Colonial Foundations 1607-1763
I. America s Democratic Roots 1. The government of the U.S. is a REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY or DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC which means: a system of government in which eligible citizens elect members of society to govern Greece Rome Athens, Greece had 1st democracy It was a DIRECT DEMOCRACY where all male citizens were part of the ruling body (called the assembly) The government consistent of only a legislative branch For a period of history, Rome had a republic where citizens elected other citizens to represent them and run the government They initiated the first checks and balances by giving officials VETO power Rome also codified their laws when they created the Twelve Tables. Law code was written down for all citizens to see and know.
2. The Enlightenment The Enlightenment in 17th and 18th century Europe produced new ways of thinking and seeing the world. These became integrated into the government of the U.S.
Enlightenment Thinkers: John Locke: Believed people should be sovereign and government exists to preserve citizens rights to life, liberty, and property. Gov t gets its power from the people and should be changed when it no longer serves its people Baron de Montesquieu: Believed gov ts should have a separation of powers (separated into branches) Francois Voltaire: People should have freedoms such as the freedoms of speech and religion Jean Jacques Rousseau: Gov t is a contract between the people and the leaders and it must be what people want
I disapprove of of what you say but I will defend to your death your right to say it. -Voltaire
3. Virginia House of Burgesses America s First Representative Gov t! Established in 1619! Met in Jamestown each year! Legislative body (of people who were elected) was called Burgesses!
4. Mayflower Compact 1620: There was no ruling body so the Pilgrims created one It was signed by all males on the Mayflower and set up a structured gov t It was a SOCIAL CONTRACT. Pilgrims gave power to the gov t with their approval.
II. 13 Colonies
Besides the Native Americans living in the region, the Europeans who settled the colonies were diverse. English Dutch German Scot-Irish
1. Reasons for Migration Religious Pilgrims, Quakers, Catholics, Jews, and Huguenots, escaped religious persecution by settling in the colonies Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland Economic Availability of land drew people Demand for tobacco, furs, lumber and other raw materials Virginia, Delaware, New York Political English king rewarded subjects with land in North America New Jersey, Carolinas
2. Economic Foundations of Colonial America a. Mercantilism Policy where a country seeks to EXPORT more than they IMPORT Colonies exist to benefit the mother country
B. Cash Crops Crops Grown For Profit Tobacco Cotton Sugar Coffee
C. Triangular Trade A trade route with 3 legs between Europe, Africa, and North America
d. Columbian Exchange Named for Christopher Columbus Exchange of goods and ideas from old world (Europe, Asia, Africa) to new world (Americas)
e. Slavery in the Colonies Increased Demand for Tobacco Need for a larger labor source African Slave Trade
1st African slaves brought to the colonies in 1609 Slavery was legal in all English colonies Slavery was written into law by 1700
Vocab Review Democratic Republic A system of government in which eligible citizens elect members of society to govern Triangular Trade Trans-Atlantic trade from the 16th-18th centuries involving the Americas, Europe, and West Africa; colonies provide cash crops, Europe manufactured goods, and Africa provided slaves Enlightenment Thinkers & Ideas John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Voltaire Jean Jacques Rousseau Cash Crop Crops grown to sell for profit rather than for food/nutrients. These include tobacco, cotton, sugar, indigo, coffee Mercantilism An economic system in which colonies exist in order to benefit the mother country. Colonies provided raw materials for production and markets to sell goods Social Contract An agreement by members of society to form a government and grant it permission to govern them; the government receives its authority from the consent of the governed