Emerging American Identity

Obj. 1.04 Elaborate on the emergence of an American

identity.

Emerging American Identity1. Britain allowed colonies to develop on their

own until 1763 – salutary neglect (“hands-off salutary neglect (“hands-off policy)policy).

2. Salutary Neglect was Great Britain’s hands-offhands-off policy prior to 1763, which allowed the colonies to developdevelop on their on.

3. Created own traditions of self governmentself government (House of Burgesses, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, Mayflower Compact)

Emerging American Identity

4. Because of a very diversediverse population in the colonies (less than 50% English). The colonies developed a new language, religious tolerances (Great Awakening) and other “sharedshared” ways of life.

5. The result = an “American CultureAmerican Culture”. (now they see themselves as differentdifferent 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

1.1. Root causeRoot cause of the Revolution

2. Led to threethree main causes: disputes overa.a. LandLandb.b. TradeTradec.c. TaxesTaxes

Dispute over land

1.1. Proclamation of Proclamation of 17631763: closed land won in war to colonists (west of Appalachians, east of Mississippi)

C. Disputes over Tax Laws1. Tax laws were passed so the colonists

could help pay for French and Indian French and Indian WarWar.a.a. Sugar Act Sugar Act (1764) – taxed sugar,

molasses and other related goodsb.b. Quartering ActQuartering Act (1765) – pay to house

soldiers (New York most effected)c.c. Stamp Act Stamp Act (1765) – pay tax to

register documents and other paper goods (stirred up most anger in the colonies)

d.d. Townshend ActsTownshend Acts (1767) – taxed paint, lead, glass, paper, and tea; legalized writs of assistance.

e.e. Tea ActTea Act (1773) – gave British East India company monopoly on tea trade.

C. Disputes over Tax Laws

2. “No taxation without RepresentationNo taxation without Representation” – slogan of colonists because they were not represented in Parliament.

D. Disputes over Trade 1.1. Navigation Acts Navigation Acts (1600s) – Used to enforce policy of

MercantilismMercantilism; created a favorable balance of trade which increases the wealth of the home country (aka England).

2.2. Tea ActTea Act: gave British East India Co. monopoly monopoly on tea trade which hurt colonialcolonial merchants

E. Other EventsBritish 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 Sense1. Written by Thomas Thomas

PainePaine in January 17762. Urged colonists to

declare independence 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 Congress1.1. Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord: first battles of Revolution,

April 1775a.a. PatriotsPatriots : supported Independence, b.b. LoyalistsLoyalists: remained loyal to England

2. The Second Continental Congress (gov’t in Second Continental Congress (gov’t in America) America) met in May 1775, but the war had already begun.

1. June 1775: Appointed George WashingtonGeorge Washington as Commander of Continental Army

2. July 1775: Sent Olive Branch PetitionOlive Branch Petition to King (Olive branches are symbols for peace)

3. July 1776: Wrote Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

H. Declaration of independence1. The Declaration of

Independence was written by Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson with help from John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert B. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.

2. The Declaration was an official official statementstatement of IndependenceIndependence from England and listed the colonists grievances grievances against the King.

3. It was designed to influence public opinionpublic opinion in the New States and in France France (a country the colonists hoped would help them in their war effort).

Signing the Declaration of Independence.