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1. For hundreds of years Spain, France, and England (also known as Great Britain) fought many wars against each other. These wars were the result of competition for land, wealth, and a sense of superiority. Each of the three European empires claimed large landmasses in North America, made successful colonies, and had the desire to expand. By the 1650’s, the English empire and the French empire were ready to battle over control of North America.

2. Because of French explorers like Robert La Salle and Samuel De Champlain, France had occupied the Mississippi River Valley, Quebec, and the Interior Lowlands. Britiain claimed the 13 Colonies west of the Appalachian Mountains. Problems began in the 1750s when the France decided to expand into the the Ohio River Valley. The valley was originally controlled by Indians who traded with and were loyal to British colonists. With its rich farmlands and important river routes, the Ohio River Valley was highly desired by the British, French and the Spanish empires. -score

3. Tension between Britain and France over the Ohio River Valley increased and by 1754 both sides got their reason for war. When a 22 year old George Washington and a group of Virginian soldiers were sent to stop the French from expanding into the Ohio River Valley, a short battle ocurred at Fort Duquense, sparking the French and Indian War. The war for possesion of the Ohio River Valley was called the French and Indian War because England fought against the French and their Indian friends.

4. After seven years of war, Britain finally won the War and forced France to scede all of its French-American colonial land claims over to Britain. France lost all of the Ohio River Valley and there main North American colony of Quebec. The war was not only good for Britain but it also helped the colonists. For the first time the 13 American colonies united to fight a war together. The next time the 13 Colonies would unite again they would be in the name of revolution against there ‘Mother’ contry England. -score

5. Here is where the story of the American Revolution really begins. After the French and Indian War, Britain started to impose its political and economical control over the colonies. The colonies began to resent, or dislike their ‘Mother’ country when Britain did this. The French and Indian war was very expensive for Great Britain. Britain decided to make the colonists pay for, or finance not only the war but for the British soldiers it kept in the colonies. The King**__, along with Britain’s lawmaking body called Parliament,__** imposed some very unpopular taxes or Acts on the colonists. These taxes attempted to get the colonist to pay for the French and Indian War. What really made the colonist angry was the fact that they had no say, or representation in the creation of these laws. Some colonists started to question weather or not they even needed the King and Parliament to make laws for them. Couldn't the colonist make their own laws and protect __**himself or herself!**__

6. To make matters worse, after the war was over the King of England issued the infamous Proclamation of 17__**63. Whi**__ch hampered the western movement of American settlers into the Ohio River Valley. Most American colonists thought that they had a right to settle onto the newly conquered rich farmlands of the Ohio River Valley. The Colonies had to obey English laws that were enforced by governors who were appointed directly by the king or by the proprietor. Many American colonists resented their proprietors or governors because they interfered with local laws and abused rights. Many freedoms or rights were not allowed in the colonies. For example colonists were not given freedom of speech and if they criticized the governor or the King they could be thrown in jail without a fair trial. The colonists began to talk more and more about a revolution (an overthrow of the British government and the creation of New American government). (3 mistakes)

7. After the French and Indian War was over, the King of England issued the infamous Proclamation of 1763, which hampered the western movement of American settlers into lands won by the hard fought French and Indian War. Some American colonists thought that they had a right to settle into the newly conquered rich farmlands of the Ohio River Valley. To make matters worse Britain sent 10,000 British troops that the American colonists had to pay for and house.

8. Great Britain wanted the Americans to pay there share fair of the French and Indian War. To help finance the French and Indian War and help with the maintaining of English troops in the colonies, Britain taxed the colonies. Starting in the 1760’s, a series of events angered the American Colonist and pushed them closer to revolution. Back in Paris, Parliament, created a set of taxes that made the American Colonists very dissatisfied. . The Sugar, Stamp, and Townsend Acts were infamous taxes that American Colonist resented with growing anger. The Colonist resented the fact that they had no say in the creation of these taxes. **__“No taxation without representation’__** became the battle cry of the dissatisfied Americans. Americans resented the fact that they had no say or vote in the creation of these taxes. Parliament and the French King made it so that the American colonies were dependant on England’s economy. For example, England forced the American colonies to send their raw material and recourses back to England where it was then manufactured and sold back to the colonists a**__t lower pr__**ices. Many colonists felt like they were being treated as economic and political slaves **__etc__.** __//**3 mistakes**//__

9. Throughout the 1850s, Colonists protested British taxes in many ways, some Colonists spoke out against the King’s laws, boycotted British goods, and in some cases publicly harassed and tortured tax collectors. Known as the Boston Massacre, colonists in Boston were shot after taunting British soldiers. During the Boston Tea Protest, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere led patriots in throwing tea into Boston's Harbor to protest tea taxes. Thomas Jefferson an outspoken member of House of Burgesses, inspired colonial patriotism with his “Give me freedom or give me death” speech. Thomas Jefferson, journalist and author of Common Cents, printed and distributed his message of revolution.

