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American History I: Unit 4
The American Revolution
AH1.H.2.1 and AH1.H.2.2: Analyze key political, economic, and social turning points before and during the American
Revolution in terms of causes and effects and their lasting impact
AH1.H.3.2: Explain how environmental, cultural, and economic factors influenced the patterns of migration and
settlement within the US immediately after the American Revolution
AH1.H.3.3: Explain the roles of various ethnic groups in the settlement and expansion of the US prior to the Revolution
AH1.H.4.1 / AH1.H.4.2 / AH.1.H.4.4: Analyze the political, economic, and cultural issues and conflicts that impacted the
United States before and during the American Revolution and the compromises that resulted
AH1.H.5.1: Summarize how the philosophical, ideological and/or religious views on freedom and equality contributed to
the development of American political and economic systems before, during and immediately after the Revolution
AH1.H.5.2: Explain how judicial, legislative, and executive actions have affected the distribution of power between levels
of government before, during, and immediately after the American Revolution
AH1.H.6.2: Explain the reasons for involvement in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution and the
influence each had on international affairs
AH1.H.7.1 / AH1.H.7.2/ AH1.H.7.3: Explain the impact of wars on American politics, economics, society, and culture
before, during, and immediately after the American Revolution
AH1.H.8.3: Evaluate the extent to which a variety of groups and individuals have had opportunity to attain their
perception of the “American Dream” before, during, and immediately after the American Revolution
AH1.H.8.4: Analyze multiple perceptions of the “American Dream” in times of prosperity and crisis leading up to the
American Revolution
.1
The French and Indian War and its Effects on the Colonies
(1754-1763)
France and England were competing for dominance in Europe sand had fought three major wars from
1689-1748. In 1740, both nations became interested in the Ohio River Valley in North America,
eventually lead to a fourth war between the nations.
Causes of the French and Indian War:
The French wanted to use the Ohio
River Valley to connect to the
Mississippi River, which would allow
them to travel easily from New France
(Canada) to Louisiana. They also had
valuable trade relationships with the
Native Americans in the area. The
British wanted the territory due to the
popularity of the beaver fur trade
and the valuable land in the region.
To block the British claims to the Ohio
River Valley, the French built a chain
of forts from Lake Ontario to the Ohio
River. After several altercations
between the French and British in the
area, the British governor of Virginia
sent George Washington, a young
army officer in the Virginia militia, to
expel the French. Washington built a
stockade known as Fort Necessity in
the Ohio River Valley; however a large
French force surrounded him and
forced him and his men to surrender.
This incident began the French and
Indian War, which would spread to
Europe where it was known as the
Seven Year’s War. Most Native
American tribes sided with the French
due to their popular trade relationships; however one of the most powerful groups – the Iroquois controlled French access to the Ohio River and were undecided in their support.
An Attempt at Colonial Unity:
In June of 1754, delegates from seven colonies met with the leaders of the Iroquois tribe of New York
in a meeting known as the Albany Conference. The conference accomplished several things: the
Iroquois agreed to remain neutral in the war, the colonies agreed to have the British appoint one
supreme commander of all British troops in the colonies, and Benjamin Franklin proposed the
Albany Plan of Union. The Albany Plan proposed that the colonies unite to form one central
government to help fight the French, however the colonies rejected the plan. Despite its rejection, the
plan proved that many colonial leaders were beginning to think about joining together for security.
.2
The following is a cartoon that Benjamin Franklin drew urging the colonists to adopt the Albany Plan
of Union. To the right of the cartoon is a famous quote by Franklin after the plan failed. Use these and
your knowledge of the colonies to answe the questions below:
““The crown disapproved it as having
too much weight in the democratic
part of the constitution, and every
assembly as having allowed too much
to prerogative; so it was totally
rejected.”
Benjamin Franklin
1) According to the cartoon, why do you believe Benjamin Franklin thought it was necessary for the
colonists to unite under the Albany Plan of Union?
2) Based on Franklin’s qoute, what was the difference in why the British government rejected the
plan and why the colonies rejected the plan?
3) What were both some advantages and disadvantages to the Albany Plan of Union?
Outcome of the French and Indian War:
For the first two years of the war, France
defeated the British. The French and their
Native American allies used more guerilla
warfare (utilizing surprise attacks and
ambushes)
whereas
the
British
used
gentlemen’s warfare (typically lining up in a
straight line and fighting against the enemy in
an organized fashion). Two years into the war,
however, the British cut off the French supply
lines and forced France’s Native American allies
to give up. In 1759, the British captured Quebec,
the capitol of New France and sealed their
victory. The war ended with the signing of the
Treaty of Paris, 1763 in which France lost a
large amount of their power in North America.
According to the above map of North Ameria
after 1763, what were the results of the Treaty
of Paris?
