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Colonial Development. The Road to Independence & Our First National Government. Different Countries – Different Reasons. Different countries came to the New World for different reasons: France – Fur trade Spanish – the 3 G’s English – Freedom - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Colonial DevelopmentThe Road to
Independence & Our First National Government
Different Countries – Different Reasons
Different countries came to the New World for different reasons: France – Fur trade Spanish – the 3 G’s English – Freedom
Why would the reason for settlement make a difference in colonists staying or leaving?
Colonial Development When the English colonist arrived in North
America, they found the land presented them with dangers as well as opportunities.
It was the dangers that pushed the colonies towards unity but only independence would successfully unite all 13 colonies.
What particular danger made unity a must? Indian attacks (The New England
Confederation)
INDEPENDENCE
What finally successfully united all thirteen colonies?
The 13 Original Colonies Connecticut Delaware Georgia Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Pennsylvania South Carolina Rhode Island Virginia
Reasons of Seeking Independence
1. There was a physical and political distance.• Physical distance – the colonies were separated
from Great Britain by an ocean – they were 3,000 miles apart.
• Political distance – since the very first permanent settlement (150 years earlier), the colonies had ruled themselves.
2. In 1760, the British throne was passed to George III. He agreed with British Parliament that the colonies had become too independent.
3. The Seven Year’s War had plunged Britain into debt. These war debts had to be paid and Britain saw the colonies as a way of repaying them. The British began passing several trade restrictions & taxes on the colonists.
Colonist Were Angry for Two ReasonsColonists were upset over two things:
1. Taxes2. Trade Restrictions
"No taxation without Representation."
Colonist's resentment came to a head after the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770 when British soldiers shot and killed 5 protestors.
Click here for a video!
Not Your Momma’s Tea Party!
1773 Parliament placed a tax on imported tea
When the first load of taxed tea arrived in Boston Harbor, colonists dressed as Indians and emptied 342 chests of tea into the harbor
The Intolerable Acts Parliament's reaction to the Boston Tea
Party Closed Boston Harbor to all ships
except British ships The Quartering Act forced colonists to
house and feed British soldiers or get shot
Colonists would no longer be tried in colonial courts, but instead in British courts
First Continental Congress Began September 5,
1774 in Philadelphia at Independence Hall
Delegates from all colonies except Georgia met to discuss the problems with Great Britain.
This Meeting Did 3 Things:
1. It called for a boycott of all British goods.• Boycott – an
agreement to stop buying or using goods or services.
2. They wrote a list of grievances to King George III
3. They planned to meet again if the King did not meet their demands.
Second Continental Congress Decided to meet again after British soldiers clashed
with colonial militias on April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord
Began May 10, 1775 again at Independence Hall in Philadelphia
Delegates voted to form a Continental Army led by George Washington
Most delegates were in favor of independence, but it wasn't until June 1776 that a committee of five men began drafting a declaration of independence Thomas Jefferson (VA), John Adams (MA), Benjamin
Franklin (PA), Roger Sherman (CT), Robert Livingston (NY)
On July 4, 1776 the delegates approved the Dec. of Independence
Click here for a video! Another video!
Declaration of IndependenceIt’s too late to apologize
.
Another video? Awesome!
Components of the Declaration of Independence
1. Lists the reasons the colonies were seeking independence
2. Statement of American ideals – purpose of government is to protect our natural rights
3. Mapped out the kind of government the delegates wanted.
Our First National Government
During the 5 years at war, the Continental Congress served as the new nation's government.
The Congress appointed a committee to prepare a plan of government known as the Articles of Confederation.
Congress approved the plan in 1777 and sent it to the states for ratification, approval. The states didn't approve the Articles until 1781.
State Constitutions State lawmakers believed that government should be based on an
established set of principles.
These princples included popular sovereignty, limited government, the rule of law and majority rule.
States also separated the powers of gov. between an executive, legislative and judicial branches.
Each state constitution began with a statement of individual rights
They typically limited voting rights to white men who paid taxes and owned property
All states south of Pennsylvania denied slaves equal rights
The End to a Long War & The Beginning of a Great Nation
The last battle of the American Revolution was the Battle of Yorktown – October 19, 1781.
The official end was not until September 3, 1789 when the Treaty of Paris was signed.
