TheThe AmericanAmerican ColoniesColonies

• 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 ColoniesThe American Colonies

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 WarThe 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 WarThe 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:The Townshend Act: tax on lead, paint, paper, glass and tea.

• Reaction To Taxes : The Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party -colonists dumped hundreds of pounds of British tea into Boston Harbor.

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

Americans Win IndependenceAmericans 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

LexingtonLexington--ConcordConcord

Lexington-Concord

Influence of the EnlightenmentInfluence 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 ?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 ColoniesSuccess for the Colonies

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 WonReasons 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 RepublicAmericans 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 ConfederationThe 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 ConstitutionA 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 The Federal SystemSystem

• 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 SystemThe Federal System

• The Constitution will also create a federal system.

• Where power is divided up between national and state governments.

The Bill of RightsThe 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 RightsThe 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 RightsThe 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.