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The American Colonies. The British built large colonies along the east coast of the N. American continent. Population in 1700- 250,000 1770- 2,150,000 Colonies thrived due to trade with Europe. The American Colonies. The American Colonies.
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TheAmericanColonies • The British built large colonies along the east coast of the N. American continent. • Population in 1700- 250,000 • 1770- 2,150,000 • Colonies thrived due to trade with Europe.
The American Colonies • Mind Set: A new identity formed in the minds of the colonists. • Each colony had its own govt. but they were still ruled by British law. • They didn’t see themselves as British but as Virginians or Pennsylvanians. • Had no representation in the British Parliament. Will lead to resentment
The American Colonies • In 1651, the British Parliament passed the Navigation Act. • This law prevents trade with any other nation other than Britain. • Despite this law, colonists will make huge amounts of $$$.
The French and Indian War • In N. America both the French and British are competing for land and resources. • When: 1754-1763 • Outcome: The war will end in victory for Britain. • Britain will gain control over French territory.
The French and Indian War • This British victory escalated tensions between Britain and the Colonists. • During the war Britain ran up a huge debt and they decided to let the colonies pay for it because they were the beneficiaries.
Americans Win Independence • In 1765 the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. • This is a tax on wills, deeds, and newspapers. • You had to pay for the official royal stamp.
Americans Win Independence • The colonists were outraged with the stamp tax because they felt that it was unlawful due to the fact that they had no representation in Parliament. • The Townshend Act: tax on lead, paint, paper, glass and tea. • Reaction To Taxes : The Boston Tea Party -colonists dumped hundreds of pounds of British tea into Boston Harbor.
Americans Win Independence • Response: Britain formed a blockade in Boston Harbor. • Reaction: Due to the many taxes imposed on the Colonists, they met in Sept. 1774 in Philadelphia to form the First Continental Congress.
Americans Win Independence • On April 19, 1775 gunfire will breakout at Lexington-Concord, Massachusetts. • The Second Continental Congress met and decided to form an army. • They name George Washington the commander of the Army. • Result: War
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Influence of the Enlightenment • In July of 1776 The Second Continental Congress will issue the Declaration of Independence. • Written by Thomas Jefferson • The document is based on the same ideas of John Locke. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
A Miracle ? At first it appeared that the Colonies would be defeated in a hurry. Washington’s forces were poorly trained and lacked the necessary equipment. Though they will win the war and defeat the mightiest army in the world.
Success for the Colonies • In 1781, the French and Colonial troops trapped general Lord Cornwallis near Yorktown, VA. • He surrendered and the colonies received their independence.
Reasons Why We Won • 1. The colonists were defending their homes. • 2. The British generals were overconfident. • 3. The British had to travel 3,000 miles to re-supply. • 4. The French helped us fight Britain.
Americans Create A Republic • After winning the war the colonists realized that they needed a federal govt. • In 1781, all 13 states ratified a Confederation. • This new plan of govt. is known as the Articles of Confederation. • This establishes a republic in which citizens rule through elected representatives.
The Articles of Confederation • This created a weak govt. • This est. no executive or judicial branches only a Congress. • Each state regardless of size had only 1 vote in Congress. • Congress could declare war, enter into treaties and coin money but could not collect taxes or regulate trade.
A New Constitution • In Feb. 1787 Congress approved a Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. • On May 25, 1787- 55 delegates from various states will meet and discuss ways to make the federal govt. better. • They discussed Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.
The Federal System • The Framers were distrustful of a powerful executive so they created three separate branches of govt. • The legislative, executive, and judicial branches. • This division of power will create a system of checks and balances. • Each branch will check the actions of the other two.
The Federal System • The Constitution will also create a federal system. • Where power is divided up between national and state governments.
The Bill of Rights • The Constitution was finished on Sept. 17, 1787. • However, the Constitution still needs to be signed by at least 9 of 13 states. • Two factions developed: • The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
The Bill of Rights • The Federalists will support the Constitution while the Anti-Federalists don’t. • The Anti-Federalist felt that it gave the federal govt. too much power. • To gain the support of the Anti-Federalists, Federalists will add the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights • The Bill of Rights are ten Amendments that protect rights such as freedom of speech, press, assembly and religion. • The Bill of Rights expressed the views of Locke, Voltaire and Rousseau. • The Constitution and the Bill of Rights will put the views of the Enlightenment into practice.