.3
Effects of the French and Indian War:
Shattered Idea of
British Invincibililty
• Because the French beat the Brtish for the first two years of the
war, the colonists saw that the British army, given the right
fighting strategy, were not the supreme fighting power in the
world
Colonists Experienced
Discrimination within
British Military
• During the war, the British military would not recognize any
colonial rank higher than captain, causing the colonials to feel
viewed as inferior British citizens
Britain Became Angered
By the Lack of Colonial
Support for the War
Effort
Colonists Began to
Discover a Shared
Identity
Less Colonial Reliance on
Britain for Protection
Increased Colonial
Desire to Expand
Increased British
Taxation
• During the war, some colonial shippers were sending war
materials to Spain and France, Britain's enemies
• Many colonies also refused to provide troops and money for
the war effort
• Colonists from throughout the Americas met for the first time
and realized their many common characteristics
• Without a French threat in the colonies, colonists did not feel
they needed to rely on Britain for protection
• With the French out of the Ohio River Valley, the colonists
began to expand westward, creating problems with Native
Americans in the area
• The British had accumulated a massive debt while fighting the
French and Indian War, in what they saw as an attempt to
protect the colonists from the French. Once the British
gained the Ohio River Valley, they also had to send troops
there to protect it. They felt the colonies should foot the bill.
Analyze the chart to the left. What is the
approximate change in the British debt over these
nine years? What conclusions can you draw from
this chart? What are some solutions the British
might find to their problem?
Change in British Debt Due to
the French and Indian War
£150
£125
£100
£75
£50
British British
Debt
Debt
Prior to After
1754
1763
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Proclamation of 1763:
In the spring of 1763, Pontiac, the chief of the Ottawa tribe, united
several Native American tribes in the Ohio River Valley, attacked
forts along the frontier, and burned down several towns in what
became known as Pontiac’s Rebellion. Pontiac and other Natives
were angry that colonists were moving into the region of western
Pennsylvania that had been promised to Native Americans. British
leaders did not want to bear the burden of another war and did not
want to disrupt the fur trade in the region. So, in October of 1763,
King George III of Britain issued the Proclamation of 1763 which
drew a line from north to south along the Appalachian Mountains
and stated that colonists were no longer able to move west of that
line. This proclamation deeply enraged colonists, who had fought
the French and Indian War in order to expand into new lands. One
group of colonists, the Paxton Boys, angered that Britain would
not assist them in fighting off the Native American led an attack in December of 1763 on a group of
peaceful Native Americans, slaughtering twenty men, women and children. Colonists continued to
move across the Appalachian Mountains in violation of the British law.
French and Indian War Homework Questions:
1) What were the overall causes of the French and Indian War?
2) How did the competition between the French and British Empires lead to colonial involvement in
the French and Indian War?
3) How did the Albany Plan of Union represent both unity and division among the colonies?
4) How did the French and Indian War end and how did this impact the colonies?
.5
5) How did the political and economic relationship between the colonists and England change after
the French and Indian War, ultimately lead to the colonial desire for self-government?
6) How did the Proclamation of 1763 help increase tensions between the colonists and Britain?
Stirrings of Rebellion: The Colonies Become Restless
Major Concepts Daily Review: Interpret the significance of each term/ concept connection from
the previous lesson
1) Ohio River Valley
2) Fur Trade
3) Albany Plan of Union
4) Gentlemen’s Warfare v. Guerilla Warfare
5) Treaty of Paris, 1763
6) Pontiac’s Rebellion
7) Proclamation of 1763
8) Paxton Boys
9) Impact of the French and Indian War on British/Colonial Relationship
.6
Britain Tightens its Grip:
Following the French and Indian War, the British government was heavily in debt for two main
reasons: 1) the cost of fighting a war for seven years and 2) the cost of keeping a standing British army
in the colonies for protection. The British naturally felt that since both benefited the colonies, they
should pay the bulk of the debt. Once the French and Indian War ended, Britain swiftly ended its
period of salutary neglect and began to actively enforce the Navigation Acts, only allowing the
colonies to trade with Britain. The British government also began to place heavy customs duties
(taxes) on designated goods. Colonists, angered by the enforcement of long-ignored rules, as well as
the increased costs of goods, began to smuggle goods in and out of the colonies in order to avoid
paying taxes. Parliament passed a law that allowed smugglers to be tried in a court run by naval
officers, where they would be tried without a jury. The British government also created writs of
assistance, which allowed British officials to search suspected smugglers without an official warrant.
Read the following excerpt from a speech given before the Boston Colonial Court by James Otis in
protest of writs of assistance and answer the attached questions:
“A man's house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he is well guarded as a prince in his castle. This
writ, if it should be declared legal, would totally annihilate this privilege. Customhouse officers may
enter our houses when they please; we are commanded to permit their entry. Their menial servants
may enter, may break locks, bars, and everything in their way; and whether they break through
malice or revenge, no man, no court may inquire. Bare suspicion without oath is sufficient.”
1) What rights of British citizens does Otis feel are being violated by the writs of assistance?
2) What are his arguments against the writs of assistance?
The Sugar Act:
In 1764, Parliament passed the Sugar Act, which raised the taxes on imports of
raw sugar and molasses. The act also placed taxes on silk, wine, coffee, and indigo.
Merchants throughout the colonies were furious, arguing that the new taxes would
devastate trade. Under the new act smugglers were also presumed guilty until
proven innocent and those accused of smuggling could have their goods seized
without due process of law. Massachusetts lawyer, James Otis published a
pamphlet in which he argued that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies
because the colonies lacked representation in Parliament. This gave rise to the
popular expression heard throughout the revolutionary era, “no taxation
without representation”. Britain claims that the colonists have virtual representation,
believing that every member of Parliament represents ALL British citizens. Colonists want actual
representation, where they have an actual colonist representing their needs in Parliament.
What rights of British citizens are being violated by the Sugar Act?
