8th Grade STAAR Blitz Day Two Lesson

8th Grade Social Studies STAAR® Blitz

DAY 1

Exploration

and

Colonization

DAY 2

American
Revolution

DAY 3

Constitution

Part I

DAY 4

Constitution

Part II

DAY 5

Early

Republic and

Age of
Jackson

DAY 6

Industrial
Revolution

DAY 7

Westward
Expansion

DAY 8

Reform

DAY 9

Sectionalism

DAY 10

Civil War

and

Reconstructio

n

American Revolution

Causes of the American Revolution

• The Proclamation of 1763 restricted

colonists from moving west of the
Appalachian Mountains

• After the French and Indian War,

the British were in debt and began
taxing the colonists

• The colonists were unhappy since

they lacked the ability to elect
members of Parliament and
believed in consent of the governed

Turn and Talk

Why were the colonists mad about paying

off the French and Indian War debts?

Tensions Rise in the Colonies

• Angered by the Stamp Act, colonists

responded to taxes by boycotting
British goods

• To protest the Tea Act, Sam Adams and

the Sons of Liberty dumped British tea
into Boston Harbor; by protesting
peacefully, colonists were participating
in civil disobedience

• King George III responded by passing

the Intolerable Acts which closed
Boston Harbor and required colonists
to quarter British soldiers in their
homes

• After the first fighting occurred at

Lexington and Concord, George
Washington was named commander in
chief of the Continental Army

Turn and Talk

Why were colonists angered by the

Intolerable Acts?

Declaring Independence

• Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin,

and John Adams helped write the
Declaration of Independence

• The document listed grievances

against King George III and stated the
colonies were now their own country

• According to the Declaration of

Independence, people are born with
unalienable rights that cannot be
taken away without due process

• Those unalienable rights include life,

liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Turn and Talk

What does life, liberty, and the pursuit

of happiness mean?

The Revolutionary War

• The Battle of Saratoga was the turning

point of the war because it led to
France becoming an ally of America

• The harsh winter at Valley Forge caused

nearly 2,000 deaths due to disease and
starvation

• John Paul Jones led the fight at sea by

sneaking through blockades and
destroying British ships

• Yorktown was the last major battle,

which resulted in the surrender of the
British

Turn and Talk

What was one significant event of the

American Revolution?

Results of the American Revolution

• The Treaty of Paris 1783 officially

ended the American Revolution

• Britain agreed to recognize that

the 13 Colonies were free and
their own country, the United
States of America

• America’s borders were now the

Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi
River

Spain

France

Turn and Talk

How do you think most American’s felt
after winning the American Revolution?