CHAPTER 8The American Revolution and

Georgia Statehood

Unit IV Vocabulary Natural Law Popular Sovereignty Articles of Confederation Constitution Bicameral Separation of Powers General Assembly Boycott Checks and Balances Militia Tories Whigs

I. CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTION

Causes of the American Revolution

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR The largest cause of

the American Revolution

The war was extremely expensive

The colonists benefited; so the British thought they should pay.

I. Causes of the American Revolution

TAXES ACT – another name

for a British law. Sugar Act – placed a

tax on all sugar (remember colonists needed sugar to make rum).

Stamp Act – placed a tax on paper products.

Townshend Act – placed a tax on many imported items.

I. Causes of the American Revolution

SMUGGLING AS A RESULT: Colonists began

sneaking items into the country so they did not need to pay the taxes. They also boycotted.

This made the British angry

Tea Act – required colonists to buy all tea from England. This led to the Boston Tea Party.

Navigation Act – all imported items must enter the colonies on British ships.

Quartering Act – colonists are required to give British troops a place to stay and eat.

I. Causes of the American Revolution

Boston Massacre A mob of angry

colonists threatened some British soldiers.

The British soldiers fired upon the colonists and killed several of them.

II. WAR BEGINS

II. War Begins Whigs – Patriots.

Supported war. Tories – Loyalists.

Against the war. Liberty Boys – a group

from Georgia who opposed the Stamp Act. They are an example of Whigs.

Most people in Georgia started out as Tories, but eventually became Whigs.

II. War Begins Important Battles

Lexington and Concord First Battles of the

Revolution.

II. War Begins Battle of Trenton –

The turning point of the War. Showed the colonists that they could win.

II. War Begins Battle of Yorktown

The British surrendered to the colonists and left forever.

The colonists got help from the French, who disliked the British.

II. War BeginsBATTLE OF KETTLE CREEK SIEGE OF SAVANNAH Largest battle fought

in Georgia. Most of the colonists

who fought were from Georgia.

The colonists were victorious.

The British took control of Savannah when the war first started.

The colonists wanted it back, so they attacked the city.

The colonists lost.

II. War Begins Important People To

Know Nancy Hart – lady who

had a group of Tories arrested and executed.

Elijah Clarke – led colonists to victory at Kettle Creek

Austin Dabney – a slave who became free and fought in the Revolution.

III. A NEW GOVERNMENT CREATED

III. A New Government Created Declaration of

Independence Written by Thomas

Jefferson Declared our

independence from England.

Signed by: Lyman Hall Button Gwinnett George Walton

III. A New Government Created Articles of

Confederation A Confederation is

a loose friendship of states.

Created a very weak national government.

Every state is responsible for itself.

III. A New Government Created Georgia Constitution

of 1777 Had separation of

powers. Created a weak

government with a unicameral legislature that really had all the power.

Executive branch had to answer to the legislature.

III. A New Government Created The Constitution of

the United States Some people felt

that the Articles of Confederation created a system that was too weak, so they decided to replace it with the Constitution.

III. A New Government Created Compromises

Great Compromise Large States – wanted

representation in government to be based on population.

Small States – wanted every state to have an equal vote.

Compromise – bicameral legislature. One house is based on population and the other is based on an equal vote.

III. A New Government Created Compromises Cont.

3/5th Compromise Southern States –

wanted to count slaves as part of their population.

Northern States – did not think it was fair because slaves could not vote

Compromise – slaves counted as 3/5th of a person.

III. A New Government Created Compromises Cont.

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise North – wanted to put

an end to slavery and make the South industrialized. They also favored tariffs.

South – felt abolishing slavery would ruin their economy. Opposed tariffs.

Compromise – no tariffs. Slavery can be abolished in 20 years.

III. A New Government Created Compromises Cont.

Bill of Rights Federalists – wanted the

constitution written to create a stronger national government.

Anti-Federalists – thought that a powerful government would be just like England

Compromise – 10 amendments (changes) added to the Constitution to ensure that the government does not become TOO powerful.

III. A New Government Created Georgians sign the

Constitution Abraham Baldwin William Few

Georgia also created a new constitution that was similar to the new US constitution.