_____________________________________________________________________
.7
The Stamp Act:
To raise more money to pay off the British debt, in 1765 Britain passed perhaps its most controversial
tax – the Stamp Act. This act required stamps to be placed on most printed materials, including
newspapers, pamphlets, posters, wills, mortgages, deeds, licenses, diplomas, and playing cards. The
stamp act was a DIRECT TAX and the first to affect ALL COLONISTS. In the same year, Britain also
passed the Quartering Act, requiring colonists to house and care for British soldiers in peacetime.
The passage of these acts led to protests throughout the colonies and led many colonial legislatures to
pass resolutions against such taxes.
The most well-known and effective protest organization that developed in America was the Sons of
Liberty. Started in Boston and created by John Adams and Samuel Adams, the Sons of Liberty
organized boycotts of British goods and intimidated tax officials using tactics such as tar and
feathering. In October of 1765, nine colonies sent delegates to a meeting in New York known as the
Stamp Act Congress, where colonists passed a resolution only allowing their own colonial
representatives to tax them and passed a nonimportation agreement, refusing to buy any British
goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. The boycott had a powerful effect on the British workforce,
as thousands lost their jobs due to cancelled colonial orders. As protests grew in Britain and America,
Parliament finally agreed to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766. Immediately after the repeal of the Stamp
Act, however, Britain passed the Declaratory Acts, which became a face-saving measure by
Parliament by reminding the colonies that Britain still had the power to tax them in whatever way it
saw fit.
The map to the left displays all of the towns where
protests against the Stamp Act occurred from 1765-1766.
Based on this map, what trends can you see in the
protests?
The Regulator Movement:
In the midst of protests, a movement began to grow in Carolina, known as the Regulator
Movement, protesting the corruption of local royal government officials and the discrimination that
central and western North Carolinians felt existed in the government in favor of the wealthy. The
movement began in 1764 when members of the backcountry of North Carolina began to believe that
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royal government officials were charging them excessive fees, falsifying records, and engaging in other
mistreatments. The movement's name refers to the desire of these citizens to regulate their own
affairs. From 1764 to 1770, the movement mainly consisted of organized protests. However, in 1771
when Regulators requested a public meeting with colonial officials to discuss the abuses they felt were
evident, NC Governor William Tryon and the general assembly refused. Tryon organized a state
militia and marched to the western frontier of the state, where regulators once again requested a
meeting in Hillsborough, NC. Tryon agreed to meet with them, but only if they would give up their
arms. The Regulators refused and the ensuing Battle of Alamance began, ultimately ending the
Regulator movement in a crushing defeat. Some historians consider the movement a catalyst to the
American Revolution, while others say it demonstrates the problem of class division in the colonies.
The Townshend Acts:
In an effort to pay for the increase in British troops in America, Britain passed the Townshend Acts
in 1767. These acts taxed glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea. Anyone who failed to pay the taxes would
be presumed guilty until proven otherwise and would lose their property without due process of law.
In the winter of 1767-1778, John Dickinson published a series of essays called Letters from a
Farmer in Pennsylvania. In the essays, he reasserted the argument of no taxation without
representation and called the colonies to become “firmly bound together” to “form one body politic”
to resist the Townshend Acts. Following the release of these essays, colonies began another series of
boycotts, supported by both the Sons and Daughters of Liberty. In the fall of 1768, violence began to
increase against tax collectors in Boston. The British government sent in over 1,000 troops to the city
to maintain order. On March 5, 1770, a group of colonists began harassing and throwing snowballs at
a British soldier guarding a customs house. Soon, a squad of soldiers descended on the area. They
opened fire into the crowd, killing five people. The event became known as the Boston Massacre. A
few weeks later, Britain repealed the majority of the taxes under the Townshend Acts, except the tax
on tea.
What rights of British citizens are being violated by the Townshend Acts?
_____________________________________________________________________
The picture to the right is an engraving of the
Boston Massacre by Paul Revere entitled The
Bloody Massacre
The text below it begins:
"Unhappy Boston! See thy Sons deplore, Thy
hallowed Walks besmeared with guiltless
Gore."
Based on the engraving, who is to blame for
the event and why?
Do you agree with this interpretation? Why or
why not?
.9
The Gaspee Affair:
After the repeal of the Townshend Acts, trade between Britain and the colonies resumed as usual, as
did the smuggling of goods to avoid paying taxes. In order to stop smuggling, the British sent customs
ships to patrol the waters. One of the most unpopular of these customs ships was the Gaspee. Its
commander was infamous for searching ships without warrants and for coming ashore to seize food
from colonists. In June of 1772, the Gaspee ran aground outside of Rhode Island. Over 150 colonists
seized and burned the ship. The British ordered a full investigation. They offered a reward to anyone
identifying the people responsible. No one came forward, and no one was ever charged for the offence.
This event led the colonies to create what were known as committees of correspondence, which
were groups of colonists that regularly exchanged letters about suspicious or threatening British
activity throughout the American colonies. These committees helped unify the colonies, shape public
opinion, and plan resistance.
Tensions Build in Boston
In May of 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act. Under the Tea Act, Parliament gave the British East
India Company a monopoly over tea in the colonies. The act reduced the taxes on tea coming from the
British East India Company, making it cheaper than tea that had been smuggled in from the Dutch. It
also allowed the company to sell their tea directly to the shopkeepers, bypassing American merchants
who usually distributed the tea. Colonial merchants feared that the British were trying to put them out
of business.
