The American Revolution: From Colony to Nation (1775-1783)

The War of Independence & The Birth of a Nation (1775-1783)

Causes of the War of Independence

• The French & Indian War
• Colonial self-sufficiency
• Taxation without representation, including:
  • The Stamp Act (1765): Imposed taxes to raise colonial revenue.
  • The Townshend Acts: Imposed internal taxes.

Key Events Leading to War

• The Boston Massacre (1770)
• The Boston Tea Party (1773)
• The Intolerable Acts (1774): Closed Boston Harbor as an example of English attempts to isolate the colonies from each other.

Major Events During the War

• 1774 - The First Continental Congress: Representatives of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to improve relations with England. The effort failed.
• April 1775 - The Battles of Lexington and Concord: Fighting broke out in Massachusetts between British troops and colonial Minutemen.
• Late 1775 - The Second Continental Congress:
  • Representatives from the 13 colonies attended, including Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania), Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry (Virginia).
  • Some delegates opposed war with England, while others asserted their rights.
  • George Washington was chosen to command the colonial troops.

The Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776, while the war was still ongoing, representatives of the colonies in Congress signed The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America.

The Stars and Stripes Flag

In 1777, Betsy Ross presented the original flag with its stars and stripes:

• 13 stars and 13 stripes, representing the 13 states.

Key Battles and Alliances

• Many battles were fought, including Ticonderoga, Bunker Hill, Princeton, and Saratoga. Initially, the colonial army proved no match for the well-armed British troops.
• The British controlled New York City and Philadelphia, while the colonists controlled the rest of the country.
• In 1778, the French agreed to support the colonists, later joined by Spain and Holland.

Outcomes of the War

• 1781: The fighting ended with the surrender of English forces at Yorktown, Virginia.
• 1781: The Articles of Confederation were drafted by the Continental Congress to govern the new nation, giving little power to the central government and much to the states.
• 1783 - The Treaty of Paris: England officially recognized the independence of the United States. The country's territory extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River (east to west) and from Maine to Florida (north to south).
• 1787: The Constitution was drawn up in Philadelphia by representatives of each state, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin.

Forging a New Nation

The Constitution, known as The Law of the Land, established the powers of the federal and state governments and defined the three branches of government:

• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial

Key Milestones in Nation-Building

• 1789: George Washington was elected the first President.
• 1791: The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments) was adopted, and the First Bank of the United States opened.
• 1792: Construction of the White House and the Capitol building began.
• 1800: Washington, D.C. became the national capital.