English Colonies to American Independence “No Taxation without representation”

The American Revolution

Focus Question:

•What important ideas and major events led to the American Revolution?

•How did the ideas of the Enlightenment contribute to the colonist desire to rebel against King George?

Non- English European Colonies

• Spain:•Mexico, Central America, and South America•Western US Present day Texas, New Mexico, California• Florida• They established “presidios” or forts within Mission Communities

• French• Canada Nova Scotia and St. Lawrence River• Fishing and Fur trading• 1690’s established Louisiana along the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico

English Colonies• Roanoke Colony • Sir Walter Raleigh• Becomes the Lost Colony

• Jamestown 1607• In Virginia founded by the Virginia Company and led by John Smith.• First permanent settlement in the North America• Survived by growing Tobacco as a “cash crop”• The House Of Burgesses• First Legislature in the New World• Partnered with the Royal Governor to govern the

colony.

New England Colonies• The Puritans 1620• “Model Moral (Religious) Communities”• The Mayflower Compact• Provided the framework for colonial “Self-

government”

• Comprised of Four separate colonies by 1700.•Massachusetts• Rhode Island• Connecticut•New Hampshire

Middle and Southern Colonies• New York• Maryland• New Jersey• Delaware• Pennsylvania• Virginia• North Carolina• South Carolina• Georgia

• Middle Colonies focused on Religious Freedoms and toleration

• Southern Colonies focused on Agriculture and Cattle Farms• Because of Agriculture, the Slave Trade grew exponentially.

Democratic English Ideals• Magna Carta•King John in 1215•Protected the rights of the people to own private property and guaranteed the right to trial by jury.

• The English Bill Of Rights•William & Mary 1688•A list of guaranteed freedoms from the government.•Required Parliament to meet regularly on behalf of the people.•Finally the Monarch (King and/or Queen) couldn’t raise taxes or build and army without Parliament approval.

The Enlightenment & Great Awakening

• Enlightenment:• Intellectual movement that believed that all problems

could be solved by human reason.• Baron de Montesquieu & John Locke main leaders in

applying enlightenment philosophies to government and politics.• Affected Religious beliefs and caused decline in church

attendance.• The Great Awakening• The opposite of the Enlightenment. • Circuit Riders like John Edwards and George Whitfield

rode around on horse back having revivals. Great outpouring of “Holy Spirit” emotion.• Led to new churches and greater religious tolerance. • “If we can figure out how to worship God… we can

govern ourselves.” • What democratic ideas were expressed by Enlightenment

thinkers?

Causes of the American Revolution

• The French and Indian War(s) (1689 – 1763)• 1754 – 1763 British win and gain Canada, Florida, and some of

Louisiana in the Treaty of Paris. But afterwards… • The Crown limited the rights of English settlers who wanted to

go west to settle in Louisiana. (…what the heck man? We fight but don’t get to explore?)

• Taxes: • The Crown needed money to pay for the war and other

settlements in the British Empire. The easiest way was through Taxes.• Some resisted the tax but most were loyal in the beginning.• More taxes caused up risings and the popular slogan was no

taxation without representation!• Initially the problem was with Parliament but later with King

George III• They hoped loyalty to the king would help cut issues with unfair

taxes… it didn’t.

Colonies Resist… and then Revolt!

• Stamp Act (1765): Tax on all paper goods and legal documents.

• Townshend Act (1767): Tax on several English imports.• They boycotted goods that were taxed in order to send a

message to the Parliament and King that they would not be bullied.

• Boston Massacre (1770): 5 Colonist killed by British Military• Boston Tea Party (1773): Sons of Liberty threw all

the tea in the Boston Harbor in protest.• Intolerable Acts (1774): Harsh punishments on

Rebel Colonist.• The first Continental Congress Meets in Philadelphia• 1775: “The shot heard round the world.” @ Lexington &

Concord

Declaration of Independence

• First Continental Congress: (1774-1775)•Diplomatic efforts to appeal to King George to take away the taxes…. He refuses.

• The Colonist Declare Independence (1776)•Written by Thomas Jefferson (a future President)•Formal accusation against King George III as well as a statement of individual civil liberties and human rights.

Revolutionary War• George Washington Mr. Popular | War Hero |

General• War lasted from 1776-1781.• Victory was secured with the help of the French

Navy at Yorktown with the surrender of British General Cornwallis.

• Gained land from the French in the expanded Treaty of Paris. Spain still possess Florida.

Our Friends in the Revolution, FRANCE, said “Hey… It worked so well in America, we should have one too!”