On December 17, 1773 members of the Sons of Liberty,
disguised as American Indians, boarded ships belonging to
the British East India Company, broke crates open with their
tomahawks, and threw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
By today’s standards, millions of dollars of tea was thrown
into the harbor in what became known as the Boston Tea
Party.
The Boston Tea Party began a series of events that forever changed the course of history. King George
III got Parliament to pass a series of laws called the Coercive Acts, which the colonists called the
Intolerable Acts. These laws were intended to punish Massachusetts. They closed the port of
Boston until the city paid for the lost tea, replaced elected officials with royal officials, shut down town
meetings, required colonists to keep soldiers in their homes, and placed Boston under military rule.
As colonists throughout America became aware of the issues in Boston, the fires of rebellion grew.
What rights of British citizens are being violated by the Coercive Acts? Do you think the British had
a right to do so?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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Stirrings of Rebellion Homework Questions:
1) In what way did the British policy of salutary neglect lead to a desire for independence in the
colonies?
2) Why did the new policies of the British government lead to colonial discontent and protest?
3) How did colonists protest British economic policies leading up to the American Revolution?
4) How did cultural conflicts like the Regulator Movement lead to open rebellion and set the stage for
the American Revolution?
5) Who were famous colonists that began to share ideas about liberty and independence and how did
they communicate these ideas?
6) What were three specific acts Britain used to limit the rights of colonists and how did each limit
these rights?
The Rebellion Begins
Major Concepts Daily Review: Interpret the significance of each term/ concept connection from
the previous lesson
1) Violations of the English Bill of Rights
2) Writs of Assistance
3) Sugar Act and Protests
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4) Stamp Act and Protests
5) Quartering Act
6) Regulator Movement
7) Townshend Acts and Protests
8) Tea Act and Protests
First Continental Congress:
Following the Coercive Acts in Massachusetts, people throughout the colonies began to sympathize
with the plight of Boston. Proposals came from a number of colonies, including Virginia, to send
delegates to a colonial congress to discuss what action to take next.
In the March of 1775, Patrick Henry delivered a speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses, which
would be dissolved two months later. Read the excerpt below and answer the questions.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We
have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before
the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and
Parliament… If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for
which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in
which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until
the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! …
They tell us, sir that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall
we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed,
and when a British, shall be stationed in every house? …. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it
is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to
desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and
slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is
inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come…
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace… The next gale that sweeps from the north
will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why
stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace
so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not
what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
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What is the main idea of Patrick Henry’s speech?
_____________________________________________________________________
What problems does he address that the colonists may face?
_____________________________________________________________________
What imagery does he use to support his ideas?
_____________________________________________________________________
The committees of correspondence coordinated the different proposals and decided on a
meeting of the colonies in September 1774. The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia,
with 55 delegates and all but the Georgia colony attended. The majority of the delegates wanted to
avoid war and favored a more economic approach to the issue. They met for seven weeks and
completed two main tasks. They agreed to meet again in May of 1775 if the crisis was not over.
Action of Continental Congress
Adopted a Declaration of
Rights and Grievances
Details of Action
Expressed colonial loyalty to the King
Asked the King to respect their rights
and end oppression
Agreed to establish the
Continental Association
Organized a boycott of all British goods
throughout the colonies
(nonimportation, nonconsumption,
nonexportation)
Responses to Action
King George rejects the
Declaration
Colonists begin to form
own militias and train
Each colony creates a
Committee of Safety to
ensure that all colonists
obeyed boycotts
Based on the above chart, how would you describe the colonial efforts at making peace?
What is your opinion of the Committees of Observation and Safety?
Battles of Lexington and Concord:
Following King George’s rejection of the Declaration of Rights
and Grievances, many Committees of Safety began forming their
own militias, drilling and practicing for combat. These soldiers
were known as minutemen because they were expected to be
ready to “stand at a minute’s warning in case of alarm.” These
minutemen were needed in Massachusetts in April of 1775. The
British government ordered its army to arrest the rebels in
Massachusetts and to take over their arsenal in Concord. Patriot
leaders heard about the plan and sent Paul Revere, William
. 13
Dawes, and Samuel Prescott to sound the alarm that the British were coming. On April 19th, when
British troops arrived in Lexington, they were met by a force of 70 colonial minutemen. The British
asked the militia to disperse. As the militia backed away, a shot was fired from an unknown source.
The British began to open fire and left 18 colonial casualties. This became known as the “shot heard
round the world” and the start of the American Revolution.
After Lexington, the British headed toward Concord to take over the arsenal. When they arrived, all
the weapons had already been removed and they burned some supplies nearby. The militias believed
they were burning their homes and lined up along the North Bridge at Concord. As the British
crossed, the militia opened fire from behind trees, barns and houses. By the time the British reached
Boston, they had lost 99 men and 174 were wounded. The militia then surrounded the city of Boston,
trapping the British troops.
