New York State Test Prep Social Studies 5 (Grade 4) The Revolutionary War in New York State

The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris, France on September 3, 1783. This ended the American Revolutionary War, and gave the colonies their independence from Great Britain. The 13 states were now free to join together and become the United States of America. They could now form their own government and make their own laws. This freedom was the most important effect of the American Revolution. New ideas like those expressed in the Declaration of Independence were now allowed to spread and grow in the new country. If the revolution had not taken place, we might still be under British rule today.

The British gave America all of the land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River, from Canada to the north and Florida to the south. The land east of the Mississippi River, between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes was known as the Northwest Territory. The English had taken this land from the French during the French and Indian War. The British had not allowed the colonists to move west over the Appalachian Mountains into this territory. They had "reserved" it for the Indian Nations. This land would now be open for settlement.

After the war, the British Army and Navy agreed to leave all American territories. England had controlled trade in the colonies. They had forced the colonists to trade only with England and buy only English goods. They had placed heavy taxes on products from other countries. The United States was now able to trade freely with other countries of the world.

The colonies had always been ruled by British nobility. The newly formed United States of America would need to set up a new national government. The citizens of the new country did not want the national government to be so large and powerful that it became like the English Parliament with a ruling king. They did not want a government that would impose high taxes like England had done before the revolution. New York, like the other 12 colonies, had called itself a state for two years before the end of the revolution. They did not want to give up the power to make their own decisions. The new government would be weak however, unless the states were willing to compromise.

Definitions

Treaty of Paris: an agreement signed by Great Britain and the American colonies that ended the Revolutionary War and gave the colonies their freedom

independence: freedom

government: the organization that makes and carries out a community's laws, settles disputes, and protects the community

Declaration of Independence: a document explaining why the colonists were breaking away from England

revolution: a complete and often violent change in government

nobility: kings, queens, princes, etc.

national: belonging to the country

Parliament: the lawmaking body of Great Britain

compromise: an agreement in which both sides must give up part of what they want

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