Emerging American Identity
Obj. 1.04 Elaborate on the
emergence of an American
identity.
Emerging American Identity
1. Britain allowed colonies to develop on their
own until 1763 – salutary neglect (“hands-off
policy).
2. Salutary Neglect was Great Britain’s hands-off
policy prior to 1763, which allowed the
colonies to develop on their on.
3. Created own traditions of self government
(House of Burgesses, Fundamental Orders of
Connecticut, Mayflower Compact)
Emerging American Identity
4. Because of a very diverse population in the
colonies (less than 50% English). The colonies
developed a new language, religious
tolerances (Great Awakening) and other
“shared” ways of life.
5. The result = an “American Culture”. (now
they see themselves as different from
England since there were so many different
type of religions and culture living in one
land mass)
Causes of the Revolution
1.03 Examine the causes of the
American Revolution.
The Magna Carta
• Nobles in England were tired of not being
treated fairly by the king and being taken
advantage of.
• Forced the king to sign the MC which granted
citizens more rights and limited the power of
the king.
• The future founding fathers would use the
same principles outlined in the MC and put
them into the DoI and also the Constitution.
A. French and Indian War
1. Root cause of the
Revolution
2. Led to three main
causes: disputes over
a. Land
b. Trade
c. Taxes
Dispute over land
1. Proclamation of
1763: closed land
won in war to
colonists (west of
Appalachians, east
of Mississippi)
C. Disputes over Tax Laws
1.
Tax laws were passed so the colonists
could help pay for French and Indian
War.
a. Sugar Act (1764) – taxed sugar,
molasses and other related goods
b. Quartering Act (1765) – pay to house
soldiers (New York most effected)
c. Stamp Act (1765) – pay tax to register
documents and other paper goods
(stirred up most anger in the
colonies)
d. Townshend Acts (1767) – taxed
paint, lead, glass, paper, and tea;
legalized writs of assistance.
e. Tea Act (1773) – gave British East
India company monopoly on tea
trade.
C. Disputes over Tax Laws
2. “No taxation without Representation” –
slogan of colonists because they were not
represented in Parliament.
D. Disputes over Trade
1. Navigation Acts (1600s) – Used to enforce policy of
Mercantilism; created a favorable balance of trade
which increases the wealth of the home country
(aka England).
2. Tea Act: gave British East India Co. monopoly on tea
trade which hurt colonial merchants
E. Other Events
British Action/Reaction
Colonists Reaction
British Soldiers were taking
jobs from colonial laborers
Boston Massacre (1770): 5
Colonists “martyred”, used
to stir anti-British sentiment
Tea Act (1773)
Boston Tea Party (1773)
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
(1774): took away civil
liberties
First Continental Congress
(1774): petitioned king for
rights back
F. Common Sense
1. Written by Thomas
Paine in January 1776
2. Urged colonists to
declare independence
from Great Britain.
3. Arguments included:
its ridiculous for an
island to rule a
continent, being part
of England would drag
the colonists into
unnecessary wars.
G. Second Continental Congress
1. Lexington and Concord: first battles of Revolution,
April 1775
a. Patriots : supported Independence,
b. Loyalists: remained loyal to England
2. The Second Continental Congress (gov’t in
America) met in May 1775, but the war had already
begun.
a. June 1775: Appointed George Washington as
Commander of Continental Army
b. July 1775: Sent Olive Branch Petition to King
(Olive branches are symbols for peace)
c. July 1776: Wrote Declaration of Independence
H. Declaration of independence
1.
2.
3.
The Declaration of
Independence was written by
Thomas Jefferson with help
from John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Robert B. Livingston,
and Roger Sherman.
The Declaration was an official
statement of Independence
from England and listed the
colonists grievances against the
King.
It was designed to influence
public opinion in the New States
and in France (a country the
colonists hoped would help
them in their war effort).
Signing the Declaration of
Independence.