The American Colonies
• The British built large colonies along the east
coast of the N. American continent.
• Population in 1700- 250,000
•
1770- 2,150,000
• Colonies thrived due to trade with Europe.
The American Colonies
The American Colonies
• Mind Set: A new identity formed in the minds
of the colonists.
• Each colony had its own govt. but they were
still ruled by British law.
• They didn’t see themselves as British but as
Virginians or Pennsylvanians.
• Had no representation in the British
Parliament.  Will lead to resentment
The American Colonies
• In 1651, the British Parliament
passed the Navigation Act.
• This law prevents trade with
any other nation other than
Britain.
• Despite this law, colonists will
make huge amounts of $$$.
The French and Indian War
• In N. America both the French and British are
competing for land and resources.
• When: 1754-1763
• Outcome: The war will end in victory for
Britain.
• Britain will gain control over French territory.
The French and Indian War
• This British victory escalated
tensions between Britain
and the Colonists.
• During the war Britain ran
up a huge debt and they
decided to let the colonies
pay for it because they were
the beneficiaries.
Americans Win Independence
• In 1765 the British Parliament
passed the Stamp Act.
• This is a tax on wills, deeds, and
newspapers.
• You had to pay for the official
royal stamp.
Americans Win Independence
• The colonists were outraged with the stamp tax
because they felt that it was unlawful due to
the fact that they had no representation in
Parliament.
• The Townshend Act: tax on lead, paint, paper,
glass and tea.
• Reaction To Taxes : The Boston Tea Party colonists dumped hundreds of pounds of
British tea into Boston Harbor.
Boston Tea Party
Americans Win Independence
• Response: Britain formed a blockade in Boston
Harbor.
• Reaction: Due to the many taxes imposed on the
Colonists, they met in Sept. 1774 in Philadelphia
to form the First Continental Congress.
Americans Win Independence
• On April 19, 1775 gunfire will breakout at LexingtonConcord, Massachusetts.
• The Second Continental Congress met and decided to
form an army.
• They name George Washington the commander of
the Army.
• Result: War
Lexington-Concord
Lexington-Concord
Influence of the Enlightenment
• In July of 1776 The
Second Continental
Congress will issue the
Declaration of
Independence.
• Written by Thomas
Jefferson
• The document is based
on the same ideas of
John Locke.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
A Miracle ?
At first it appeared that the Colonies would
be defeated in a hurry.
Washington’s forces were poorly trained and
lacked the necessary equipment.
Though they will win the war and defeat the
mightiest army in the world.
Success for the Colonies
Success for the Colonies
• In 1781, the French and
Colonial troops trapped
general Lord Cornwallis
near Yorktown, VA.
• He surrendered and the
colonies received their
independence.
Reasons Why We Won
• 1. The colonists were defending
their homes.
• 2. The British generals were
overconfident.
• 3. The British had to travel 3,000
miles to re-supply.
• 4. The French helped us fight
Britain.
Americans Create A Republic
• After winning the war the colonists realized that
they needed a federal govt.
• In 1781, all 13 states ratified a Confederation.
• This new plan of govt. is known as the Articles
of Confederation.
• This establishes a republic in which citizens rule
through elected representatives.
The Articles of Confederation
• This created a weak govt.
• This est. no executive or judicial branches only a
Congress.
• Each state regardless of size had only 1 vote in
Congress.
• Congress could declare war, enter into treaties
and coin money but could not collect taxes or
regulate trade.
A New Constitution
• In Feb. 1787 Congress approved a
Constitutional Convention to revise the
Articles of Confederation.
• On May 25, 1787- 55 delegates from various
states will meet and discuss ways to make the
federal govt. better.
• They discussed Locke, Montesquieu, and
Rousseau.
The Federal System
• The Framers were distrustful of a powerful
executive so they created three separate
branches of govt.
• The legislative, executive, and judicial
branches.
• This division of power will create a system of
checks and balances.
• Each branch will check the actions of the other
two.
The Federal System
• The Constitution will also
create a federal system.
• Where power is divided
up between national and
state governments.
The Bill of Rights
• The Constitution was finished on Sept. 17,
1787.
• However, the Constitution still needs to be
signed by at least 9 of 13 states.
• Two factions developed:
• The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
The Bill of Rights
• The Federalists will support the Constitution
while the Anti-Federalists don’t.
• The Anti-Federalist felt that it gave the federal
govt. too much power.
• To gain the support of the Anti-Federalists,
Federalists will add the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights
• The Bill of Rights are ten Amendments
that protect rights such as freedom of
speech, press, assembly and religion.
• The Bill of Rights expressed the views
of Locke, Voltaire and Rousseau.
• The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
will put the views of the Enlightenment
into practice.