Democracy in Action:

The American Revolution

Causes of the Revolution:

French and Indian WarTaxes to pay for the War“No Taxation without representation”

The French and Indian War 1756-1763

Also known as the “7 years war.”

Fought between England and France for control over North America.

Native Americans were allies on both sides

War resulted in an uneasy peace and settlement.

Cost England LOTS of $$$$

Taxes to pay for the war.

England needed to pay for the war debt and believed the colonist should share the bulk of the taxes.

1764 The Currency Act

Prohibited the colonist from making money

1765 The Stamp Act

Passed by Parliament to help pay for the war and to fund the large numbers of British Soldiers guarding the borders.

Colonist angrily react to the act as they had no say in Parliament.

Quartering Act 1765

Required colonies to provide British Troops with housing and certain provisions

Effect: another way for Britain to save $$$

Result: Highly upsets colonist

1770 The Boston Massacre

Tea Act 1773

Britain imposes taxes on imported Tea to the coloniesResult: Boston Tea Party 1773

(upset colonist throw tea overboard into Boston Harbor)

Result?????

1774 The Intolerable Acts

Parliament wants to punish the Colonies for their disobedienceResult: 1) Boston Harbor is closed

2) The Massachusetts Assembly is forbidden to meet

3) Boston is occupied by 4,000 British soldiers

The Quebec Act 1774

Another punishment from England

Limits the area of land in the west that colonist can settle (limits expansion!)

Results of the Intolerable and Quebec Acts:

First Continental Congress meets and decides to boycott British Imports.

Major deplomacy begins to break down by 1774.

1775

British troops leave Boston to disarm nearby towns.

Result: Battles of Lexington and Concord cause 93 Colonist and 272 British Casualties. “The shot heard round the world” Why?…..

Result????

WAR and open Rebellion is declared by 1776.

The War 1776-1784

An unlikely victory.

It is wasn’t for France the colonist would have lost the Rebellion.

You won…now what?????

Look back at 2,000 year history of Democracy

Decide what worked, what did not.

-Enlightenment Thinkers, Greeks, Romans, & British Constitutional History

MAKE A GOVERNMENT

Peace and the formation of a Government

1787 The Constitution is written

1791 The Bill of Rights become part of the Constitution.