The American Revolution

· During the C16th and C17th the British set-up thirteen colonies in N. America.

· Colonies ruled themselves through elected councils with barely any British influence.

Tension developed during the 1760’s and 1770’s

1. British forced taxes on the colonists to support the army.......Americans not happy

2. Five Bostonians ‘massacred’ during a riot in 1770.

3. Navigation Acts benefited British trade at the expense of the colonists.

This led to smuggling during 1773 which allowed the BRITISH TEA COMPANY to sell tea cheaply

This led to the Boston Tea Party – dressed as Indians threw tea into the harbour.

Boston Harbour was closed and the British appointed officials to look after the colonies instead of their own councils.

v FIRST CONTINENTIAL CONGRESS

· 1774 twelve (12) delegates from the colonies met a Philadelphia.

· They demanded:

a) An end to taxation without their consent;

b) Restoration of their own elected councils;

c) Boycott of British goods.

SOME LOOKED FOR.........

d) Complete INDEPENDENCE!

· WAR

1. CONCORD April 1775: British troops marched to seize arms.

Colonists attacked at Lexington and killed/wounded many

Ø
May 1775 Second Continental Congress appointed .......

....George Washington as commander-in-chief.

2. BUNKER HILL June: British defeated!
3. Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense persuaded colonists they should be independent.
4. 4^th July 1776 Continental Congress proclaimed the colonies independence in

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

5. SARATOGA 1777: British defeated.....AGAIN!

France, Spain and Netherlands declared war on Britain. Their fleets cut British communications, with American and French troops gave America considerable help.

6. YORKTOWN 1781: British defeated completely!

1783 Treaty of Paris recognising American Independence

Some Americans wanted each colony to become an independent country but in 1788 majority accepted Constitution which set-up The United States of America: in which each state looks after its own internal affairs.

The President:

1. Enforces the laws;
2. Commands the armed forces;
3. Appoints Judges to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court explains all laws & the Constitution

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

1) A new country was created, which is now the most powerful country in the world.

2) Ordinary people now realised that they could overthrow tyrannical rulers.

3) This led to revolutions in France, South America and Ireland.

The US Constitution has been copied in many countries.