By reducing the tax on imported British tea, this act gave British merchants an unfair advantage in selling their tea in America. American colonists condemned the act, and many planned to boycott the tea. Bo o s s t t o o n n T T e e a a P P a a r r t t y y, , 1 17 77 73 3 B

When British tea ships arrived in Boston harbour, many citizens wanted the tea sent back to England without paying any taxes. However the royal governor insisted that all taxes had to be paid. On December 16 ^th ,a group of men disguised as Indians boarded the ships and dumped all the tea into the harbour.

As a punishment, Parliament enacted a string of laws that colonials quickly dubbed the “ I I n nt t o o l le e r r a a b b l le e A Ac c t t s s ” ” “

One of the new laws closed Boston to sea trade until the people paid for the destroyed tea. Another of the Intolerable Acts took away the right of Massachusetts to govern itself and placed the colony under the rule of the British army .For many Americans this was the final insult. The anger was at its greatest in Massachusetts. Its people were an especially independent lot and had always fiercely opposed the British laws. War with the mother country no longer seemed just a possibility but almost a certainty. However, though angry, many Americans did not want a complete break with Britain and the birth of a new nation. In response to the Acts, delegates from the colonies met in Philadelphia in 1774 for what became known as the First Continental Congress. They discussed their complaints and then issued a Declaration of Colonial Rights and Grievances. In it, they held that the right to levy taxes belonged to them and petitioned the king to correct the wrongs being done to the colonies. The Declaration was politely worded because the delegates, despite their anger, were still loyal to their mother country. The king ignored their plea.

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British troops began to fortify Boston, and seized ammunition belonging to the colony of Massachusetts. Thousands of American militiamen were ready to resist, but no fighting occurred. Massachusetts created a Provincial Congress, and a special Committee of Safety to decide when the militia should be called into action. Special groups of militia, known as Minute Men, were organised to be ready for instant action.

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British troops planned to destroy American ammunition at Concord. When the Boston Committee of Safety learned of this plan, it sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to alert the countryside and gather the Minute Men. On April 19, Minute Men and British troops met at Lexington, where a shot from a stray British gun lead to more British firing. The Americans only fired a few shots; several Americans were killed. The British marched on to Concord and destroyed some ammunition, but soon found the countryside swarming with militia. At the end of the day, many were dead on both sides. On June 10, John Adams proposed that Congress consider the forces in Boston a Continental army, and suggested the need for a general. He recommended George Washington for the position. Congress began to raise men from other colonies to join the army in New England, and named a committee to draft military rules. On June 15, Washington was nominated to lead the army; he accepted the next day. To pay for the army, Congress issued bills of credit, and the twelve colonies represented in the Congress promised to share in repaying the bills.

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Acting as an independent government, Congress appointed commissioners to create peace treaties with the Indians.

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Congress began to plan for aggressive action against British ships stocked with ammunition. It authorized the building of four armed ships and began to formulate rules for a navy. Soon after, Congress authorized privateering and issued rules for dealing with enemy vessels and plunder.

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When a congressional committee began to investigate the possibiltiy of foreign aid in the war against Great Britain, France expressed interest (later also the Netherlands and Spain).

C o o n ng gr r e e s s s s d d e e c c l la a r r e e s s I I n nd d e e p p e e n nd d e e n nc c e e , , J J u ul ly y 4 4, , 1 17 77 76 6 C

When North Carolina and Virginia empowered their delegates to vote for American independence, Virginian Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution stating that the colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” A committee was appointed to draft a declaration of independence, and Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write it. On July 2, Congress voted in favour of independence, and on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was approvaled

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organising its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Translation: Folgende Wahrheiten erachten wir als selbstverständlich: dass alle Menschen gleich geschaffen sind; dass sie von ihrem Schöpfer mit gewissen unveräußerlichen Rechten ausgestattet sind; dass dazu Leben, Freiheit und das Streben nach Glück gehören; dass zur Sicherung dieser Rechte Regierungen unter den Menschen eingesetzt sind, die ihre rechtmäßige Macht aus der Zustimmung der Regierten herleiten; dass, wenn immer irgendeine Regierungsform sich als diesen Zielen abträglich erweist, es das Recht des Volkes ist, sie zu ändern oder abzuschaffen und eine neue Regierung ein zusetzen und diese auf solchen Grundsätzen aufzubauen und ihre Gewalten in der Form zu organisieren, wie es ihm zur Gewährleistung seiner Sicherheit und seines Glückes geboten zu sein scheint.

Am me e r r i ic c a a h ha a s s a a f f l la a g g, , 1 17 77 77 7 A

On June 14, Congress declared that the flag of the United States would consist of thirteen alternating red and white stripes, and a blue field with thirteen white stars (representing the 13 colonies like Georgia, North and South Carolina, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut)

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Many in Congress were unhappy with Washingon´s leadership; some murmured the name of General Horatio Gates as a possible replacement. Thomas Conway the army’s inspector general, wrote a critical letter to Gates about Washington, leading many to believe there was an organised effort to replace Washington. Conway resigned from the army, and eventually apologised to Washington.

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When Richard Henry Lee made a motion for independence (1776), he also proposed a formal plan of union among the states. After a discussion lasting more than a year, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by Congress, although the states did not ratify the Articles until 1871.

