7.2 The American Revolution -TEACH-

• History
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

7.2 The American Revolution 

what do you know about the American revolution?
what, when, who, why?

when you are independent it means

1. you can take care of yourself without help from someone else
2. you cannot take care of yourself without help from someone else

So, what do Americans celebrate every 4th of July?

1. the discovery of America by Columbus
2. the signing of the Declaration of Independence
3. the start of the American Revolution
4. the end of the American Revolution

So, who became independent
from who?

1. the 13 American colonies from Spain
2. the 13 American colonies from New Amsterdam
3. slaves in the 13 colonies from their owners
4. the 13 American colonies from Britain

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

• In the 18th century Britain had 13 colonies on the east coast of N-America.
• In 1776, the 13 colonies broke free from Britain.
• On July 4th they signed the Declaration of Independence.
• They decided to be a Republic and called it: the United States of America.

Ch 4.2: The American Revolution.

1776

today

What has changed and what has continued?

These are the main questions of this lesson:

1.  what the relationship was between Great Britain and the American colonies.
2. why the American colonies rebelled against Great Britain
3. how several incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress
4. how the war between Britain and the colonists led to the birth of the USA.
5. the influence of the Enlightenment on the Declaration of Independence
6. why the USA is a federation.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

By answering the 6 main questions you create a handy summary of the lesson.

When you need to learn for a test, you can start by trying to answer the 6 questions by yourself, in your own words.

Were you able to answer the 6 questions? Congratulations, you understand the lesson!!

Now you can fill in the details: names, dates, key words etc.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 1. What was the relationship between Great Britain and the American colonies?

• The American colonists were British subjects:
• follow British laws.
• be loyal to British king
• pay taxes to Britain

7.2: Main questions

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

     This is important: these are the CAUSES of the American                   Revolution. 

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

• pay taxes to Britain, but not represented in British parliament.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

• pay taxes to Britain, but not represented in British parliament.
• Mercantilism: Colonists could only trade with Britain (the motherland), using British ships.
• Enlightenment ideas:

Check lesson 7.1 about the Enlightenment.
Find out which philosopher(s), and which ideas, might have inspired colonists to revolt against Britain.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 2. Why did the American colonies rebel 

     against Great Britain?

• pay taxes to Britain, but not represented in British parliament.
• Mercantilism: Colonists could only trade with Britain (the motherland), using British ships.
• Enlightenment ideas:
•                    John Locke said people had a duty to overthrow unfair rulers. 
•                    Adam Smith was against mercantilism.

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 3. which incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress?

• 1770: the Boston Massacre
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AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 3. which incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress?

• 1770: the Boston Massacre
• 1773: the Boston Tea Party
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AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 3. which incidents led to the forming of a Continental Congress?

• 1770: the Boston Massacre
• 1773: the Boston Tea Party
• harsh measures from the British government:

     - Boston harbour closed

     - more British soldiers

• Result: colonists see British government as a common enemy.
• To face this threat they unite and form "the Continental Congress" in 1774

Continental Congress (1774): representatives from the 13 colonies meet in Philadelphia to organise the resistance against Britain

the Continental Congress is the legislative power of the USA, like the States General in the Netherlands.

US Congress today

US Congress building; the Capitol

E pluribus unum – Latin for "Out of many, one"

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 4. how did the war between Britain and the colonists 

lead to the birth of the USA?

• In 1775 the Continental Congress decided that the colonies would form an army called the Continental Army  under the leadership of General George Washington.
• War began.
• When the British didn't give up, Congress decided that the 13 colonies would become independent.
• July 4th, 1776: Declaration of Independence. This was the birth of the USA.

Colonists organised in MILITIA:

civilians with guns

The British had a professional army: known as "the Red Coats"

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

 5. What was the influence of the Enlightenment 

     on the Declaration of Independence? 

• John Locke's idea of "natural rights" and a "social contract"
• Adam Smith's idea of "free trade".
• Montesquieu's  "Trias Politica".

AGE 7. The Time of Wigs and Revolutions

4.2 The American Revolution 

6. why is the USA a federation?

See handouts.

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