Colonial Empires and the American Revolution

Chapter 10, Section 4

Colonial Empires in South America• Primarily dominated by

Portugal and Spain– Treaty of Tordesillas– French, Dutch, and British

also own lands in South America

• Multicultural society– Mestizos – Offspring of

Spanish and Native Americans

– Mulattoes – Offspring of Europeans and African slaves

Colonial Empires in South America Cont’d

• Economic boost– Goods from the Americas were

sold across Europe– Gold, silver mines produced

immediate finances• Religious reasoning

– Church built missions, cathedrals, hospitals, schools, and orphanages

• Education– Taught reading, writing, and

arithmetic to Native peoples– Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz fought

for women to be educated

British American Colonies• By 1750, over 1 million

people present in British North American colonies

• Colonies were “run” by Parliament, the Royal Council, and the British Board of Trade, but acted independently

• Britain was responsible for protection of the colonies…even in war– French and Indian War

The American Revolution• Sparked by taxes imposed due to

French and Indian War• First Continental Congress

– Urged colonists to support militias– First shots fired in 1775 in

Lexington and Concord• Second Continental Congress

– Approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776

• Foreign support– French, Spanish, and Dutch enter

the war against the British– War ends in 1781

A New Nation• Articles of Confederation

– America’s first constitution, approved in 1781

– Delegates met in 1787 to revise

• The Constitution– Proposed a federal system,

splitting power between federal and state governments

• The Bill of Rights– First 10 amendments to the

Constitution