AMERICAN REVOLUTION

WHEN

• The American Revolution occured between 1765 and 1783.

WHO

• Colonists of the Thirteen Colonies
• Great Britain

WHY

• Colonists wanted freedom from the British
• British wanted to keep control over the Thirteen Colonies

HOW IT STARTED

• In 1765, colonists began to reject British authority
• They started doing so by rejecting taxes on products like tea

THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

• Occured in 1773
• Colonists dressed as Native Americans and dumped tea into Boston Harbor

LEXINGTON AND CONCORD

• Patriot militia and British soldiers started fighting in 1775 in the Battle of Lexington and Concord

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

• Written by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston
• Approved in 1776

ALLIES

• The Colonists allied with the French, Dutch, and Spanish.

END OF THE FIGHTING

• In 1781 General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington at the Battle of Yorktown

THE TREATY OF PARIS

• A treaty between the colonies and Britain
• Signed in 1783 to officially end the war

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

• The Constitution was ratified in 1788
• The Bill of Rights was approved in 1791
• The colonies were now under their own control

ACTIVITY

• Discuss with your group:
• What would life be like if we were still ruled by England?