1. Seeds of Revolution
 Stamp Act
 Affected ALL the colonists
 Tax on all printed documents (newspapers, pamphlets, etc.)
 The colonists were upset that Parliament was taxing them and
because they could not vote for members of Parliament. Their
chant became “No taxation without representation!”
 Boston Massacre: Citizens fired upon by British
soldiers. Five Boston citizens were killed.
 Boston Tea Party-Citizens react by for throwing British
tea into the Harbor worth 10,000 English pounds = 1
million US dollars today. They receive harsh
punishment from England.
Result: The First Continental Congress meets. 12 of the
13 colonies attended this meeting. They met to figure
out how to help Boston.

2. The Revolution Begins
 Loyalists vs. Patriots
 Lexington and Concord (April 1775) –
first shots fired in the American
Revolution against British.
 Second Continental Congress meets.
They will lead the country during the
American Revolution.
 George Washington was named
Commander of the Continental
Army.

3. Declaration of Independence
 Declare all have Unalienable rights
 Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
 Wrote list of grievances (complaints)
against King George III
 Thomas Jefferson = primary author
 Adopted on July 4, 1776

4. THE WAR!
 Battle of Saratoga (1778)
 Turning point, French come
in on side of Americans
 Battle of Yorktown (1781)
 Victory for the Americans,
British General Cornwallis
surrenders his army of
8,000 and is defeated.
 Treaty of Paris, 1783
 Ends war, America gains
its independence.

5. The Articles of Confederation
1781-1787
• First law of the U.S.
• Provisions of Articles:
1.No chief executive
2.No national court system
3.Gov’t could not tax on a national level
• States held power. Weak Central Government.

6. Constitutional Convention
• 1787 - Philadelphia
• Purpose was to
REVISE Articles of
Confederation
• George Washington
presided
• James Madison
proposed a new
document called….

7. WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A
“MEETING TO REVISE & AMEND”
THE ARTICLES OF CONF.

11. PA- HOST
DELEGATE
OLDEST AT
AGE 81

14. “FATHER OF THE
CONSTITUTION”

17. • Limited government
• Republicanism
• Checks and balances
• Federalism
• Separation of powers
• Popular sovereignty
• Individual rights
Principles of the Constitution

18. Limited
Government
The ruler
(president) is
subject to
the law.
Came from the Magna Carta (1215).

19. Republicanism
Form of government where
people are ruled through
elected officials.

20. Checks and Balances
Each branch of
government
monitors and limits
the power of the
other two.
An example is the
President vetoes a
law passed by
Congress.

21. The Feds
The
States
Federalism-Federal government
has more power than the states. They can enforce laws on

22. Separation of Powers
The division of power between the three branches.

23. Popular Sovereignty
The people choose!

24. Individual Rights
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Press
Freedom of
Religion
Freedom to
Assemble/Petition

25. Do you understand why the
Constitution is important?
You have 5 minutes to explain
“If one of these principals was left out
of the Constitution, which would’ve had
the greatest impact on our country and
why?”

26. Bill of Rights
• First ten amendments
• Answers the grievances of
the Declaration of
Independence
BILL
OF
RIGHTS

27. Bill of Rights
• 1 – Freedom of religion, speech, press and
right to petition and assemble
• 2 - Right to bear arms
• 3 – No Quartering troops

28. Bill of Rights
• 4 – No illegal searches and seizure
• 5 – Rights of the accused
• 6 – Right to a speedy, public trial
• 7 – Trial by jury in civil cases
• 8 – No cruel or unusual punishment

29. 1789 George Washington becomes
President