4.6 C/E of U.S. Revolution (22-23)

MAJOR CAUSE: FOREIGN ABSOLUTE RULER (NO

CHOICE)

● Britain’s King George III had absolute control over

the 13 colonies of “America” (aka U.S.)

○ Even though the 13 colonies had their “own

government”, they were still considered subjects of
the British king and expected to obey his laws.

○ Colonists had no representation at all in the British

Parliament (make laws)

MORE CAUSES: TRADE LAWS (NO CHOICE)

● In the 1660’s, Parliament (British gov’t) passes

the Navigation Acts;

● After the French and Indian War ends, British

toughen the enforcements of the trade
laws…angering many colonists

○ Trade laws prevented colonists from selling

valuable resources to any other nation other than
Britain

○ Also, have to pay high tariffs (taxes) on French and

Dutch imports

MORE CAUSES: TAXES (NO CHOICE)

● Parliament passes the Stamp Act; colonists are

now outraged (very angry)

○ Had to pay a tax to put an official stamp on wills,

deeds, newspapers, and other printed materials

● “Taxation without representation” = colonists

pay taxes to British king without being
represented in the gov’t

○ Colonists argue this violates their natural rights and

boycott British goods

MORE CAUSES: INSPIRED BY ENLIGHTENMENT

● Enlightenment ideas = natural rights,

separation of powers, freedom of speech,
freedom of religion, representation in the gov’t,
etc.

○ Colonial leaders such as Patrick Henry, John Adams,

and Benjamin Franklin used Enlightenment ideas as
justification for independence from Britain

“SOME” EVENTS:

*You will study major events of the U.S. Revolution in U.S. History class next

year ☺

● Boston Tea Party (Dec. 16, 1773): protest on import

taxes

○ Angry colonists dump 342 chests of tea into the Boston

Harbor

○ Britain sends troops to Boston

● On April 19, 1775 British soldiers and American

militiamen (soldiers) exchange gunfire in
Lexington, Massachusetts…the war has begun!

EFFECTS:

● The colonists “won” the war

○ This is shocking to the rest of the world!

■ An unranked team beats the undefeated #1 team

■ DSA beats Bishop Gorman in football

■ Dolphins beat the undefeated Patriots

● Officially declare independence from Britain by writing

the U.S. Declaration of Independence(Written by
Thomas Jefferson, adopted on July 4, 1776)

○ No more foreign rule

○ No more absolute rule

○ Inspired by Enlightenment thinkers

MORE EFFECTS:

● Created a republic / democracy

○ form of gov’t in which the citizens elect

representatives (leaders)

○ Vote on (choose) the laws

■ No more “unfair” laws or leaders (in theory)

● Write the U.S. Constitution

○ Based on John Locke’s natural rights (right to life,

liberty, property)

○ Also based on Montesquieu’s separation of powers

(checks and balances)

MORE EFFECTS:

● Write the U.S. Bill of Rights

○ Based on Voltaire’s ideas of liberties (freedom of

speech, freedom of religion, guarantee of fair and
equal treatment, etc.)

● Helped inspire many nations around the world

to revolt and gain independence from foreign
absolute rule (or in France’s case…their own
absolute monarch)