Early US History Part 1. Your Notes. Goal 9/5/2012. How did the United States became a country?

Transcription

1 Questions / Themes 9/5/2012 Early US History Part 1 How did the United States became a country? Your Notes You will need these notes to prepare for exams. Remember to paraphrase and generalize. Avoid copying from the slide. Summary Goal Trace the events leading to U.S. independence. Write your goal at the top of your notes. 1

2 The Thirteen Colonies were settled by British colonists. All colonists shared common democratic traditions Important geographic differences led to separate lifestyles Regional Differences New England The climate is cold and has little fertile land for agriculture. People lived in towns or villages. People had small farms or were sailors, shipbuilders, or fishermen. Many settlers moved there for religious reasons. Most people were Protestants Regional Differences Middle Colonies Fertile soil and vast forests drew people here. Most people were farmers. The middle colonies benefited from trade between New England and the Southern Colonies. People were tolerant of many different religions. Quakers believed that everyone was equal. 2

3 Regional Differences Southern Colonies Virginia was the oldest English colony in the New World. The Carolinas were settled by a chartered company. Catholics settled Maryland. Georgia was used as a place for imprisoned debtors. Warm weather made plantation farming possible. Democratic Traditions English Political Traditions By 1776, English colonists had a tradition of democracy for over 500 years. Magna Carta (1215): limits powers of the English king A strong, representative assembly (Parliament) consisted of nobles and elected members. Parliament controlled the King s money. English Bill of Rights (1689) protects all English subjects. English Political Traditions Magna Carta + English Bill of Rights = Tradition of individual rights & limited government 3

4 Colonial Democratic Traditions Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact in 1620 Agree to form a representative government and obey its laws The distance from England made self government necessary Virginia colonists establish a colonial assembly, the House of Burgesses, to govern themselves. Colonial Democratic Traditions Reasons for the rise of Colonial Assemblies Distance from England Thousands of miles of ocean travel took over a month Tradition of participating in government Stronger parliament after 1689 Assemblies shared power with colonial governor Claimed right to control taxation & defend colonists rights Impact of English and Colonial Political Traditions The idea that English subjects had certain basic rights was the inspiration behind the Declaration of Independence. Taxation without representation was seen as a violation of their rights 4

5 Impact of English and Colonial Political Traditions Colonial assemblies became state legislatures after independence Principles of popular sovereignty and republicanism became an integral part of US government. Vocabulary With a partner, complete the identifications and significance. Popular sovereignty: people hold supreme political power Republicanism: government should consist of elected representatives of the people, not a king who claimed power from God Legislatures: An officially elected body of people vested with the responsibility and power to make laws for a political unit, such as a state or nation The American Revolution creates a new country in American colonists objected to taxes imposed without their consent. Lack of representation in Parliament led to war. The signing of the Declaration of Independence marks the beginning of the United States of America. 5

6 Background to the Revolution French & Indian War creates a large debt that must be paid. France & Native American allies fought against the British over territory in North America. Britain gains the territory of Canada Background to the Revolution The British Parliament imposes new taxes to pay off the war debt. Stamp Act (1765) required a special stamp to be put on newspapers, books, and official documents. Colonists protest by boycotting British goods The Stamp Act was repealed by replaced by other taxes. Background to the Revolution New taxes on paper, glass, and tea led to more protests. Britain sent more troops to America & housed them in people s homes. Protests led to the repeal of all taxes except on tea. 6

7 Background to the Revolution Boston Tea Party A group of protestors in 1773 dumped tea off British ships. The British government closed Boston Harbor and banned all public meetings until the tea is paid for. Colonial representatives meet in Philadelphia as the Continental Congress. Outbreak of the Revolution Colonial militiamen exchange gunfire with British soldiers in 1775 in the towns of Lexington & Concord. After a year of fighting, some colonists begin to argue for independence from Great Britain Declaration of Independence Thomas Paine writes a pamphlet titled Common Sense that urges the colonists to fight for independence. Thomas Jefferson leads a committee that drafts the Declaration of Independence ; it s adopted on July 4 th,

8 Effects of the Declaration of Independence Made the colonies independent (in theory; they still had to defeat the British military) Proclaimed a government based on 18 th century beliefs. People have unalienable rights Government created by a community of people The government s job is to protect peoples rights. Effects of the Declaration of Independence If the government failed to protect those rights, people had the right to change that government Included a list of grievances against the King Asked citizens to give up their right of representation Deprived citizens of trial by jury Imposed taxes without their consent Military Struggle ( ) The colonial army suffered a series of defeats in the first years of the war. The British surrender at Saratoga in 1777 marked a turning point. It showed that the British could be defeated It convinced France to supply military assistance 8

9 Military Struggle General Washington, with France s help, was able to defeat the British at Yorktown in 1781 The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally ended the war. America now stretched from the Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi River Articles of Confederation This is the first government adopted by the United States. It stated the laws of the country. These laws made running the country very difficult. Articles of Confederation This was the first constitution, or plan of government, for the US. It created a loose confederation of independent states. Each state had one vote in Congress 9

10 Articles of Confederation There was no national executive (president) or national court (Supreme Court). Congress could not levy taxes State governments were more powerful than the new national government. Accomplishments under the Articles Created a new method for admitting states to the Union. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 divided up land east of the Appalachian Mountains. New states would be admitted once they had reached a certain population size. Weaknesses of the Confederation Lacked power to tax or borrow Created obstacles to trade Each state printed its own money Some states taxed goods from other states No national court system Disputes between states could not be settled. No national army An uprising by farmers angry over taxes began in 1786 in Massachusetts There was no national army to put it down if it spread to other states. 10

11 Demand for Change Between 1781 and 1786 is often called the Critical Period. People began to believe that the new government had too little power to do its job properly. Many people, especially merchants and landowners, demanded a stronger national government. Vocabulary With a partner, complete the identifications and significance. Unalienable rights: basic rights that cannot be taken away Boycott: to refuse to do business with a person, store, or government Levy: to collect taxes 11