Founding of AmericaFounding of America

Unit 2Unit 2

Ms. RybakMs. Rybak

Founding of America

Map of Colonies

Timeline

The American Colonial Period

Settlement of America

Colonial Political

Experience

The American Revolution

The European Tradition

Causes of the Revolution

Timeline

Map of war

Saratoga

Valley Forge Trenton

Lexington and Concord

Yorktown

Cowpens

Vincennes

Ft. Ticonderoga

English establish Jamestown colony - 1607

Pilgrims establish Plymouth colony - 1620

A Bill of Rights is created in England - 1689

French and Indian War starts - 1754

Lexington and Concord - 1775

Declaration of Independence - 1776

British surrender - 1781

Articles of Confederation approved - 1781

American Colonial PeriodAmerican Colonial Period

►Settling AmericaSettling America The Native AmericansThe Native Americans

►Relations with European Settlers: Relations with European Settlers: Relations with European settlers Relations with European settlers

varied from place to place – varied from place to place – sometimes coexisting and sometimes sometimes coexisting and sometimes in conflict. in conflict.

Differing cultural values led to many Differing cultural values led to many conflicts.conflicts.

The Native Americans (cont.)The Native Americans (cont.)►TradeTrade

European settlers depended on trade with European settlers depended on trade with Native peoples for survival initially.Native peoples for survival initially.

Some native tribes, such as the Iroquois, Some native tribes, such as the Iroquois, came to dominate areas of trade with the came to dominate areas of trade with the Europeans.Europeans.

►AlliancesAlliances Various alliances between native people and Various alliances between native people and

European powers existed, failed, and European powers existed, failed, and became created again and again over time.became created again and again over time.

►Iroquois alliances helped them dominate the fur Iroquois alliances helped them dominate the fur trade in the North Easttrade in the North East

►The Powhatan Confederacy influenced the initial The Powhatan Confederacy influenced the initial survival of the Jamestown Colonysurvival of the Jamestown Colony

The Native Americans (cont.)The Native Americans (cont.)►WarfareWarfare

Early fighting lessoned the threat of the Early fighting lessoned the threat of the Powhatan Confederacy in the Virginia area.Powhatan Confederacy in the Virginia area.

King Philip’s War: New England tribes fought King Philip’s War: New England tribes fought against growing European expansionagainst growing European expansion

French and Indian War: French and Indian War: ►Between France and England (French and Native Between France and England (French and Native

Americans vs. English colonies)Americans vs. English colonies)►In Europe (called the Seven Years War there) and In Europe (called the Seven Years War there) and

AmericaAmerica►Fought for control of the Ohio River Valley area Fought for control of the Ohio River Valley area

mostly.mostly.

American Colonial PeriodAmerican Colonial Period

►Settling AmericaSettling America AfricansAfricans

►Free Blacks:Free Blacks: Early Africans were considered Early Africans were considered

“indentured servants” – freed when “indentured servants” – freed when their contract endedtheir contract ended

Africans (cont.)Africans (cont.)

►Enslaved Blacks:Enslaved Blacks:

Large plantation farms in the south Large plantation farms in the south required many workersrequired many workers

Africans were brought to work on these Africans were brought to work on these farms as enslaved workersfarms as enslaved workers

Smaller farms and a more diverse Smaller farms and a more diverse economy required less slaves in the economy required less slaves in the northern coloniesnorthern colonies

American Colonial PeriodAmerican Colonial Period

►Settling AmericaSettling America The EuropeansThe Europeans

►Many different Europeans cultures were Many different Europeans cultures were represented in the coloniesrepresented in the colonies

►The English dominated though, and came to The English dominated though, and came to influence the development of the 13 different influence the development of the 13 different colonies the most of any of the European colonies the most of any of the European peoples.peoples.

►They came for religious, economic, and They came for religious, economic, and political reasons.political reasons.

