselves. Virginia established themselves. Virginia established its own its own House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses, , elected representatives who elected representatives who helped govern the colony.helped govern the colony.

Reasons for Colonial AssembliesReasons for Colonial Assemblies

1. The long distance from England.1. The long distance from England. 2. Tradition of Participating in 2. Tradition of Participating in

Government (parliament).Government (parliament). 3. Colonial assemblies shared power 3. Colonial assemblies shared power

with Royal Governor maintaining with Royal Governor maintaining power to tax.power to tax.

In 1754, Britain and France became In 1754, Britain and France became engaged in the engaged in the French and Indian French and Indian

WarWar. By 1763, the British had . By 1763, the British had defeated the French and gained defeated the French and gained

control of Canada, but had incurred a control of Canada, but had incurred a large debt in the course of this large debt in the course of this

struggle.struggle.

War DebtsWar DebtsThe British Parliament quickly The British Parliament quickly

imposed new taxes on the imposed new taxes on the colonies to help pay off their war colonies to help pay off their war

debt. debt.

Taxation without RepresentationTaxation without Representation

The The Stamp ActStamp Act (1765) required colonial (1765) required colonial newspapers, books, and document to newspapers, books, and document to carry an official government stamp. carry an official government stamp. Colonists objected to this tax since Colonists objected to this tax since

they were not represented in they were not represented in Parliament. After a wave of protests, Parliament. After a wave of protests, Parliament repealed the stamp tax, Parliament repealed the stamp tax, but replaced it with new taxes on but replaced it with new taxes on

paper, glass, and tea. paper, glass, and tea.

Quartering of TroopsQuartering of Troops

The British also sent troops to the The British also sent troops to the colonies, some of which were colonies, some of which were

quartered in colonist’s homes. The quartered in colonist’s homes. The colonists again protested . The British colonists again protested . The British

finally repealed all the new taxes finally repealed all the new taxes except the tax on tea.except the tax on tea.

In 1773, a group of protesters threw In 1773, a group of protesters threw tea off British ships in Boston Harbor. tea off British ships in Boston Harbor. As a result of the “As a result of the “Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party,” ,” the British government closed Boston the British government closed Boston

Harbor and banned public meetings Harbor and banned public meetings until the tea was paid for. Angered at until the tea was paid for. Angered at

this move, representatives of the this move, representatives of the colonies met in Philadelphia as a colonies met in Philadelphia as a

Continental Congress.Continental Congress.

Lexington & ConcordLexington & Concord

In 1775, British soldiers exchanged In 1775, British soldiers exchanged gunfire with colonial volunteers at gunfire with colonial volunteers at

Lexington and Concord, marking the Lexington and Concord, marking the start of the American Revolution. start of the American Revolution.

Colonial assemblies throughout the Colonial assemblies throughout the colonies quickly voted to join the colonies quickly voted to join the

struggle.struggle.

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

By mid-1776, members of the Continental By mid-1776, members of the Continental Congress agreed on seeking Congress agreed on seeking

independence. A committee was formed independence. A committee was formed to draft the Declaration of to draft the Declaration of

Independence. A young Virginian, Independence. A young Virginian, Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson, became its main , became its main

author.author.

John LockeJohn LockeThe Declaration of Independence was The Declaration of Independence was

adopted on July 4, 1776. The Declaration adopted on July 4, 1776. The Declaration not only made the colonies independent not only made the colonies independent

but also proclaimed a theory of but also proclaimed a theory of government based on 18government based on 18thth century century

beliefs (John Locke). According to this beliefs (John Locke). According to this theory, people have certain theory, people have certain

““unalienable rightsunalienable rights.”.”

Enlightened PhilosopherJohn Locke and his Social Contract.

Unalienable RightsUnalienable Rights

““unalienable rights” – basic human unalienable rights” – basic human rights that cannot be taken away rights that cannot be taken away from them. The job of government from them. The job of government

is to protect its citizen’s is to protect its citizen’s unalienable rights. unalienable rights.

