Then, because they were not satisfied with church ordinances, they were driven by Archbishop Laud to seek religious freedom across the sea. Review with all students the four key principles and the definitions. . Americans felt they deserved all the rights of Englishmen. When history looks beyond the immediate cause of the American Revolution for the justifying principles, it is very soon brought back to the spirit of English liberty. Hint: There could be more than one. This activity will help students determine their overall understanding of module concepts. Then, complete theVideo Reflection - Declaration of Independence worksheet. How were the principles for which Otis took a stand protected in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights? When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The great struggle that they passed through must make such a duty seem insignificant. How Did the American Revolution Influence the French Revolution. The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British Parliament. For fun, you can do this with the Preamble as well. A look through letters from the period, now held in the archives of the U.K.s Nottingham University, shows that British people were divided about the outbreak of war with what was then their colonyover how bad it was, whose fault it was and what to do about it. But it was so only in name. Their distance from Great Britain naturally created a sense of independence that was hard to overcome. What were the major causes of the American Revolution? In this activity, you will apply social contract theory to your home, classroom, or club. The real object of resistance was to gain security from Parliamentary encroachments. Why Was the American Revolution So Revolutionary? That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving . In the minds of colonists, they were a matter of local concern. Even though the British believed in mercantilism, Prime Minister Robert Walpole espoused a view of "salutary neglect." Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Historian Robert M. Calhoon estimated that only about 40-45% of the free population supported the revolution, while about 15-20% of the free white males remained loyal. It was a struggle for the retention of those great institutions that check oppression and violence. Additionally, Frances involvement in the American Revolution, along with extravagant spending practices by King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, left the country on the verge of bankruptcy. Be prepared to discuss your answers in a group and to ask your teacher any remaining questions. This activity would be highly effective as a Harkness discussion. Judges, courts, sheriffs were made almost the puppets of the King. Read theInfo Brief: Declaration of Independence and the Preamble before watching the following video, and be on the lookout for the key terms as you watch. Work in groups to review the information sheets on the following Ancient and Enlightenment Thinkers, who are from the classical world and the European Enlightenment, and whose ideas helped shape the American Revolution. Walpole believed this enhanced freedom would stimulate commerce. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Identify any areas that are unclear to you or where you would like further explanation. As to peoples opinion here of Great Britains disputes with America, he wrote, the well meaning all agree no doubt that it is a most unhappy business for both countries and probably will prove a mortal blow to the liberties of the people of England., He warned that the influence of certain ambassadors might lead the Dutch to take advantage of Britains loss, and prevent this country from acting a part most consistent and honourable to themselves, as well as beneficial to the liberties of Europe. Intolerable Acts. From these thinkers, the founders gleaned such new political concepts as the social contract, limited government, the consent of the governed, and theseparation of powers. Such an honorable antiquity of political ideas has made the race very conservative of self-government. But there is another side where the requirement of the state runs over into tyranny. For most of that time the heroes of the American Revolution were the cherished heroes of our nation. Identify key principles of the American Revolution in significant sources from the era. Reasons for the difficulty in maintaining an adequate Continental force included the colonists traditional antipathy toward regular armies, the objections of farmers to being away from their fields, the competition of the states with the Continental Congress to keep men in the militia, and the wretched and uncertain pay in a period of inflation. Published: April 5, 2022. Oppressive levels of taxation have fomented other rebellions, but not this one. Revolutionary leaders established new countries that only sometimes lived up to promises of democratic rule. Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle under Lyne, giving news of the capture of Fort Washington by Gen. Howe, who drove the rebel forces from Manhattan, though at great cost. "The Root Causes of the American Revolution." That revolt had little to do with tax rates. The Earl of Chatham knew that the government of George III, in whose ears was ringing the admonition of his mother to be King, was undermining the constitution of Great Britain and bringing the state back to the form of monarchy that had existed in the time of the Stuarts and the Tudors. Read over the definitions of the four key principles. One of the most common ways that women supported the war effort was by making homespun, home-made cloth that took on revolutionary symbolism after the colonies imposed . Each looking to expand their territory across numerous continents, both nations suffered mass casualties and racked up copious amounts of debt in . Some, though, blamed the British government for what was happening, and willed their leaders to give up and abandon the war with the Americans. In other words, no one is above the law. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. The American Revolutionalso called the U.S. War of Independencewas the insurrection fought between 1775 and 1783 through which 13 of Great Britain's North American colonies threw off British rule to establish the sovereign United States of America, founded with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Seven Years War (1756-1763) Although the Seven Years War was a multinational conflict, the main belligerents were the British and French Empires. The Currency Act prohibited the printing of money in the colonies, making businesses rely more on the crippled British economy. Brudenell wrote from London, to H.F.C. And during the next four hundred years, too, this spirit was not dormant, but came to the surface on three great occasionsthe confirmation of the Magna Carta by Edward I, the Petition of Right to Charles I, and the Revolution that drove James II from his throne. Congratulations for completing the activities in this module! ThoughtCo, Apr. This is a Who Am I? activity with other groups, so everyone gets to meet all of the thinkers listed. As a final activity, have a full group discussion, using the worksheet as a support tool to discuss where each of the key principles are in their lives today. Others were unemployed persons from the urban slums. How the American Revolution Spurred Independence Movements - History After you complete the readings, identify information that helps explain the factors that caused the American Revolution by answering the following questions: Share your answers with your peers and discuss as a group how these principles are in your lives today (or are lacking).