F r r a a n nc c e e a a n nd d A Am me e r r i ic c a a b b e e c c o o m me e A Al ll li ie e s s , , 1 17 77 78 8 F

France would be obligated to fight for American independence; and America would be obligated to stand by France if war should occur between France and Great Britain. Within four months, France and Great Britain were at war. France and America formed an alliance, negotiated by Benjamin Franklin.

T h he e B Br r i it t i is s h h A At t t t e e m mp p t t t t o o m ma a k ke e p p e e a a c c e e T

Threatened by the alliance between France and America, Parliament proposed the repeal of the Tea Act and Coercive Acts, and sent peace commissioners to America. However, most Americans were interested only in British recognition of American independence. When a British commissioner tried to bribe congressmen Joseph Reed, Robert Morris, and Francis Dana, Americans became even less interested in reconciliation. Competing for support from the American people, both Congress and the desperate commissioners appealed directly to them with broadsides, but the British commissioners soon returned to Great Britain, their mission a failure. S p p a a i in n j jo o i in ns s t t h he e W W a a r r 1 17 77 79 9 S

Spain asked Britain for Gibraltar as a reward for joining the war on the British side. When Britain refused, Spain joined France in its war against Britain, although refusing to recognise American independence.

T h he e B Br r i it t i is s h h t t a a k ke e C C h ha a r r l le e s s t t o o n n, , S S o o u ut t h h C C a a r r o o l li in na a , , 1 17 78 80 0 T

After a brief fight, the British took Charleston, capturing 5400 men and four American ships in the harbour. It was the worst American defeat of the war.

T h he e t t r r e e a a s s o o n n o o f f B Be e n ne e d d i ic c t t A Ar r n no o l ld d T

An American general betray America

American General Benedict Arnold, frustrated and ambitious began dealing with British General Sir Henry Clinton. After he was promised the command at West Point by General Washington, Arnold told Clinton that he would give the strategic American fortification to the British. But when British Major John Andr, acting as messenger, was captured, Arnold fled to a British ship, revealing his involvement in the treasonous plan. Andr, was executed as a spy, and Arnold was made a brigadier general in the British army.

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American finances were in such dire straits that Congress saw the need for a separate department of finance. Robert Morris was appointed superintendent of finance.

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Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.

British, French and American commissioners met in Paris to discuss peace. The United States sent Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. By November, the commissioners had drafted a peace treaty. Its terms called for Great Britain to recognise American independence and provide for the evacuation of all British troops. Great Britain also gave up its territory between the Mississippi River and the Allegheny Mountains, doubling the size of the new nation.

C o o n ng gr r e e s s s s r r a a t t i if f i ie e s s t t h he e p p r r e e l li im mi in na a r r y y a a r r t t i ic c l le e s s o o f f p p e e a a c c e e , , 1 17 78 83 3 C

After Spain, France and Britain successfully came to terms, the treaty between France, Britain and America was put into effect, and warfare formally ceased. Congress ratified the Articles of Peace on April 15.

T h he e V Vi ir r g gi in ni ia a S S t t a a t t u ut t e e f f o o r r R R e e l li ig gi io o u us s F F r r e e e e d d o o m m, , 1 17 78 86 6 T

The Virginia House of Burgesses passed a statute, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1779 and sponsored by James Madison, declaring that no person should be discriminated against because of religious belief, or compelled to join or support any church. This statute helped shape the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

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Edmund Randolph proposed the “Virginia Plan”, drafted by James Madison - a plan that recommended an entirely new form of government, including an executive, a judiciary and a legislature composed of two houses and including a number of representatives from each state based on their population.

G e e o o r r g ge e W W a a s s h hi in ng gt t o o n n F F i ir r s s t t P P r r e e s s i id d e e n nt t 1 17 78 89 9- - 1 17 79 97 7 G

Fast Fact: George Washington’s integrity set a pattern for all the other Presidents to follow A tall planter from the State of Virginia, Washington commanded the Continental Army throughout the war, though two of his generals - Charles Lee and Horatio Gates - tried to overturn him and take his place. Both failed in their attempts. Washington went on to become the nation`s first president. Prior to assuming the presidency, he played an influential role in the 1787 Philadelphia convention that developed the United States Constitution. T H HO O M MA AS S J J E EF F F F E ER R S S O O N N T

It was to Jefferson that the principal task of writing the Declaration of Independence fell ( Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and John Adams did also writing). He served as governor of Virginia during the war. He later became the nation’s first secretary of state and its third president. His final years were devoted to founding the University of Virginia. He designed its buildings and supervised its construction.

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An American revolutionary soldier, born in Maldon, England. He supported the colonial cause at the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775 and was appointed adjutant general in the regular army. In 1777 Gates became commander of the Northern Department.Then he was involved in the Conway Cabal, an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the command from General George Washington. Gates retired to his farm, but he was recalled by Congress and given command of the Army of the South. His forces were disastrously defeated by Charles Cornwallis. So he was replaced by General Nathanael Greene.

T h he e C C o o n ns s t t i it t u ut t i io o n n o o f f t t h he e U Un ni it t e e d d S S t t a a t t e e s s o o f f A Am me e r r i ic c a a T

There are seven original Articles of 1789 for example:

Article I

That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. Article V

That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separated and distinct from the judicature;... Article XII

That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

Bill of Rights

The conventions of a number of the states having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressing a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added. Amendment 1 No Religious establishment; Freedom of speech, of the press; Right to petition Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.