American Revolution

War between England and France from 1754-63

The French enlisted numerous Native American tribes on their side

Britain emerged victorious and seized nearly all French land in North America

Tensions between Britain and the colonists grew the the former expected the latter to pay its huge debt.

Stamp Act - colonists paying extra taxes on to have an official documents

Colonists were outraged as they accused the government of "taxation without representation.

Boston Tea Party (1773) - colonists dumped a larger load of British tea into the Boston Harbor in protest of the import tax on tea.

Townshend Acts - required taxes on goods imported to the American colonies.

Intolerable Acts - punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party.

On September 5, 1774, delegates from each of the 13 colonies (except for Georgia) met in Philadelphia as the First Continental Congress to organize colonial resistance to English rule.

When the king paid little attention to the complaints, the colonies decided to form the Second Continental Congress to debate their next move.

April 19, 1775 - British soldiers and colonial militiamen exchanged gunfire in Lexington, Massachussetts.

June 17, 1775 - the British defeated the Americans at the Bttle of Bunker Hill in Massachussetts.

The Second Continental Congress voted to raise an army and organize for battle under the command of a Virginia named George Washington.

Colonial leaders used Enlightenment ideas to justify independence.

In July 1776, the Second Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson.

Despite with poorly trained army under George Washington, the colonists won their war for independence.

(1) American motivation

(2) Overconfident British general

(3) Time was on the side of the colonists

French help proved to be crucial for the victory of the colonists

To protect themselves, the 13 states created a loose confederation with no executive and judicial branches.

The Congress could declare war, enter into treaties, and coin money, but no power to collect taxes or regulate trade.

Passing new laws was difficult because laws needed the approval of 9 of the 13 states.

The Constitutional Convention held its first session on May 25, 1787.

The delegates were experienced statesmen who were familiar with the political theories of Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.

Although the Constitution, created a strong central government, it did not eliminate local governments. Instead, the Constitution set up a federal system in which power was divided between national and state governments.

The signing of the Constitution marked by sharp debate.

Federalist - believed that the new government would provide a better balance between national and state power.

Antifederalists - feared that the Constitution gave the central government too much power.

Congress formally added to the Constitution the ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights which protected basic rights such as freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion.