Post on 13-Dec-2015
Events leading to the American Revolution
“I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense”
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense,1776
Thomas Paine
Tension Mounts
• March, 1770• Boston Massacre
• December, 1773• Boston Tea Party
• April, 1775• War begins• George Washington
• Commander - Continental Army
George Washington
Independence declared
• 1776• Second Continental
Congress• Voted to declare
independence from Britain
• Thomas Jefferson• Principal author of the
document− Reflects the ideas of John Locke− Adopted July 4,
1776 Thomas Jefferson
Phases of the French Revolution
• 1789-1791: National Assembly• 1792-1793: Constitutional
monarchy
• 1793-1794: Reign of Terror• 1795-1799: Directory
National Assembly (1789-1791)
• Third Estate• About 27 million people
• 98 percent of population
• Resented the privileges of nobility• Tennis Court Oath
Reign of Terror 1793-1794
• Shrewd lawyer and politician
• Nicknamed “the incorruptible”
• Influenced by Rousseau’s ideas
Robespierre
The Directory (1795-1799)
• New constitution• Five-man Directory• Two-house legislature
• Elected by male property owners
• Dictatorial• Failed to solve pressing problems
Latin America Independence
“We have achieved our independence at the expense of everything else.”
Simon Bolivar