What do you think the next steps for the colonists should be? ___________________________
Second Continental Congress Begins:
In May of 1775, three weeks after Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress
began meeting in Philadelphia. All colonies were in attendance, yet there was still no clear consensus
for independence. Most hoped to keep fighting Britain until the King and Parliament would agree to
address their grievances. The first action taken by the Second Continental Congress was to create and
raise money for an army. They agreed to add to the current militia that surrounded Boston and
appointed George Washington, a Virginian, as the head of this new Continental Army. Congress
chose Washington to command the largely New England army to rally support from the South. His
largest task in leading the Continental Army would be finding a way to discipline the new army, which
was largely untrained and lacked respect for both sanitation and authority.
One historian in the textbook, The American Pageant (Twelfth Edition - page 142) wrote the
following about Washington’s selection as commander of the Continental Army:
“George Washington was gifted with outstanding powers of leadership and immense strength of
character. He radiated patience, courage, self-discipline, and a sense of justice. He was a great
moral force rather than a great military mind – a symbol and a rallying point. People instinctively
trusted him; they sensed that when he put himself at the head of a cause, he was prepared, if
necessary, to go down with the ship. He insisted on serving without pay, though he kept a careful
expense account amounting to more than $100,000.
His selection, in truth, was largely political. Americans in other sections, already jealous, were
beginning to distrust the large New England Army being collected around Boston. Prudence
suggested a commander from Virginia, the largest and most populous of colonies.”
According to this excerpt, give two main reasons why the Second Continental Congress chose
Washington as the leader of the Continental Army?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Do you believe these were justifiable reasons to select him?
_____________________________________________________________________
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Battle of Bunker Hill:
In June of 1775, the colonists took over a hill overlooking Boston
from which they harassed the British troops in Boston. Then
known as Breed’s Hill, it has become more commonly known
historically as Bunker Hill. The British decided to use a full
frontal attack on the colonists, where they charge straight up the
hill in an effort to beat back the colonists. The attack became a
massacre for the British. The king’s army charged the hill three
times, taking heavy casualties with each attempt. However, upon
their third and final attempt to take the hill, the colonists ran out
of ammunition and were forced to retreat. At the end of the day,
the British had suffered over 1,000 casualties to the colonists’ 400,
making this battle ultimately the bloodiest battle of the revolution. This battle not only showed that
the colonists were a force to be reckoned with, but also ended all possibility of a peaceful
reconciliation with an angered Britain.
Second Continental Congress Sends Out Olive Branch Petition:
In July of 1775, the Second Continental Congress made one final attempt at peace with Britain known
as the Olive Branch Petition. In this document written by John Dickinson, the colonists
professed their loyalty to King George III and begged him to prevent future hostilities. King
George’s response, however, was to pass the Prohibitory Acts, which declared that the colonies
were now in a state of rebellion. He then hired thousands of German troops to go to the colonies and
assist the British in crushing the rebellion. These Germans were mercenaries (soldiers for hire) and
were known as Hessians.
Do you think there was any hope for peace when the colonists sent the Olive Branch Petition? Why
or why not?
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Influence of Common Sense:
Despite King George’s rejection of the Olive Branch Petition, many colonists
still felt a close tie to the monarch. They tended to blame Parliament for the
problems between Britain and the colonies. In January 1776, however,
Thomas Paine published his famous pamphlet Common Sense and forever
changed the colonial outlook. Paine had moved from Britain to Philadelphia in
1775. He argued that Parliament did not act on anything without the consent of
King George III and that monarchies in general were set up to seize power from
the people. He believed instead that America should have a republic, where
all government officials would get their power from the people. He also stated
that it made no sense for a small island to control a vast land such as America.
Common Sense sold over 100,000 copies in only three months of publication.
Within a few months, each colonial legislature had told their representatives in
the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence.
. 15
Read the two excerpts below and compare the ideas of each of these revolutionary thinkers. Then,
answer the questions below.
Thomas Paine
From Common Sense
John Dickinson
From Letters of Delegates to Congress
“It is the good fortune of many to live distant
from the scene of present sorrow;…But let our
imaginations transport us for a few moments to
Boston…The inhabitants of the unfortunate city
who but a few months ago were in ease and
affluence, have now no other alternative than to
stay and starve, or turn out to beg…
Men of passive tempers look somewhat lightly
over the offenses of Britain and, still hoping for
the best, are apt to call out ‘Come, come we shall
be friends again for all this.’ But examine the
passions and feelings of mankind; Bring the
doctrine of reconciliation to the touchstone of
nature, and then tell me whether you can
hereafter love, honor, and faithfully serve the
power that hath carried fire and sword into your
land.”
“Even those delegates who are not restrained by
instructions (from their legislatures) have no
right to establish an independent separate
government for a time of peace…without a full
and free consent of the people plainly
expressed…We are now acting on a principle of
the English Constitution in resisting the
assumption or usurpation of an unjust power.
We are now acting under that Constitution. Does
that circumstance support is dissolution? But
granting the present oppression to be
dissolution, the choice of …restoring it or
forming a new one is vested in our constituents,
not in us. They have not given it to us. We may
pursue measures that will force them into it. But
that implies not a right so to force them.
What are the main ideas in Paine’s argument? In Dickinson’s argument?
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Why does Dickinson believe that Congress had no right to form a new government?
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Which argument do you think is the most logical and why?
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The Rebellion Begins Homework Questions:
1) What attempts did the colonists make to keep peace with Britain through the First and Second
Continental Congresses?
2) What actions did the colonists take that decreased the probability of a peaceful resolution with
Britain?
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3) How did Britain react to the attempts at colonial reconciliation?
