La Independencia de Estados Unidos en 11 minutos

The American Revolution

Key Concepts:

• Thirteen Colonies
• Declaration of Independence
• Seven Years' War
• "No taxation without representation"
• Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts
• Sons of Liberty
• Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party
• First and Second Continental Congress
• George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin
• French Revolution
• Emancipatory process of Latin America

1. Background and Founding of the Thirteen Colonies:

• In 1776, the thirteen colonies located on the east coast of North America sought independence from England.
• They declared the creation of a new republic with the Declaration of Independence.
• The thirteen colonies were founded by the British Empire between the 16th and 17th centuries: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

2. Triggers of the Revolution: The Seven Years' War and British Policies:

• The main trigger was the measures imposed by the British crown after the Seven Years' War (a series of international conflicts for colonial control between France and Britain).
• Britain won the war but incurred significant debt, leading to increased taxes on the colonies.
• The British parliamentary system, though liberal for its time, still imposed policies that the colonists viewed as abusive.

3. "No Taxation Without Representation":

• The colonists protested against taxes imposed without their representation in the British Parliament.
• The Bill of Rights prohibited the collection of taxes without parliamentary consent.

4. Specific Tax Laws and Acts:

• Prime Minister George Grenville increased taxes to cover war debt and maintain troops in the colonies.
• Sugar Act (1764): Tax law imposed on the colonies.
• Stamp Act (1765): Tax law imposed on the colonies.
• Townshend Acts (1767): Aimed to collect revenue through colonial imports and disassociate North American soldiers from local authorities. Allowed troops to search homes on suspicion of crimes.
• These policies hindered the commercial activities of the North American oligarchy.

5. The Sons of Liberty and Social Conflicts:

• The Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock, defended the rights of the colonists against British abuse.
• Boston Massacre (1770): British soldiers fired on a protesting crowd, killing five Americans. Samuel Adams claimed this event triggered the desire for independence.
• King George III eliminated most customs taxes, except for a reduced tax on tea.

6. The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party:

• Tea Act (1773): Granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea trade by exempting them from customs taxes.
• Boston Tea Party (1773): Members of the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Indians, dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.

7. The Intolerable Acts and the Continental Congresses:

• Intolerable Acts (1774): British government's response to the Boston Tea Party, limiting the powers of colonial authorities and creating a state of exception.
• First Continental Congress: Representatives from the colonies met in Philadelphia to demand the right to manage their internal affairs without British interference.
• The colonists were divided; some wanted independence, while others sought greater autonomy within the British Empire.

8. The Outbreak of War and the Declaration of Independence:

• Boycotts of British goods began.
• 1775: War broke out in Lexington and Concord.
• Second Continental Congress: Addressed military issues and organized an army. George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief.
• July 4, 1776: The Declaration of Independence was approved in Philadelphia, drafted by Thomas Jefferson with contributions from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

9. The War and Turning Points:

• After leaving Boston, British commander William Howe aimed to divide the enemy forces in New York.
• The North Americans adopted guerrilla warfare tactics.
• Victory in Saratoga: A turning point that secured external support from France (Lafayette) and Spain (Bernardo de Gálvez).

10. Independence and the Constitution:

• 1783: Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America.
• 1787: The Philadelphia Convention established a federal presidential government with a bicameral legislative system, a president, and a judicial power.
• The Constitution of the United States was drafted and ratified.
• 1789: George Washington was elected the first president.

11. Consequences of the American Revolution:

• French Revolution: The Enlightenment and the example of the USA served as an ideological springboard for the revolution in France.
• Emancipatory process of Latin America: The independence of the USA and the subsequent French Revolution influenced the elites of South America.
• 1808: The French invasion of Spain led to the deposition of Ferdinand VII.
• José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar led the independence cause of the Spanish colonies overseas.

12. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The American Revolution was triggered by British policies following the Seven Years' War, leading to colonial resistance fueled by the principle of "no taxation without representation." Key events like the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre escalated tensions, culminating in the Declaration of Independence and a protracted war. The American victory, aided by France and Spain, resulted in the establishment of a new nation and inspired revolutionary movements in France and Latin America.