American Revolution

The American Revolution was important part in the United States history. The struggle for independence in the American Revolution created a new nation founded on principles from the Enlightenment thinkers. The American Revolution included a series of broad intellectual and social shifts that occurred in the early American society, such as the new republican ideals that took hold in the American population. England powerfully influenced many of the most distinguished leaders of the American Revolution such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine.The Enlightenment is held to be the source of critical ideas, such as the centrality of freedom, democracy and reason as primary values of society.

The French and Indian War

1. 1754, the French at Fort Dusquesne defeated George Washington and his Virginian army.

2. In 1756, Montcalm forced the surrender of the British fort at Oswego on Lake Ontario, which broke the British hold on the Great Lakes.

3. William Pitt, Britain's new prime minister, had adopted a policy of drastically increasing aid to the American colonies.

4. In 1759 the new American Colonies were becoming as successful as ever.

5. The Treaty of Paris is signed in 1783.

a. The colonies became less dependent on Britain and better able to fend for themselves, which gave them more freedom.

Prelude to War Ð'- The Colonies in 1763

1. The colonies imported British books, furniture, and clothing; and wealthy planters and merchants imitated the manners of the English aristocracy.

2. Although the colonists had reached a high level of maturity, there was not at mid-century a meaningful American nationalism.

3. Starting in 1759, minor arguments broke out between Britain and the colonies over disallowance of measures passed by the popular assemblies, over writs of assistance empowering the royal customs officials to break into homes and stores, and over judicial tenure in the colonial courts.

a. This showed a new direction in colonial affairs.

4. Americans were one of the freest people in the world. They had high wages, cheap land, absence of legal privilege, and receptivity to new ideas.

5. Britain no longer felt a need for its former allies in Europe.

The End of Compromise

1. The colonies were not a nation; they were separated into Virginians, Rhode Islanders, Jersey men, and North and South Carolinians.

2. Each colony had a separate government under the authority of London.

3. Parliament placed taxes on Americans for the first time in history.

4. There were many differences between North South East and West. Geographic divisions marked social and economic divisions.

5. In the South there was a more Aristocratic Society.

Timeline of the Revolution

1. 1763; The British defeat France and acquire the French empire in North America.

2. 1765; Britain passes the stamp act to directly tax the colonies

3. 1773; Boston Tea Party, Americans dress as Native American Indians and throw thousands of barrels of teas in to the Massachusetts bay.

4. 1783; Treaty of Paris Signed

a. Recognized the independence of the United States

5. 1787; The Constitution of the United States is signed by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention.

The Founding Fathers

1. George Washington was the first President of the United States of America. (1789-1797)

2. Thomas Jefferson was the governor of Virginia, U.S. Minister to France, Secretary of State under George Washington, and Vice-President of the United States of America. President of the United States .(1801 to 1809)

3. Benjamin Franklin became for later generations of Americans both a spokesman, a model for the national character, and considered as a "Founding Father."

4. John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.

5. John Adams was an enemy of British oppression, champion of independence, and American diplomat in Europe.

American Patriots

1. Samuel Adams was a major leader in the American Revolution

2. The American political leader Patrick Henry was the most celebrated orator of the American Revolution

3. Paul Revere became a legendary hero at the start of the American Revolution, when he rode from Charlestown to Lexington, Mass., on the night of Apr. 18, 1775, to warn the countryside of approaching British troops

4. Paine called for American independence in his 1776 pamphlet "Common Sense", which was widely distributed and had a profound influence on public opinion in America

5. Abigail Adams was the wife of President John