4) How did the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill serve as turning points in the
relationship between the colonies and Britain?
5) How and why did Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense encourage revolution and
independence?
The Declaration of Independence
Major Concepts Daily Review: Interpret the significance of each term/ concept connection from
the previous lesson
1) Actions of the First Continental Congress
2) Battles of Lexington and Concord
3) Creation of the Continental Army
4) Battle of Bunker Hill
5) Olive Branch Petition and British Reaction
6) Influence of Common Sense
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Declaring Independence:
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to
the Second Continental Congress, made the motion that
“these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent states.” The motion was debated and
finally passed on July 2, 1776, with twelve colonies voting
for independence and New York abstaining. Technically,
this vote was all that the colonies needed to cut their ties
with Britain. However, the delegates believed a more
formal explanation was necessary if they were to get the
support of foreign nations. Congress appointed a five-man
committee to write an official document explaining the
reasons for independence. The task of the actual writing
went to Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. He presented his
document on July 2nd following the vote. Several sections
were edited out, including one large section that condemned the slave trade. South Carolina and
Georgia refused to sign the document and all mention of slavery was removed from the declaration.
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted and signed the Declaration of
Independence, each man committing treason with his signature. War with Britain was now a
certainty. The Declaration would become a source of inspiration to countless revolutionaries in the
future
Watch the clip of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from the film adaptation of the
award winning Broadway Musical 1776. After viewing the clip, answer the following questions.
What problems did the signers and their new government face?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
What stands out to you about the attitudes and circumstances of these men?
_____________________________________________________________________
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Concepts in the Declaration:
Thomas Jefferson took many of the ideas he used in the Declaration of Independence from
Enlightenment philosophers. The Declaration can be divided into four main parts: the Preamble, the
Statement of Rights, the List of Grievances, and the Resolution of Independence. The Preamble is
the introduction and states why the Continental Congress drew up the document. In the Statement of
Rights, Jefferson takes his ideas from those of John Locke. He first states that people have certain
inalienable rights, or rights that they possess simply because they are human beings. According to
Jefferson, those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Jefferson then uses
Locke’s Social Contract Theory, arguing that government gets its power from the consent of the
people and that its job is to protect their rights. If government fails to protect those rights, the people
have the power to rebel against the government. The third part of the declaration, the list of
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grievances, expresses all of the colonists’ complaints with British rule. The final portion of the
document declares that the colonies are now free and independent states.
Looking at the chart of the Social Contract Theory discussed in the Declaration of Independence, fill
in the correct information where asked.
What rights did the colonies expect Britain to protect? _______________________________________
How did colonists believe Britain was misusing its power? _____________________________________
Below are excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. Read each section to the left and then
summarize, in your own words, what it says to the right.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people
to dissolve the political bands which have connected tem with another, and
to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to
which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent
respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the
causes which impel them to the separation.
Preamble:
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, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as
to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should
not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all
experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while
evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to
Statement of Rights:
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reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to
throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future
security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of
Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of
repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let
Facts be submitted to a candid world.
List of Grievances:
…He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with
manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people… He has kept
among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our
legislatures…He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction
foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his
Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For Quartering large bodies
of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from
punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants
of these States:…For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For
depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For
transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences… He is at
this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the
works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances
of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and
totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation…
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the
most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by
repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act
which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor
have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren…We have
reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement
here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we
have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these
usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and
correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which
denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind,
Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in
General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the
world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority
of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That
these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent
States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,
and that all political connection between them and the State of Great
Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and
Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace,
contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and
Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of
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Resolution of
Independence:
this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
A Divided America:
The American colonists were much divided on independence. One-third of colonists remained
Loyalists, meaning that they remained supportive of a colonial relationship with Britain. These
colonists were often wealthy, well-educated conservatives who had much to lose if the British were to
lose the revolution. However, many were also poor backcountry farmers who were new to the colonies
and still strongly tied to the Crown. There was a large population of Loyalists is New York and in the
Southern colonies of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Patriots made up about onethird of the population as well. These were the individuals who sought independence from Britain.
They were largely from the New England colonies and Virginia and tended to be generations removed
from their British heritage. The last one-third of colonists was undecided. They did not know which
route was the best for their future. Many of those that were undecided eventually sided with the
Patriots, both due to British atrocities and Patriot bullying.
The Declaration of Independence Homework Questions:
1) How did the signing of the Declaration of Independence represent a political turning point for the
United States?
2) How did the ideas of John Locke influence the writing of the Declaration of Independence?
3) To what extent did the Declaration of Independence establish freedom and equality for the
colonists?
4) How did the Declaration of Independence split the British colonists into Patriots and Loyalists?
How did this split affect American society? Who tended to be on either side?
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5) According to the Declaration of Independence, why did the colonists declare independence?