The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence announced that “all men are announced that “all men are

created equal,” and that they created equal,” and that they enjoy certain unalienable rights – enjoy certain unalienable rights – “life, liberty, and the pursuit of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of

happiness.”happiness.”

The Declaration went on to state The Declaration went on to state that if a government failed to that if a government failed to protect the very rights it was protect the very rights it was created to protect, then its created to protect, then its

citizens had the right to change citizens had the right to change their government – by revolution their government – by revolution

if necessary.if necessary.

Grievances (Complaints)Grievances (Complaints)The Declaration followed with a list of The Declaration followed with a list of

specific grievances the colonists felt specific grievances the colonists felt had been committed by the King had been committed by the King

against them. For example, the King against them. For example, the King had impose taxes on the colonists had impose taxes on the colonists

without their consent.without their consent.

Military Struggle Military Struggle (1777-1783)(1777-1783)

The Continental Congress appointed The Continental Congress appointed George Washington to command George Washington to command

the Continental Army. At first, the the Continental Army. At first, the colonial army suffered several colonial army suffered several

defeats.defeats.

Battle of SaratogaBattle of Saratoga

However, the British surrender at However, the British surrender at Saratoga in 1777 marked a turning Saratoga in 1777 marked a turning

point in the war. It showed the point in the war. It showed the British could be defeated and British could be defeated and convinced France to help the convinced France to help the

Americans.Americans.

Battle of YorktownBattle of Yorktown

With French help, Washington was able to With French help, Washington was able to defeat the British several years later at defeat the British several years later at Yorktown, Virginia. Under the terms of Yorktown, Virginia. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783) ending the the Treaty of Paris (1783) ending the war, the British recognized American war, the British recognized American

independence and gave the new United independence and gave the new United States all the lands stretching west to States all the lands stretching west to

the Mississippi River.the Mississippi River.

RepublicRepublicWith independence, each former colony With independence, each former colony

became an independent state. Each became an independent state. Each state chose to establish a republic – state chose to establish a republic –

government by popularly elected government by popularly elected representatives. In this system of representatives. In this system of

government, ultimate power rests in government, ultimate power rests in the hands of the people.the hands of the people.

Americans soon recognized the need Americans soon recognized the need for some kind of central government for some kind of central government

uniting all thirteen states. An uniting all thirteen states. An agreement known as the agreement known as the Articles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederation went into effect in went into effect in 1781. The agreement created a weak, 1781. The agreement created a weak,

loose association of independent loose association of independent state (weak federal government and state (weak federal government and

strong states governments.)strong states governments.)

The Articles of Confederation had a The Articles of Confederation had a number of shortcomings. Under the number of shortcomings. Under the Articles, each state had one vote in Articles, each state had one vote in the new Confederation Congress. the new Confederation Congress.

Support of all 13 states was needed Support of all 13 states was needed to pass an amendment.to pass an amendment.

There was no national executive or There was no national executive or national court system. The national court system. The

Confederation Congress could not Confederation Congress could not levy taxes or enforce its laws or levy taxes or enforce its laws or

decisions. Each state government decisions. Each state government remained more powerful than the remained more powerful than the

new national government.new national government.

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

Many Americans felt that the new central Many Americans felt that the new central government had too little power to do government had too little power to do

its job properly. Delegates were sent to its job properly. Delegates were sent to Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the

Articles of Confederation. They quickly Articles of Confederation. They quickly decided to abandon the Articles and decided to abandon the Articles and

drafted a new Constitution.drafted a new Constitution.

Constitution DebatesConstitution Debates

Before the Constitution could go Before the Constitution could go into effect, the delegates decided into effect, the delegates decided that nine of the 13 states should that nine of the 13 states should

ratify (approve) it. A great debate ratify (approve) it. A great debate followed on whether the new plan followed on whether the new plan of government should replace the of government should replace the

Articles of Confederation.Articles of Confederation.

Constitution RatifiedConstitution Ratified (1789)(1789)

By the end of 1788, twelve states By the end of 1788, twelve states had voted to ratify the had voted to ratify the Constitution. The new Constitution Constitution. The new Constitution went into effect in 1789.went into effect in 1789.