US History
Murray/McLoughlin
Review questions on www.Regentsprep.org
Exploration of the New World
Country
England
Motivation
In addition to wealth, the key reason they wanted to establish
colonies/permanent settlements was for:
1. Political freedom
2. Economic freedom
3. Religious freedom
They brought women here to stay and to expand the colonies.
England =New England colonies, Mid-Atlantic colonies, Southern
colonies.
New England Economy
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Soil is not good for farming
- Could only grow enough food to support the population
Fishing is a key economic activity
Timber/wood supply is plentiful
- Valuable natural resources
Ship building business will grow in New England (fishing + wood = ship building)
Middle Atlantic Economy
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Soil is excellent for farming
Natural resources for future industrialization like coal, steel, iron, etc.
NYC becomes center of finances (money) for the colonies
Southern Colonies Economy
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Soil is not good for edible crops, BUT
Soil is excellent for the production of Cash Crops.
Cash crops—crops grown to sell not to eat
Cash crops—1. Tobacco, 2. Cotton—harvesting/planting of these labor intensive crops
needs many workers.
Demand for slaves increases as farms expand
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Mercantilism
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Indentured Servants
Triangular Slave Trade
Key Terms
Colonies exist to benefit the mother country
Raw materials are sold by the colony to the
mother country (i.e. timber)
In return, the mother country sells finished
products back to the colony (i.e. desk)
An agreement to work for a person for a specific time
period in the new world. After the time period is up, they
are free.
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Not voluntary, NO chance for freedom
Movement of goods (guns) to Africa from
England, movement of slaves to the Caribbean
and Southern Colonies, movement of sugar,
rum, rice, coffee, tobacco & cotton back to
England.
Economic system of mercantilism still exists BUT the
mother country (England) begins to relax economic
control over the colonies  equal to economic freedom =
more $$$ POWER
Salutary Neglect
Because of salutary neglect, England tried to regain
Economic control of its colonies in America, so they
passed acts to restrict trade—they REBEL
Navigation Acts
Colonial Government (English Colonies)
Royal Colonies
King appoints an individual (governor) to run the affairs
of the colony
Proprietary colonies
individual buys the colony from the king; then the
proprietor would appoint the governor.
Self governing colonies
the king still owned the colonies, but people vote and
chose their own governor.
Legislature
the purpose is to make laws
England is a land of laws
ideas transfer over to the colonies
Bicameral legislature
(bi=2 cameral = houses)
two houses—in colonial government they had an upper
house and lower house. Lower house is a representative
government because it was chosen by the people.
rule by the people.
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Democracy
Laws are made by the people or their elected
representatives.
Limited democracy
only white, male, land owners could vote.
Seeds of democracy
rule by the people
Town Hall Meetings
House of Burgesses – extension of town meetings
Mayflower Compact—series of laws on how the
settlement should function
Religious Freedom vs. Religious Toleration
 Religious freedom—right/privilege to practice any/no religion that you want
 Religious toleration—accept the beliefs and practices of religions not your own
Puritans communities had no separation of church and government. Church made laws and
regulations and you had to live according to those laws.
French & Indian War
Great Britain vs. France
Extension of the war in Europe (7 year war)
France’s key motive is trading but England wants to set up permanent settlements—Fighting
over land
Colonists (British) fought with the regular British Army against French
Results of French/Indian War
 France is eliminated as power in New World
 Great Britain expands colonies in New World
 Spain gains land
 Colonists gained valuable experience and confidence in fighting a war
*Wars cost money
How does a government raise money to pay for its expenses? TAXES
England has to raise taxes for England and the Colonies.
After Salutary neglect, England tries to gain complete control of the colonies by enacting several
acts:
 The proclamation of 1763—closes western frontier
 1764 Sugar Act—tariffs on sugar and other items
 1765 Stamp Act—tax stamps on all kinds of printed material
 1765 Quartering Act—colonies must house and feed British troops in America
The Colonies protest and boycott, so England thinks the colonies need to be ruled and pass
more laws.
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Violence breaks out → Boston Massacre
The Revolutionary War between England and the Colonies begins. It was a war against a
strong central government (Kind of England). Because the colonies gained experience fighting
the French and Indian war, they are able to defeat England.
Declaration of Independence
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Colonists felt they should be represented in government. No taxation without
representation.
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John Locke, Common Sense
An Enlightenment thinker, who believed in natural rights. This pamphlet persuaded many
of the colonists who were undecided to vote for independence. He wanted to persuade
the colonists to end their political relationship with Great Britain.
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The Declaration of Independence:
Was written to state the reasons for the American Revolution.
Ideas Behind the Revolution
Common Sense
 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine (1776). Paine discussed the Revolution.
It convinced many readers to support a complete break with Great Britain.
Thomas Jefferson uses ideas from John Locke and the Enlightenment Thinkers to
write the Declaration of Independence. Locke believed in:
 Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
 Kings and Queens did not have a Divine Right (Chosen by God) to rule
 Government had the responsibility of protecting an individual’s rights and liberties,
and if the government did not protect them, people had the right to overthrow or
abolish the government.
The Declaration of Independence
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The Second Continental Congress met. Most of the delegates from the First
Continental Congress returned for the meeting.
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November 1775 – George III had refused the Olive Branch Petition. Document
expressing loyalty to the king and the desire for peace, by begging to halt the
fighting until a solution could be found.
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June 1776 – Congress appointed a committee to prepare a statement of the reasons
for the separation – a Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was chosen
to draft it because his political ideas were influenced by the Enlightenment (18th
cent. Movement that emphasized science and reason as key to improving society).
He drew ideas from political thinker, John Locke.
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Parts of the Declaration
 Preamble – Introduction in which Jefferson explained the purpose of the
declaration.
 Section II (Citizens have the right to self-government) – Jefferson explained
the political ideas, in which he drew on the writings of John Locke. People had
natural rights – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People formed
governments to protect their natural rights—they were the source of power
(democracy).
 Section III (Complaints against the King) – Laid out a long list of wrongs the
colonists believed had been committed by the British king.
 Section IV (The King and Parliament have refused to change their policies) –
The colonists' repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
 Section V (The colonists declare their independence) – Colonies have the right
to be free and independent states; no further allegiance to the British crown;
political connection to Britain to be dissolved; full power to levy taxes, declare
war, etc…
 July 4 1776 – Declaration of Independence is approved.
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