Why Independence? — CAUSE
What country controlled the 13 colonies?
Britain
What does independence mean?
Freedom from another country's control.
After declaring independence, who did the colonies have to fight?
Britain
What document created a plan for the United States government?
Constitution
Make this sentence more specific:
“They controlled the them.”
Britain controlled the 13 colonies.
Name one thing Britain controlled in the colonies.
Laws, trade, or taxes
What does declaration mean?
An official statement or announcement.
Did Britain immediately accept American independence? Why?
No, the colonies gave them money
What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
Preamble
Make this sentence more specific:
“The colonists were mad about the rules.”
Colonists were angry that Britain controlled their laws, trade, and taxes.
What is one way colonists resisted British control?
Protest, boycott, organize, Boston Tea Party, etc.
What was the Declaration of Independence?
A document declaring that the colonies wanted to separate/be independent from Britain.
When did the U.S. declare their freedom
July 4, 1776
What are the first three words of the Constitution?
We the people
Make this sentence more specific:
“They wrote it because they wanted freedom.”
The colonists wrote the Declaration of Independence because they wanted independence from Britain.
How did Britain respond after the Boston Tea Party?
Britain punished Boston/the colonies and increased control.
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What eventually happened to the colonies after the war ended?
They gained their independence becoming their own country
What is one job of the Constitution?
It explains how the U.S. government works / sets up the government / explains rights of "we the people"
Make this sentence more specific:
“The paper told them what they wanted.”
The Declaration of Independence told Britain that the colonies wanted to become independent.
Why did the relationship between Britain and the colonies eventually lead some colonists to want independence?
Britain continued controlling/punishing the colonies, and colonists wanted more control over their own government/laws
The Declaration was written for who (3)
King George III of Britain
Colonists
Other Countries
After becoming independent, what new problem did Americans have to solve?
They had to decide how to govern/run their own country.
The Constitution begins “We the People.” Did everyone in the new country have equal political rights and power? Give an example.
No. Examples could include enslaved Black people, women, Native Americans, etc.
Make this sentence more specific:
“After that, they had to figure out what to do.”
After the United States became independent, Americans had to figure out how to govern their new country.