Key Events leading to Revolution
Historical & Religious
Inspiration for war
Efforts to support war
Turning points
100

Explain how Britain’s victory in the French and Indian War created war debt 

and ended salutary neglect, 

leading to tighter imperial control.

Damages to land, property, crops, livestock, infrastructure , individual lives, etc.

Caused debt for repairs and restructures 

Salutary neglect is to overlook and ignore rules and laws 

King placed stricter rules and regulations 

100

Describe how ideas from Ancient Greece and the Roman Republic shaped the concept of citizen participation and self government 

Magna Carta

Social Contract - agreement between citizens and the government.

Government is to protect the citizens

Citizens can replace their government 

No one is above the law 

100

Explain the meaning of “taxation without representation is tyranny” and how it reflected colonial demands for political voice

King George 111 placed unfair tax on colonies without allowing them the opportunity to agree or disagree with the tax. 

Tyranny - cruel and oppressive government or rule

Democracy - people run their government NOT a king.

100

Explain how individuals and groups like the Minutemen,  Committee of Correspondence and Sons of Liberty helped spread resistance 

Minutemen - Part time soldiers who were ready at a minutes notice 

Committee of Correspondence - political organizations of Patriots 

Sons of Liberty- a secret colonial political organization that protested King George 111

100

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of both sides of the war

Patriots - knew the geography, French allies, lacked supplies, ammunition, shoes, clothing and men. Not properly trained as soldiers 

Loyalists- best military in the world, had lots of weapons, ammunition, supplies and men. Trained military 

200

Describe how British actions angered colonists and led to protests

British repeatedly placed laws and acts on colonies. 

No taxation without representation 

King George 111 ignored the colonies request to stop 

200

Identify how the Magna Carta limited royal power and established the idea that rulers must obey laws

Magna Carta is a charter that stated that EVERYONE has to follow the rules of law. Not even a king is above the law

200

Summarize the main argument in John Dickerson’s Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania about taxation and representation.

Olive Branch Petition 

Olive branch is a symbol of peace and forgiveness 

Expressed loyalty to king

Beg King George 111 to stop violence and tax

200

Describe how leaders such as Samuel Adam’s, John Hancock and Paul Revere organized boycotts , protest's  and communication between colonies 

The leaders would organized boycotts by having private meetings, made news letters, traveled to different colonies 

200

Describe the causes and outcomes of the Battle of Lexington and Concord (1775) as the start of armed resistance 

Causes - British troops marched to Concord to seize colonial military supplies, hoping to stop a rebellion 

Outcome- King George 111 realized that unjust behavior would not be tolerated and showing the colonists would fight back to earn their independence 

300

Explain how organized resistance groups like the Sons of Liberty used boycotts and petitions to challenge British authority 

The Sons of Liberty were angry men that refused to pay tax, grew angry at the tax collectors.

Tar and feather tax collectors 

Burned homes and offices of tax collectors 

Dumped tea into the Boston harbor 

300

Describe how the Great Awakening encouraged equality, personal freedom and questioning of authority 

Religious movement that scared people to live a religious lifestyle 

Taught that all people were equal in the eyes of GOD.

People should make moral choices without permission from a minister or king

300

Analyze the message of Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” and how it encouraged resistance.

Patrick Henry was saying that he want to live a life of freedom.

He would risk dying and fighting Britain than to be a slave 


Other colonists agreed and agreed to fight for freedom 

300

Analyze how colonial cooperation and communication networks strengthened unity before the war

Leaders like Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine and other Patriots would write inspirational speeches to motivate people 

Persuasive Rhetoric pamphlets used emotions to inspire people to want a Democracy 
300

Analyze how early battles like Bunker Hill revealed both the challenges and determination of the Patriots

Showed tha the colonists were serious about quote, “ give me liberty or give me death”

Patriots realized it would be difficult to win but they had to fight for independence 

400

Analyze how the Townsend Acts and the arrival of British troops in Boston increased tensions and led to violence like the Boston Massacre

Townshend Acts were created by Charles Townshend

Placed tax on imports of glass, lead, paper, tea to the colonies from Great Britain 

400

Explain how the Enlightenment promoted reasoning, natural rights, and the belief that government power comes from the people. 


Natural rights are life, liberty and property that are given freely from GOD.

Leading to a Social Contract between citizens and government.

DEMOCRACY 

400

Explain how Thomas Paine’s Common Sense convinced colonists to support independence 

He said King George 111 loved them, he wouldn’t try to kill them.

Said GOD made them free and they didn’t need a king to control their lives.

They want to be FREE and INDEPENDENT 

400

Explain “ Unalienable rights “ of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness 

Unalienable rights- rights that cannot be taken away because they are from GOD and not the government 

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness - right to live freely, to make decisions for themselves and to pursue happiness in their own way.


400

Interpret the ideas of “ Consent of the governed” as the source of legitimate government power 

All rules, laws and regulations should be agreed upon by the people 

People chose their government and they must follow rules made by the people 

500

Explain how events like the Tea Acts, Boston Tea Party and Coercive (Intolerable) Acts united the colonies against Britain.

These acts caused colonies to work together to solve the problems they were having with King George 111

“Join or Die,” Benjamin Franklin

500

Explain how the Judeo-Christian tradition and English rule of law influenced beliefs about morality, equality, and justice in government .

Judeo-Christian believe that GOD created ALL men equal. 

No man should enslave another man

Treat people as you want to be treated

500

Interpret the key ideas of the Declaration of Independence…

All men are created equal 

GOD made all men and they are all born equally free and with the same rights.

Regardless of race, religion, income status, job occupation 

500

Compare and contrast Patriots and Loyalist beliefs about government, loyalty and rebellion 

Patriots - loyal to America , wore blue


Loyalists - loyal to a king or monarchy , wore red

500

Explain the significance of the Declaration of Independence as both a statement of values and the colonies’ formal break from Britain 

Declaration of Independence gave the colonists their independence from Britain.

The people will make and live by their own rules and not obey rules of a king, tyrant or lawless ruler

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