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Year 10 - History

The War of Independence

Britain: Migration, empires and the people - c790 to the present day

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about a theme in British history over a period of roughly 1000 years. They examine this theme, analysing the impact it had in Medieval, Early Modern, Industrial and Modern Britain, with a particular focus on change and continuity.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to recall that the American Revolution happened as a result of resistance against control by the British government.

Key Notes

  • Americans were growing angry at having to pay taxes without having representation in Parliament.
  • The 1773 Boston Tea Party, when protestors dumped tea into the harbour, sparked revolution.
  • In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was produced that set out the American Constitution.
  • The British were defeated at Yorktown in 1781 and lost all 13 colonies in America.
  • The American Revolution led to radical ideas which were influential in the French Revolution.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Patriots: the group that supported America during the American Revolution
  • independence: being able to do things for yourself and make your own decisions
  • Loyalists: the group that supported Britain during the American Revolution
  • constitution: a set of rules and law relating to the government of a country

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The Americans won the War of Independence because they had a better army.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Americans were growing angry at having to pay taxes without having representation in Parliament. The 1773 Boston Tea Party, when protestors dumped tea into the harbour, sparked revolution.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Patriots'

the group that supported America during the American Revolution.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: The Americans won the War of Independence because they had a better army. Correction: For much of the war, the American army was a poorly trained militia. Whilst they fought bravely and Washington proved to be an able general, they received significant support from France and Spain which swung the balance of the conflict.

More Lessons In This Unit

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