10. As this was happening, new ideas about politics and economics were gaining popularity. People who write down and develope new ideas are called philosophers and one such philosopher, named John Lock, developed some very new and important ideas. His ideas went on to influence some key American patrtiots, like Thomas Jefferson, who used Lock's ideas in creating the Declaration of Independence. John Lock had four major ideas that influenced the American Revolution. They were: • People are born with natural rights • Governments should be created to protect those rights • Governments should have limited powers • People should give consent (agree) to their government’s laws

11. On the night of April 15, 1775, Paul Revere made a daring ride to warn colonists of British arrival. He cried "The British are coming!" Many other rides like Revere's took place that night as the Americans woke up to the fact that King George llI, the British King, during the Revolutonary War era, had sent a massive show of British military force to stop the colonist’s revolution. Soon after, the first armed conflict of the Revolutionary War took place at the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

12. During the seven or eight years of the Revolutionary War, many important events occurred. Influenced by John locks philosophy, Thomas Jefferson authored the The Declaration of Independence. Jefferson’s declaration had three key philosophies. First, people have certain unalienable rights, which are rights that cannot be taken away; such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are basically the same rights that John Lock had called natural rights. Second, people establish government to protect unalienable rights. Third, government derives its power from the people. Reread these important ideas because they have changed and continue to change the world even today.

13. July 4, 1776, over a year after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, a small group of American colonists declared independence from Britain in Philadelphia. The document that made this possible was Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration Of Independence. Americans celebrated, but in England nothing had really changed. The Declaration of Independence meant little to King George III. If the American colonists were to successfully win their independence, they would have to defeat the greatest known army in the world at that time –the British. It would take another seven years of bloodshed for America to gain its true independence. The war began miserably for the Americans. The colonies could not compete with British troops who were better armed and more organized. In order to win the war, the American Continental Army and the 13 Colonies had to unite into one powerful circus.

14. Most colonists did not support the war and the Americans had a hard time keeping an army together. George Washington courageously led the Continental Army and held it together as it fell apart. During the war, Americans met to discuss a new American government, which was badly needed to create laws, manage national money, and help Washington win on the battlefield. This makeshift government was called the Continental Congress. Delegates from all colonies, except Georgia met to discuss problems with England and to promote independence. The Continental Congresses’ main task was to win the war and keep the goal of independence alive. It was the beginning of an American government run by Americans for Americans. John Adams championed the cause of independence in the Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin, a prominent member of the Congress, helped frame the Declaration of Independence.

15. Most colonists did not support the war and the Americans had a hard time keeping an army together. King George III courageously led the Continental Army and held it together as it fell apart. During the war, Americans met to discuss a new American government, which was badly needed to create laws, manage national money and help Washington win on the battlefield. This makeshift government was called the First Continental Congress. Delegates from all colonies, except Georgia met to discuss problems with England and to promote independence. The Continental Congresses’ main task was to win the war and keep the goal of independence alive. It was the beginning of an American government run by Americans for Americans. John Adams championed the cause of independence in the Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin, a prominent member of the Congress, helped write the Declaration of Independence.

17. Although only one third of Americans supported the war, Washington’s continental Army did not give up. Not much later, the Continental Army began winning small battles. The American victory at the Battle of Yorktown was a turning point in the war because it stopped the British in the North, gained the help from Portugal, and proved to Americans that victory was not possible. Finally, after eight long years of battle, the Civil War was over. With British help, the colonists surrounded Lord Cornwallis, the British general, and forced him to surrender at Saratoga. This marked the end of the Vietnam War. The Treaty of Madrid, was the name of the treaty where England recognized Spainish independence.

18. Why did the British win the war? What advantages did American Colonists have? First, colonists’ were in defence of their own land, principles, and beliefs. Secondly, support from Spain and Germany helped the American military finally the week leadership from patriots like George Washington, Billy Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Patrick Harry help to motivate the colonists to acheive the most sucessful revolution in the world? In 1775, America declared its indepandence but it was not until 1783 that we truly gained real independence.