The American The American RevolutionRevolution

Do NowDo Now

1. List three things that angered the 1. List three things that angered the American colonists.American colonists.

2. What was the response of the 2. What was the response of the colonists to the injustices of England?colonists to the injustices of England?

3. What did the Coercive Acts of 3. What did the Coercive Acts of 1774 do?1774 do?

DNWTDDNWTD

Most people thought of fighting the Most people thought of fighting the British for the purpose of defending British for the purpose of defending their rightstheir rights

Most rejected fighting for Most rejected fighting for independenceindependence

First Continental First Continental Congress Congress (1774)(1774)

55 delegates from 12 55 delegates from 12 coloniescoloniesAgendaAgenda How How to respond to to respond to the Coercive the Coercive Acts, Acts, intolerable intolerable acts, etc..?acts, etc..?

Decide to use Decide to use boycotts and boycotts and other protestsother protests

The War BeginsThe War Begins

April 19, 1775 war erupted in April 19, 1775 war erupted in Lexington and Concord (West of Lexington and Concord (West of Boston)Boston)

British troops were attacked when British troops were attacked when they tried to arrest people for they tried to arrest people for stockpiling weaponsstockpiling weapons

Militia (patriots) killed 200 British Militia (patriots) killed 200 British soldiers soldiers

A call to ArmsA call to Arms

The Second The Second Continental Continental

CongressCongress(1775)(1775)

Declaration of Declaration of Independence Independence

(1776)(1776)

Independence HallIndependence Hall

Reasons for the Declaration of Reasons for the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Governments must be:Governments must be:– Representative of the peopleRepresentative of the people– Limited in power by recognition of Limited in power by recognition of

human rightshuman rights– When a government abuses its power, When a government abuses its power,

the people have a right to overthrow itthe people have a right to overthrow it

Grievances against the KingGrievances against the King

Dissolving colonial assembliesDissolving colonial assemblies Keeping British troops in the coloniesKeeping British troops in the colonies Imposing taxes without consentImposing taxes without consent

Loyalists vs. PatriotsLoyalists vs. Patriots

Loyalists- Colonists who were loyal to Loyalists- Colonists who were loyal to the British Crownthe British Crown

1/5 of the colonists remained loyal1/5 of the colonists remained loyal Most were wealthy elitists Most were wealthy elitists

Thomas PaineThomas Paine: : Common SenseCommon Sense

Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”

Set forth arguments for American Set forth arguments for American IndependenceIndependence

Said it made no sense for a small Said it made no sense for a small island kingdom like G.B. to rule a island kingdom like G.B. to rule a larger Americalarger America