The American Revolution
Major Concepts Daily Review: Interpret the significance of each term/ concept connection from
the previous lesson
1) Richard Henry Lee
2) Thomas Jefferson
3) Problems with Approving the Declaration
4) Parts of the Declaration of Independence
5) John Locke’s Influence on the Declaration
6) Patriots v. Loyalists
Forming the First National Government:
Now that the thirteen colonies had declared their independence from Britain,
they had to create a new government to lead them. Most Continental Congress
delegates favored a loose union of autonomous states rather than a strong
central government. In November of 1777, Congress adopted the Articles of
Confederation. This first national constitution created one branch of
government, Congress, in which each state had a single vote. Congress was given
the powers to conduct foreign affairs, handle war and peace, and maintain
armed forces. It could also raise loans, issue bills of credit, and establish a
coinage. However, the Articles did not give Congress the power to tax the
citizens directly. Instead, Congress was to ask each state for funding based on
the amount of land each possessed. To ratify (approve) or to change this
constitution, all thirteen colonies had to agree. It took three years for the Articles
of Confederation to be approved by the states. It was not officially ratified until March of 1781. Until
that point, Congress worked under the Articles without any official standing.
Do you see any potential problems with the Articles of Confederation and the new national
government it sets up?
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Forming State Constitutions:
During the Revolution, several states began to draft their own state constitutions in an attempt to
limit the government’s power over the people. Most of these new constitutions established a
government with three branches. The legislative branch, or the group that made the laws, was
usually led by an assembly of elected officials. The executive branch, or the group that enforced
those laws, was usually led by a governor. The judicial branch, or the group that made sure the laws
were fair, was led by a court system. Many of these states also attached a list of rights to their
constitutions, to ensure that the government could not restrict their basic rights.
Financing the War:
The Continental Congress financed the Revolution through grants and loans
from friendly foreign nations and by issuing paper currency, known as
Continental currency. The problem, however, was that the loans from other
nations were not sufficient enough to back up the vast amount of paper currency
being printed by the national government. Most states began to print their own
paper currency. Slowly, Continental currency began to lose its value and
inflation (an increase in prices) became rampant. In May of 1781, a new
secretary of finance, Robert Morris, came to office. He convinced Congress to
create a Bank of North America, deposited large amounts of gold and silver obtained through
loans from Holland and France and private citizens. By January of 1791, debts from the American
Revolution amounted to over $75 million.
Colonial Strengths and Weaknesses:
American Strengths
American Weaknesses
British Strengths
British Weaknesses
Patriotism – people
were willingly giving
their lives to defend
their liberty and
homes
Small army –
Continental Army was
always short on men
and Washington
never had more than
20,000 troops in one
place at a time.
Large army –
professional army of
50,000 troops and
hired mercenaries;
Also had help of
loyalists, slaves, &
Native Americans
Distance – sending
troops and supplies
across the Atlantic was
slow and costly; news was
also slow to reach Britain
Help from overseas –
the French and
Spanish secretly
helped the Patriots
Poorly trained and
disciplined – most
colonists could not
shoot as well as
British soldiers and
lacked respect for
military authority
Well-trained army –
knew European battle
tactics, excelled in
large battles, and had
experience in firing
large artillery
Morale – King George
could not convince
English citizens that war
was vital to Britain’s
future. British taxpayers
become angry about war.
Leaders – George
Washington was a
military leader who
inspired courage and
confidence
Shortages – guns,
gunpowder, food,
uniforms very hard to
come by (new nation
could not tax and get
money for goods)
Well-supplied –
Hostile Fighting
seldom lacked for food, Conditions – Fighting in
uniforms, weapons, or predominantly unfriendly
ammunition
and unfamiliar territory
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Home-field Advantage
– Fighting on their
own land, know
territory and can get
help from friendly
colonists
Desertion – after
fighting for only a few
months, many
soldiers packed up
and went home
Strong Navy –
Possessed the world’s
strongest navy at the
time
Inability to Adapt –
British military leaders
were unable to adapt
their fighting style to that
of the colonists
Which of the colonial advantages or British weaknesses do you think is most vital to a Patriot
victory?
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____________________________________________________________________
Which of the British advantages or colonial weaknesses will hurt the colonists most?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Based on the chart to the left,
what group makes up the bulk of
the British forces?
Which groups grow the most in
number over the years?
Early Revolutionary War:
At the beginning of the American Revolution the British were winning. The British wanted to isolate
New England (the colonies that are causing them the most problems). If they could make New
England obey the laws, they could make the rest of the colonies follow them, too. The British captured
New York (Dec. 1776), and several other major port cities, including Philadelphia, Boston, and
Charleston. In this way, they could control what came into and out of the colonies. Washington was
desperate for a win. His first two wins came at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey (Dec-Jan.
1776-1777), where he took several prisoners and artillery and, most importantly, boosted Patriot
morale.
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Based on the map to the left, what
conclusions can you make about early British
battle tactics and victories?
Where do most of the major battles occur
and why?
The Turning Point of the Revolution:
In October 1777, British General Burgoyne, leaves from Canada with 4,000 Redcoats, 1000 Mohawk,
and 3000 mercenaries to attempt to cut New England off from the rest of the colonies. The
Americans found out where he was, and they surrounded and captured his army outside of the New
York town of Saratoga. This battle becomes known as the turning point of the Revolution. This was
the first decisive victory for the colonists and boosts their morale and reputation in the world. After
Saratoga, the French decide to openly help the colonists. The French would send money, supplies,
and warships, primarily in an effort to weaken their greatest enemy, Britain. In 1778, Spain and
Holland would begin to openly support the colonists as well.
