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27. Explain the root of the American Revolution and fight for Independence.

The root of the American Revolution: Philosophy of the Age of Reason: John Locke: he claimed that there are natural rights which are necessary for human existence, like life, liberty, property

Those rights were there even before kings and other monarchs. It is the natural law that endows the king with power

The king’s force does not secure the law. King is a subject for a possible criticism. government is a social contract: if government does not fulfill its duties people can challenge and change it

The natural right to property was the base for American colonies

Colonies were expanding and growing in wealth but England treated them as second-class citizens: they had no representatives in the Parliament

Colonies used the ideas of Locke (life, liberty, property => quoted in Declaration of Independence) and provided examples of kind not fulfilling his duties

Colonies used the ideas of Locke (life, liberty, property => quoted in Declaration of Independence) and provided examples of kind not fulfilling his duties

Fight for the Independence: American colonies were settled by the English with permission of the king

The king knew that the colonies were making profits. Trading companies had to pay to the crown in order to get monopoly and then could make money by transporting the goods to the colonies

Most colonies had a governor (English custom). As long as the trade worked the right way, London didn’t have to interfere with the American issues

Britain conducted wars on the American continent in order to expand the territory of colonies and demanded that colonies cover the costs of defence and administration

1765 – Stamp Act was introduced: all printed materials were required to have stamps

770 – Boston Massacre: big crowd gathered around the group of British soldiers. Soldiers fired into the crowd, 11 people hit

This event became propaganda for against Britain. 1773 – Boston Tea Party: men dressed as Native Americans dumped tea into the water

British closed the Boston port and sent more troops. 1777 – First Continental Congress in Philadelphia: B. Franklin, G. Washington, John Adams, Th. Jefferson, R. Sherman. Petition sent to London listing all the problems

They hoped that everything will be solved. Colonies were divided 50/50 in breaking from England → two camps

two camps: Patriots vs. Loyalists. 4th of July 1776 Declaration of Independence – it was courageous to break from England because there were also other countries which could attack them

But France, Spain and Netherlands joined colonies in war against Britain. 1781 – Yorktown – final victory

1783 – Treaty of Paris: London accepts the independence of colonies.