Now we are going to discuss about sslc social science chapter 1,focus area topic,American war of independence
From the sixteenth century onwards the Europeans began to migrate to North America. The major aim of the migration was to exploit the resources. By the eighteenth century,established 13 colonies in America
The British treated the American colonies as centers for collecting raw materials for their industry and as market for selling their products. This policy implemented by the British merchants with the help of their motherland in the American colonies, is known as Mercantilism.
Mercantilist Laws
- The goods to and from the colonies must be carried only in British ships or ships built in the British colonies
- Products of the colonies like sugar, wool, cotton, tobacco, etc. could only be exported to England.
- British stamp must be affixed on all the legal documents, newspapers,
pamphlets, license, etc - Colonies must provide food and quarters for the British troops which were maintained in the colonies
- Import tax must be paid for the import of tea, glass, paper, etc
Boston Tea Party.
The high tax levied by the British government on tea fired up strong protest in America. On 16 December 1773, a group of people disguised as the Red Indians, boarded the ships at night in the Boston Harbour and threw 342 chests of tea into the sea. This protest is known as the Boston Tea Party.
The delegates of all the colonies except Georgia met at Philadelphia
in 1774 to protest against the policies and rules imposed by England. It is known as the First Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress held at Philadelphia in 1775 elected George Washington as the commander-inchief of the Continental Army
The A m e r i c a n C o n t i n e n t a l Congress issued the famous Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776. The declaration was prepared by Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin
The war between England and the colonies in North America that began with the Declaration of Freedom, ended in 1781. According to the Treaty of Paris in 1783, England ratified the freedom of thirteen colonies. The Constitution Convention held at Philadelphia under the leadership of James Madison, framed the American Constitution. George Washington became the first president of the United States of America, formed in accordance with the new constitution
The American War of Independence influenced the later history of the world
- Gave direction and motivation to the later freedom struggles and revolutions all over the world
- Put forward the concept of republican form of government
- Prepared the first written constitution.
- Contributed to the concept of federal system that ensured freedom and authority of states in the union
1.How did the American War of Independence aggravate the financial crisis in France?(1mark)
The financial and military assistance given to American colonies by the French rulers aggravated the financial crisis in France.
2.How did the ideas of John Locke and Thomas Paine contribute to the American War of independence ?(Marks -2)
- John Locke – Everyone has some fundamental rights. No government has the right to suspend them.
- Thomas Paine -There is something absurd, in supposing a continent (North America) be perpetually governed by a foreign power (England).
- Their ideas stimulated the American people to fight against Britain.
3.“The American war of independence has influenced the history of the world”. Evaluate the statement(Marks -4)
- stimulated the later struggles and revolutions in the world.
- Republican form of government
- written constitution
- concept of Federal system
4. Arrange the following in Chronological order(Marks-4)
a. American Declaration of Independence
b. Treaty of Paris
c. First Continental Congress d.End of the war between England and the
American colonies
c. First Continental Congress
a. American Declaration of Independence d. End of the war between England and the American colonies
b. Treaty of Paris
Qn.
5. Explain the situation that prompted the American people to raise the slogan ‘No Taxation Without Representation’. (1 mark question)
- America was a colony of Britain
- Mercantalist Laws –