The Colonial Political The Colonial Political ExperienceExperience

►Experiments of DemocracyExperiments of Democracy

Mayflower Compact:Mayflower Compact:►1620 – Pilgrims signed contract before landing 1620 – Pilgrims signed contract before landing

at Plymouth to consent to be governed by a at Plymouth to consent to be governed by a body that they created themselvesbody that they created themselves

►This established the precedent of self-This established the precedent of self-government in the Colonies.government in the Colonies.

Experiments in Democracy Experiments in Democracy (cont.)(cont.)

►Virginia House of Burgesses:Virginia House of Burgesses: Prototype for colonial legislative bodies – Prototype for colonial legislative bodies –

based on the two-house system similar to based on the two-house system similar to the English Parliamentthe English Parliament

This further established the tradition of This further established the tradition of republican government in Americarepublican government in America

►Northeast Town Meetings:Northeast Town Meetings: In New England, the “Town” was the In New England, the “Town” was the

center of local government.center of local government. Citizens would hold “town meetings” and Citizens would hold “town meetings” and

vote directly on law.vote directly on law.

Experiments in Democracy Experiments in Democracy (cont.)(cont.)

► Albany Plan of UnionAlbany Plan of Union

Representatives from the colonies gathered to Representatives from the colonies gathered to create a common “union” governmental body.create a common “union” governmental body.

Initially designed to help protect the colonies Initially designed to help protect the colonies against the French.against the French.

Was a plan to share governmental responsibilities Was a plan to share governmental responsibilities between the colonies on a central level.between the colonies on a central level.

Was rejected by the colonies because they feared Was rejected by the colonies because they feared losing local control.losing local control.

Became a model for later centralized Became a model for later centralized governmental ideas such as the US Constitution.governmental ideas such as the US Constitution.

Experiments in Democracy Experiments in Democracy (cont.)(cont.)

► John Peter Zenger – Freedom of the John Peter Zenger – Freedom of the PressPress

Zenger was arrested for accusing the Zenger was arrested for accusing the governor of NY of doing things he wasn’t governor of NY of doing things he wasn’t supposed to be doing.supposed to be doing.

His lawyer argued that it wasn’t a crime, if His lawyer argued that it wasn’t a crime, if what he printed was accurate.what he printed was accurate.

The jury freed Zenger – establishing the case The jury freed Zenger – establishing the case of freedom of the press.of freedom of the press.

The American RevolutionThe American Revolution

►European Democratic Traditions European Democratic Traditions

Much of what later became part of the Much of what later became part of the American experience of democracy came American experience of democracy came from ideas and events that took place in from ideas and events that took place in Europe before and during the American Europe before and during the American Colonial Period.Colonial Period.

The American Revolution The American Revolution (cont.)(cont.)

►Events:Events: Magna CartaMagna Carta

►Document signed in 1215: Limited the powers Document signed in 1215: Limited the powers of the monarchy for the first timeof the monarchy for the first time

English Bill of RightsEnglish Bill of Rights►Late 1600’s – England – established Late 1600’s – England – established

representative government in England and the representative government in England and the idea that the “rule of law” was more important idea that the “rule of law” was more important than the powers of a monarch.than the powers of a monarch.

The American RevolutionThe American Revolution►Enlightenment Connection:Enlightenment Connection:

John Locke John Locke ►People have certain rights (life – liberty – People have certain rights (life – liberty –

property).property).►If the government fails to protect people’s If the government fails to protect people’s

rights – people can overthrow the government.rights – people can overthrow the government. Barron de MontesquieuBarron de Montesquieu

►Separation of powers was a good idea Separation of powers was a good idea (legislative – judicial – executive).(legislative – judicial – executive).

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau►““Social Contract” – people can choose their Social Contract” – people can choose their

government – but must agree to follow its rulesgovernment – but must agree to follow its rules►The idea that the “majority rules”The idea that the “majority rules”

Causes of the Revolutionary Causes of the Revolutionary WarWar

► Mercantilism:Mercantilism: The idea that colonies exist to support the The idea that colonies exist to support the

economy of the “Mother Country”economy of the “Mother Country” The colonies were used to provide raw materials The colonies were used to provide raw materials

and markets for English goodsand markets for English goods

► Salutary Neglect:Salutary Neglect: The British government did not pay much The British government did not pay much

attention to the day-to-day political activities of attention to the day-to-day political activities of the colonists, allowing them to rule themselves the colonists, allowing them to rule themselves as they saw fitas they saw fit

Was seen as both a negative (the British didn’t Was seen as both a negative (the British didn’t care about them) and a positive (the Colonists care about them) and a positive (the Colonists learned how to do things on their own.learned how to do things on their own.

