Unit 1 – Early America
I. Columbus Crosses the Atlantic & the Spanish Empire
 Columbus sails west, looking for a quick route to
China
 Columbian Exchange – exchange of food, animals,
and disease between the Old World and New
World.
 The natives are ravaged by small pox. 90% are
killed.
 Cortes arrives in Mexico (Aztec Empire). 23 million
Aztecs die. Cortes – God, Gold, Glory.
 Mestizo – the offspring of the union between a
Native and Spanish parent
II. English in North America
 Joint stock companies (allows JoeSchmoe to own
part of a business) emerge in England. Arrange a
settlement in N.A.
 Jamestown founded in 1607. Struggles mightily.
Nearly collapses. Filled with indentured servants.
 Tobacco becomes profitable. Clashes with Indians
become more frequent.
 The Puritans arrive in MA. The floodgates are open
as more and more settlements begin.
 King Phillip’s War (Metacom) organizes a rebellion
and attacks various settlements. Whites respond
by killing as many Indians as possible. Rebellion
put down.
 England gets New York/New Jersey from the Dutch.
 William Penn establishes a colony for Quakers.
(Pennsylvania)
 13 Colonies. The British crown tries to rule directly
over the colonies (the colonies exist to profit
England).
 To ensure that the colonies exist for profiting
England, the crown passes the Navigation Acts
 No trade unless on English ships
 All ships must employ ¾ English people
 Certain product can only be sold in England
 All goods /selling had to go through some
sort of British port (so they could tax it)
 Colonies LIKE living away from the strong influence
of England
III. The Plantation South
 1690 – 13,000 African Slaves
 1750 – 200,000 and going up. South
 The South was very diverse. Most are poor white,
small farmers. Few plantation owners.
 Slaves: 10-20% work in the house
80-90% work in the fields
 Resistance common.
IV: North – Big Business
 Easy access to water (oceans, rivers, lakes), ports,
fishing, wheat. Cities.
 Immigration – settles in the north. They help cities
grow.
V. The Enlightenment
 Is a time of questions. Questioning authority, God,
existence, what is right/wrong. A time of science.
 Human life can be defined by reason and science.
Not religion.
 People turn away from religion and try to find truth
on their own.
 New ideas about government, life, science, and the
arts.
VI. The Great Awakening
 A series of Christian revivals aimed at restoring
religious intensity and dedication. Located in the
South and Midwest. Led Jonathan Edwards –
believed simply going to Church every Sunday
wasn’t enough. A personal relationship. Challenge
to regular churches.
Both the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening
encourage early Americans to challenge traditional
authority.
VII. The French and Indian War
 French (Indian allies) vs. British (Indian/colonial
allies)
 French presence in America (Canada) growing.
Conflict with established British inevitable. They
begin to argue about claims in the Ohio River
Valley.
 Fighting breaks out around 1755. Lasts 7 years. At
first, the French are fairly successful.
 British: the world’s strongest navy, most money,
big army, all the colonials support them
 France: none of the above. Preoccupied with
fighting Europe.
 After 7 years, the French are defeated. Last battle
is on the plains of Quebec.
 France/Britain sign the Treaty of Paris (1863). The
French are completely run out of America.
 Britain gets Canada, the Mississippi River, and New
Orleans. Now the Britain MORE land, here come
MORE settlers. Poor Indians….
 Another Indian uprising, (led Pontiac). British put it
down and sign the Proclamation of 1763. In this
agreement, Britain PROMISES no more settlers
west of the Appalachian Mts.
VIII: Colonial Resistance
 Great Britain is in debt from the French Indian War.
They want the colonies to HELP pay for it. Colonies
avoid British Navigation Acts by smuggling.
 Sugar Act is passed that taxes certain products.
Talks of “taxation without representation” begin.
 Stamp Act is passed. Colonies are getting restless
over taxes (especially Boston). Protests common
(boycotts)
IX: Tensions Rise
 Boston Massacre
 Colonies begins to set up committees to address
problems with the British. In contact with other
committees.
 Boston Tea Party – 18,000 lbs are dumped into
Boston Harbor. British respond by shutting Boston
Harbor and more troops. British pass the
Quartering Act (colonist must allow British soldiers
into their homes)
 1st Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia. 56
Members. Send a letter (wishes reconciliation) to
the British king. King denies it and nothing will
change
 Minutemen – colonial soldiers, ready to fight.
 British attempt to seize arsenals at
Lexington/Concord. Blocked by minutemen. Shots
fired.
 May 1775 – 2nd Continental Congress meets.
Independence is officially pursued. Continental
Army is formed under General George Washington
 British (under Gage) try to break out of Boston by
attacking nearby Bunker Hill. NASTY FIGHT. British
win. King declares that the colonies are in rebellion
and orders a naval blockade of the colonies.
 American Revolution begins
X: Declaration of Independence
 Combination of the following:
o Magna Carta
o John Locke – 1. Life, Liberty, and Property
2. A government is an
agreement between the rulers
and the people (social contract)
3. If a government fails to
ensure life, liberty, property, then
the people have the right to rebel
and make a new one.
o Rousseau – a government is made of the
general will of the people
 Influenced by Thomas Paine’s book Common
Sense.
o 1. America is chance for a better life
o 2. America will be free of tyranny
o 3. America will be social/economic
opportunities for all.
 The Declaration is a formal announcement of
the colonies intent to break away from Britain
and be independent.
o 1. Reasons why (grievances)
o 2. Human Rights for all men (Indians?
Women? African Slaves?)
XI: The American Revolution Begins
 Continental Army – undermanned, ill equipped,
underfed, underpaid. 2nd Continental Congress is
the government of the Revolution. They print
money to pay soldiers. Inflation!
 The Army/Government is composed of people with
ability, and hard work. NOT WEALTH, FAMILY.
 The Continental Army’s Strengths: country boys,
know the country, they’re fighting for freedom, and
good leadership (Washington).
 The British Strengths: Strongest navy in the world,
professional army, rich, BUT they’re a long way
from home, cocky
 Colonists are divided into Patriots (pro Continental
Army / independence) vs. Loyalist (pro British /
reconcile).
 Britain attempts to isolate New England by taking
New York (easily). The start of the Revolution is
pretty gloomy for the Continentals.
 Washington captures Trenton (NJ). Boosts morale.
 Washington traps a British army and defeats at
Saratoga. The victory at Saratoga convinces the
French to join the American Revolution. French
reinforcement arrive to help the Continental Army.
 Women?
 Americans were employing guerrilla tactics in the
South. It frustrates the British.
 British General Cornwallis captures Charleston SC,
and Savannah GA. Moves north. Gets pinned
down in Yorktown Virginia, hoping the British navy
can come and get him. Washington surrounds him.
A French navy traps him in the water. Cornwallis
has no choice but to surrender. WE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Another Treaty of Paris confirms US independence.