The American Revolution began as a result of colonists wanting independence and freedom from British rule. A key event was the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where colonists boarded British ships and threw 342 chests of tea overboard in protest of British taxes. The colonists also boycotted British goods to avoid paying taxes. This led to the Revolutionary War beginning in 1775 and ended with American independence in 1783. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which declared that the 13 colonies were free from British rule.

1. American Revolution
By: Mimi and Jerry

2. Why it Happened
• The American Revolution happened because
the colonists wanted freedom and liberty to
govern their own nation and country.

3. The Boston Tea Party
In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act, which gave Britain’s East
India Company the control on tea. Parliament believed that the
colonists would pay the taxes if the tea was cheaper, but the
colonists decided to boycott tea. Then, ships carrying thousands of
pounds of tea set sail for the colonies. Three ships arrived in Boston
Harbor in November, 1773. On December 16, 1773, about 150
members from the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Mohawk Indians.
They went to Boston Harbor, boarded the ships, and broke open
342 chests of tea and threw it all overboard.

4. Boycotting
To boycott means to refuse to buy
something. The colonists decided to
boycott British goods, especially tea.
The reason was so they didn’t have to
pay the taxes.

5. Quick Facts
• The American Revolutionary War started from April 1775, and
ended September 1783.
• On July 4th, 1776, America declared independence from Great
Britain.
• On September 3, 1783, America and Britain signed the Treaty of
Paris, making peace.
• John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of
Independence.

6. The Declaration of Independence
• Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called, Common Sense, telling the
colonists that they should rule themselves.
• On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, from Virginia, and said that the 13
colonies didn’t owe loyalty to the king anymore.
• They decided to wrote a declaration for independence.
• That included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R.
Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, and Roger Sherman.
• Thomas Jefferson was the main writer of the Declaration of
Independence.
• John Hancock was the first person to sign it.

7. ☺ Thanks For Watching! ☺

8. Citations
http://www.britishbattles.com/american-revolution.htm
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-revolution/3.0
http://www.historyextra.com/feature/american-war-independence-three-films
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http://www.clker.com/clipart-4261.html
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