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Handout - American Revolution Notes

The document outlines the development of the North American colonies, highlighting trade conflicts with Britain and the events leading to the American Revolution, including the French/Indian War and key legislative acts. It discusses the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent War for Independence, followed by the establishment of a new government under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention. The document also touches on the implications of the revolution for Europe and the broader significance of the U.S. as a symbol of self-governance and political change.

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9 views3 pages

Handout - American Revolution Notes

The document outlines the development of the North American colonies, highlighting trade conflicts with Britain and the events leading to the American Revolution, including the French/Indian War and key legislative acts. It discusses the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent War for Independence, followed by the establishment of a new government under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention. The document also touches on the implications of the revolution for Europe and the broader significance of the U.S. as a symbol of self-governance and political change.

Uploaded by

819475
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Revolution in North America

I. The North American Colonies

A. Development
-- 1500’s: Age of Exploration saw the exploration & settlement of the America’s
-- 1700-1763: British colonies expanding rapidly
-- Autonomous Development
-- Mother/Children relationship between Britain & Colonies

B. Trade Conflicts

-- Mercantilist attitude: Colonies & trading (surpluses!) was to benefit mother country
-- Colonies to provide raw materials to the home state; home state could
generate products; colonies expected to purchase products

-- Britain wanted to regulate colonial trade

1) Navigation Acts
-- colonies could only use colonial or English vessels
-- colonies seeking imports -- imports had to go through England & pay duties
-- some colonial products shipped only to England

2) Triangular Trade
-- Colonies shipped rum to Africa; took slaves to W.Indies; took rum back to
N.England
-- Britain wanted to tax that trade; colonists smuggled it in anyways

II. Toward Revolution

A. French/Indian War (N.American part of Seven Years War) ended in 1763 in N. Am


-- Left Britain with great debt
-- Britain was supplying troops to colonies to defend colonists from French/Indian attacks
-- Colonial POV: Responsibility of Mother country
-- Britain’s POV: Colonies should help pay

B. British Revenue Acts


-- Stamp Act (1765: Taxed newspapers, deeds, wills etc.. later repealed; issue was
POWER!)
-- Townshend Acts (1767: Paint, tea, paper, lead, glass)

C. Relations Worsen
-- Boston Massacre 1770
-- Boston Tea Party 1773
-suns of liberty throw tea off ships, more things against britain
-- Intolerable Acts (closed port of Boston; Quartered troops)
D. Colonies Organize
-- First Continental Congress (12/13 -- no Georgia -- Sept. 1774); petitioned king george
-- Second Continental Congress (May 1775)
> Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

III. Independence

A. Declaration of Independence
-- Thomas Jefferson
-- “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of happiness… That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed;
That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right
of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”
-- Principles of John Locke
-- Equality of all men
-- Natural rights of men, granted to them by god
-- Limited Government
-- Government by the consent of the governed
-- Right to rebel against tyrannical government

B. War for Independence (1775-83)


-- Advantages for Colonies (Home territory, far away, good leaders -- GW)

IV. New Government

A. Articles of Confederation (1781-89)


-- Weakness (like could not tax or raise an army)

B. Constitutional Convention (1787 -- long,hot, Philly summer)


-- Reps from the new states met to discuss a better framework for the new country
1) Article I: Legislative Branch
2) Article II: Executive Branch
3) Article III: Judicial Branch
-- Ratification: 9 states needed; 1788/89: Ultimately had to add the Bill of Rights

V. And Europe?

A. Opportunity for Some


1. France: French-American Alliance of 1778: to regain lost prestige; weaken GB
2. Spain: 1779 -- Hoped to regain some lost territory in Americas

B. Implications

-- U.S. was a symbol of change; hope that people could govern themselves without
monarchs; validated revolution as a legitimate means to procure social & political change
-- American Rev was conservative; kept existing order & property rights; led to a
constitutional system build on stability and continuity

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