Causes of the Revolutionary War Causes of the Revolutionary War (cont.)(cont.)

►Proclamation of 1763:Proclamation of 1763: British rule that prohibited colonists from British rule that prohibited colonists from

moving west into lands won from France moving west into lands won from France after the French and Indian Warafter the French and Indian War

►Taxation Issues:Taxation Issues: Several new taxes caused increasing Several new taxes caused increasing

resentment in the coloniesresentment in the colonies

British ActBritish Act Colonial ResponseColonial ResponseSugar Act: Tax on imported Sugar Act: Tax on imported sugarsugar

Smuggling, reduced Smuggling, reduced consumptionconsumption

Stamp Act: tax on all written Stamp Act: tax on all written documents, newspapers, documents, newspapers, letters, legal papers, playing letters, legal papers, playing cardscards

Boycott of all products, Boycott of all products, Stamp Stamp Act CongressAct Congress

Townsend Act: Variety of taxes Townsend Act: Variety of taxes (lead, glass, tea). Provides for (lead, glass, tea). Provides for the first search warrants the first search warrants against colonists.against colonists.

Continued boycott of productsContinued boycott of products

Tea Act: Tax on non-British Tea Tea Act: Tax on non-British Tea – gave a monopoly to the – gave a monopoly to the British East India Company for British East India Company for sale of tea in coloniessale of tea in colonies

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts: Response to Intolerable Acts: Response to Boston Tea Party – closure of Boston Tea Party – closure of Boston Harbor, Suspension of Boston Harbor, Suspension of self-government (Town self-government (Town Meetings). Also called the Meetings). Also called the Coercive ActsCoercive Acts

Continued protests, prelude to Continued protests, prelude to warwar

Causes of the Revolutionary War Causes of the Revolutionary War (cont.)(cont.)

► Natural Rights:Natural Rights: The basic tenants of the Enlightenment caused The basic tenants of the Enlightenment caused

the colonists to eventually decide to make a the colonists to eventually decide to make a political break from Great Britainpolitical break from Great Britain

►Common Sense:Common Sense: Written by Thomas PaineWritten by Thomas Paine Appealed to rational thoughtAppealed to rational thought Propaganda for action by the common man Propaganda for action by the common man

in the coloniesin the colonies Increase support for the fight for Increase support for the fight for

independenceindependence

Natural Rights (cont.)Natural Rights (cont.)► Declaration of Independence:Declaration of Independence:

Delegates from all colonies met in Philadelphia in Delegates from all colonies met in Philadelphia in June, 1776June, 1776

This document stated the colonies’ intention to This document stated the colonies’ intention to declare their independence from Britain, and declare their independence from Britain, and then gave the reasons why they did sothen gave the reasons why they did so

Agreed to by the representatives on the 4Agreed to by the representatives on the 4thth of of July – marking the beginning of the United States July – marking the beginning of the United States of Americaof America

Written by Thomas JeffersonWritten by Thomas Jefferson Most of the document was based on the ideas of Most of the document was based on the ideas of

the Enlightenment (natural rights, consent of the the Enlightenment (natural rights, consent of the governed, etc.)governed, etc.)

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

► In what ways was the make-up of the In what ways was the make-up of the colonies in American significantly colonies in American significantly different from the culture in Great different from the culture in Great Britain?Britain?

► In what ways did aspects of European In what ways did aspects of European culture contribute to a desire by culture contribute to a desire by colonists to claim their independence?colonists to claim their independence?

►What part of the colonial experience in What part of the colonial experience in America helped colonists feel confident America helped colonists feel confident in both their ability and right to declare in both their ability and right to declare their independence from Great Britain?their independence from Great Britain?