Declaration of Independence Background Immigrants came to America in order to obtain freedoms denied them in Europe Salutary Neglect British policy of avoiding the strict enforcement of parliamentary laws meant to keep the American colonies obedient to England Intolerable Acts Boston Port Act Closed port of Boston until the East India Company was paid for the lost tea Direct result of the Boston Tea Party Massachusetts Government Act Take away the state s ability to govern themselves Administration of Justice British criminals can be tried in England The Quartering Act Soldiers could be housed in private homes or dormitories if there were not enough barracks The Quebec Act Colonial land given to the providence of Quebec Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence Penned by Thomas Jefferson Signed July 4 1776 Grievances Refused to assent to laws o Vetoed laws colonies tried to put in place o Britain governed without the consent of the governed King neglected to pass certain laws that the colonies were trying to get approved King refused to give equal representation in the government King called legislative meetings in distant and uncomfortable places to fatigue representatives into compliance The American Revolution 1775 1783 3rd longest war in American history The continental army was initially unorganized undisciplined poorly equipped and poorly trained How Were the Americans Able to Win the War 1 Overseas warfare It was difficult for the British to wage war because of the Atlantic Ocean that separated Britain from the American colonies 2 Asymmetrical warfare Fought between two powers when one side has significantly more resources such as weapons in attempt to exploit the weaknesses of the stronger power by any means necessary to offset the disadvantages of the weaker power 3 The British were too cautious 4 The British found themselves simultaneously at war with America France Spain and the 5 British were never able to win the hearts and minds of rebels loyalists or those who 6 Assistance of the French Rochambeau landed and fortified Rhode Island Marquis 7 The British were never able to attack the center of the American force because there Netherlands remained neutral de Lafeyette wasn t one 8 Continental Army was able to win key battles 9 National Debt for Britain 10 Divine Intervention Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris Representatives of King George III and representatives of the American colonies signed a treaty that ended the Revolutionary War or the American Revolution Signed September 3 1783 Provisions Britain recognized the U S A as independent Consequences The U S gained its independence American Political Ideology 1 Distrust in Government 2 Dislike of Politics 3 Government should refrain from interfering with private property 4 Preference of local government over national government Central Government 1 No power to tax 2 No law enforcement Shay s Rebellion 1786 1787 Shay s Rebellion A series of protests led by American farmers against local and state government regarding tax collections and debt settlements Lead by David Shay in 1786 he gathered a group of farmers small business owners etc The state militia was able to put down the rebellion quickly The real revolution was within state government