Winter at Valley Forge:
After Saratoga, Washington’s army had to find a winter campsite. The British military had occupied
all of the homes, hotels, and taverns in Pennsylvania, so Washington set up a campsite near Valley
Forge. At Valley Forge, Washington’s men endure hunger (there is no food), extreme cold (they have
very little clothing), and sickness (smallpox). Of the 10,000 men at Valley Forge, 2000 die. In that
time encamped at Valley Forge, two foreign leaders helped the Continental Army. The Marquis de
Lafayette of France and Prussian leader Freidrich von Steuben trained and disciplined
Washington’s men. Those who survived Valley Forge would leave as a stronger fighting force than
they were before.
“To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lay on, without
shoes….marching through frost and snow…and submitting to it without a murmur, is a mark of
patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarcely be paralleled.”
George Washington at Valley Forge
According to this quote, what were conditions like at Valley Forge and how did men react?
____________________________________________________________________
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Britain’s Southern Campaign:
Following the winter of 1777-1778, the British changed their war strategy. Instead of just isolating
New England, they attempted to divide the colonies into North and South by sending British General
Cornwallis to invade the South. Cornwallis invaded through Charleston, South Carolina. By 1780,
Cornwallis had captured Georgia and South Carolina. Using guerilla tactics, the Southern colonial
militia engaged in several battles with British forces in South Carolina and North Carolina. One of the
final battles happened in North Carolina at Guilford Court House. In this battle, the British won,
but lost ¼ of their troops. They needed rest and reinforcements—they needed to get to the coast.
Cornwallis was on his way to the Virginia coast, but was forced to leave some troops throughout the
South to maintain order, thus spreading his army thin.
Why do you think Cornwallis decided to take the war to the southern part of the colonies? What
advantages did he have there that he did not have elsewhere?
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____________________________________________________________________
The War Ends:
The British pressed on to Yorktown, Virginia in an effort to rest and reinforce their army. When
they moved toward the coast, the Americans followed them, trapping them along the coastline. The
British hoped they could escape via the Atlantic Ocean. The British did not know that the French had
finally shown up to help. The French had destroyed the British fleet, and were blocking a British
escape by sea. Now trapped by the French and Americans, the British were forced to surrender at
Yorktown. This surrender would be the last of the American Revolution. In 1783, the British and
Americans signed the Treaty of Paris of 1783, officially ending the American Revolution and
recognizing America as an independent nation.
Based on the map to the left, who had the
advantage at the Battle of Yorktown and why?
Does Britain have any other options for retreat?
. 26
The Revolution’s Effect on American Society:
The American Revolution not only granted colonists their independence from Britain and created the
United States of America, but also changed American society and culture. The experience of fighting
side by side with people from every social class and region in America increased the belief in equality.
As a result, in almost every new state constitution it became easier for people to vote. However, to
serve in an elected position people had to own property. At the end of the Revolution, many veterans
were given land grants, thus increasing the number of people who owned land and who could hold
office. The new American states also became to disassociate from the Anglican Church and begin to
advocate a separation of church and state, particularly in Virginia where they adopted the Virginia
Statute for Religious Freedom.
Women and African Americans made some small gains during and after the Revolution. During the
war, women took over family farms in the absence of their husbands, traveled with the army as cooks
and nurses, and served as spies and couriers. Once the Revolution ended, women also gained greater
access to education, with the founding of many schools for girls within the new nation. African
Americans were offered their freedom by both the British and Patriot militaries in exchange for their
military service. Following the American Revolution, many northern states began gradually
emancipating (freeing) slaves, believing that the ideals of freedom and equality professed during the
Revolution were contrary to the practice of slavery. Although many northern slaves were freed, they
still faced discrimination and were mostly relegated to jobs that only included manual labor. Those
African Americans who did gain higher social status began to build their own distinct culture, which
centered largely on the new AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church.
Following the Patriot victory in the American Revolution, Americans were united by strong
nationalistic feelings due to shared experiences. Artists began to emerge and create uniquely
American works, such as portraits of Patriot leaders and battle landscapes. American education also
began to blossom with the creation of the first state university in 1795 (University of North
Carolina) and the revision of curriculum that focused on republican ideals.
Which of the post-Revolutionary changes in America do you think was the most significant and
why?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
The American Revolution Homework Questions:
1) How did the creation of the Articles of Confederation affect the distribution of power between the
states and the national government?
2) How did America’s relationship with Britain impact its writing of the Articles of Confederation and
its state constitutions?
. 27
3) What were the problems America experienced in trying to finance the America Revolution and
what problems did it reveal within the new government?
4) What were some of America’s biggest obstacles to winning the American Revolution?
5) How did the split between Patriots and Loyalists in America affect both the war and American
society?
6) Why was the Patriot victory at Saratoga considered a turning point in the war?
7) How was the American Revolution a turning point in United States History, both politically and
socially?
8) How did independence and the revolutionary spirit influence various cultural groups and define
what it meant to be an American?
Timeline and Review Day
Major Concepts Daily Review: Interpret the significance of each term/ concept connection from
the previous lesson
1) Powers of the National Government under the Articles of Confederation
2) Commonalities in State Constitutions
3) Problems of Financing the War
4) Colonial Strengths and Weaknesses
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5) Battles of Trenton and Princeton
6) Battle of Saratoga
7) Winter at Valley Forge
8) Importance of the Southern Campaign
9) Battle of Yorktown
10) Increased Rights after the Revolution
Refer to the timeline and unit study guide on a separate paper for your final review
before the test.
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