Causes of the American Revolution
- Seven Year's War: Britain needed more money to cover the war costs
-Stamp Act 1765: to increase the revenues from the colonies, had to
appear in every sort of publication, from legal and commercial papers to licenses
-1770s crisis and violence: 1766 the act was repealed "No taxation without representation"
Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
- in 1774
-Philadelphia
-Colonists announced that they would take arms and fight the British
Second Continental Congress
-1775 fight between colonists and the British Army in Massachusetts
-they set up an army: Continental Army
-George Washington: was the Commander in chief
Declaration of Independence
-On July 4th 1776 the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson
- There is when the American revolution begun
<The American Revolution>
-Great Britain had military power, great navy, and financial resources
-Colonists: supported by foreign countries
-France: gave arms and money to the colonists; as well as soldiers. Then the French granted diplomatic recognition to the new United States
- British end war
- The Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the American colonies in 1783
The Birth of a New Nation
-After being part of the oppressive British rule, the new colonies feared centralism
Constituition:
- 1781 Articles of Confederation
-1788 constitution
- Federal system.: the national government and the state governments shared power
-Montesquieu ideas
Bill of Rights
- Written in 1789, came into effect until 1791
- individual liberties
-first ten amendments to the United States Constitution
~freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, assembly
~ right to beat arms
~ protection of property rights
~ trial by jury