AMERICAN REVOLUTION - AHS AP U.S. HISTORY / FrontPage

38 Pages·2010·2.92 MB·English

AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
A5W |10.917
The Philosophy of the
American Revolution
Why did the Colonists revolt?
(examples?)
 Preserve self-rule: “Taxation without (actual)
representation”
Protect Fundamental rights & liberties
 (J. Locke)
Protect economic interests

British corruption, aristocracy
 (“City on a hill”)
Was the Revolution inevitable? Could
Britain have avoided it?
Who was right?
Focus Question
Why did the American colonies decide to
seek independence from Britain?
DECISION FOR
INDEPENDENCE
DECISION FOR INDEPENDENCE
Second Continental Congress
(May 1775-May 1781)
purpose

public opinion

Continental Army

G. Washington

Olive Branch Petition

British Response

– Prohibitory Act
George Washington assumes Olive Branch Petition
Role in revolution
 command of Continental Army,
July 1775
Patriot and
Loyalist
Strongholds
DECISION FOR
INDEPENDENCE: Jan. 1776
Common Sense

Hessian soldiers

Thomas
Paine
George Washington's copy of Common Sense
(Boston Athenaeum)
DECISION FOR INDEPENDENCE
Decision for independence

– Reasons
Declaration of Independence

Foundational beliefs

DECISION FOR INDEPENDENCE
Significance of Declaration of Independence
Directed to other nations: paved way for eventual French aid

Provided a clear position for rebellious colonists

& forced uncommitted people to either choose rebellion or declare
as Loyalists.
treason

– Franklin “We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately”
Radical for its time - equality; inherent rights; gov’t served people

– Yet merely claiming to protect existing rights and freedoms
Inspired later liberation movements

– French Revolution (Declaration of the Rights of Man)
– later basis for anti-slavery and other liberation movements (“All ... created equal”)
– Anti-colonial inspiration – eg Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
WAR
FOR
INDEPENDENCE