Academic U.S. & Virginia History Name: ______

Mr. Briscoe & Mr. Null Block: ______

CLASS NOTES #9: The American Revolution (______- ______)

Major Causes of the Conflict:

English colonists objected to:

1.  British ______(e.g., Sugar Act, Townshend Duties)

2.  ______(e.g., Stamp Act)

3.  threats to ______(e.g., the Coercive Acts)

4. limits on ______(e.g., Proclamation of 1763, Quebec Act)

5. being treated as “second rate” (e.g., referred to as “colonials”)

Enlightenment Influence:

John Locke’s political philosophy of ______, with its focus on

______and the ______, influenced England’s Glorious Revolution (1688) and resonated with colonists who demanded their rights “as Englishmen.”

The ______of 1735 demonstrated that colonists were already aware of their rights and willing to defend them - in this case, …

______and ______

Americans (like Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson) embraced Enlightenment ideals of progress, humanitarianism, and rationalism.

Two Views of the Conflict:

______= ______view

______= ______view

The Colonial Dilemma:

The ______(April 1775) started the Revolutionary War, but not all colonial leaders were prepared to declare independence, despite Patrick Henry’s cry of “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

The ______mobilized for war by appointing

______to command the Continental Army (May 1775).

The Congress also prepared the ______to seek a negotiated resolution of the crisis …

Britain formally declared the colonies to be in a “state of rebellion” in August 1775.

American Independence:

______and Patriots in Congress pushed for a declaration of independence by June 1776; the motion was introduced by Richard Henry Lee (yes, those Lees) of Virginia.

______of Pennsylvania led conservatives who feared a break with Britain would be disastrous for the colonies. Congress adopted Lee’s resolution on July 2.

The Political Revolution:

______called on the states to replace their colonial charters with constitutions.

State constitutions almost universally sought to limit ______:

*______*______

*______* ______

______led the committee assigned to draft the first national

constitution – proposed the ______in 1777; ratified in 1781.

The Military Revolution:

After forcing the British to evacuate ______in March 1776; the Continental Army failed to stop the British occupation of New York (1776) and Philadelphia (1777).

The ______(October 1777) marked the turning point of the war – France responded by allying with the U.S. in 1778 (Ben Franklin negotiated the treaties).

The British surrender at ______(October 1781) marked the effective end of British efforts to subdue the colonies; the French navy made this victory possible.

Peace of Paris (______):

The second Treaty of Paris in twenty years awarded the United States:

  1. ______
  1. the territory of ______, including the fertile ______

The U.S. pledged to repay Loyalists for damages suffered during the war.