Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 - 1 The loss of the…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 35.1: Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 - 1 The loss of the American colonies, 1770–83: Clashes between British forces and rebels, 1775–76; the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation.
From 1775, fighting between British troops and colonial rebels turned political protest into war.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
From 1775, fighting between British troops and colonial rebels turned political protest into war. Lexington and Concord showed that armed conflict had begun, while Bunker Hill demonstrated rebel determination despite British tactical success. In 1776, Thomas Paine's Common Sense helped popularise independence, and the Declaration of Independence set out natural rights and the case for separation. The Articles of Confederation created a loose union of states with a weak central government, reflecting colonial fears of distant authority. Together, these clashes and documents transformed a dispute over taxes into a war for independence and a new political order.
What earns the marks
- Describes key clashes between British forces and rebels in 1775–76, such as Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill.
- Explains how military conflict escalated from political protest to open war.
- Analyses the arguments and significance of the Declaration of Independence.
- Explains the purpose and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation as a framework for union.
- Links military events to political decisions about independence and government.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the Declaration of Independence as the start of the war.
Put it right: Place it in 1776, after fighting had already begun in 1775.
Assuming the Articles of Confederation created a strong central government.
Put it right: Explain that they established a loose union with limited central powers.
Confusing the Declaration of Independence with the Constitution.
Put it right: Distinguish the 1776 declaration from the later constitutional settlement.
Exam tips
- Sequence events clearly: show how clashes in 1775 led to the decision for independence in 1776.
- Use the Declaration and Articles to illustrate changing political ideas, not just as isolated documents.
- Support analysis of military clashes with specific outcomes and their effect on morale or strategy.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 35.1: Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 - 1 The loss of the American colonies, 1770–83: Clashes between British forces and rebels, 1775–76; the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which document, adopted in July 1776, formally declared the American colonies independent from Britain?
Listen
From 1775, fighting between British troops and colonial rebels turned political protest into war. Lexington and Concord showed that armed conflict had begun, while Bunker Hill demonstrated rebel determination despite British tactical success. In 1776, Thomas Paine's Common Sense helped popularise independence, and the Declaration of Independence set out natural rights and the case for separation. The Articles of Confederation created a loose union of states with a weak central government, reflecting colonial fears of distant authority. Together, these clashes and documents transformed a dispute over taxes into a war for independence and a new political order. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Describes key clashes between British forces and rebels in 1775–76, such as Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill. Explains how military conflict escalated from political protest to open war. Analyses the arguments and significance of the Declaration of Independence. Explains the purpose and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation as a framework for union. A common slip: Treating the Declaration of Independence as the start of the war. Instead, place it in 1776, after fighting had already begun in 1775. Exam tip: Sequence events clearly: show how clashes in 1775 led to the decision for independence in 1776.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
War and military conflict
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Independence and political ideas
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Union and government
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Revolutionary escalation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- War and military conflict
- Fighting between British troops and colonial rebels from 1775 turned political protest into war, with clashes such as Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill.
- Independence and political ideas
- Thomas Paine's Common Sense helped popularise independence, and the Declaration of Independence set out natural rights and the case for separation.
- Union and government
- The Articles of Confederation created a loose union of states with a weak central government, reflecting colonial fears of distant authority.
- Revolutionary escalation
- Military conflict escalated from political protest to open war, and clashes and documents transformed a dispute over taxes into a war for independence and a new political order.
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