I. Age of Exploration= -Europeans were out to find a sea route to Asia

because of their love for silks & spicesA) New Technologies: 1) Astrolabe- found latitude 2) Compass- found magnetic north 3) Triangular Sails- sailed against the wind 4) Caravel- much better ship-with these new inventions & the rise of more

wealthy governments Europeans were ready to explore

-Ptolemy’s Geography also gave them the idea that a sea route was possible

II. Scientific Revolution=

-Science had always been an interest to people of the world

-they used theories to explain why certain things happened

-The Age of Exploration created a boom in scientific interest & knowledge

-some of this new knowledge would shake Europe to its core and cause controversy

III. The Enlightenment=

-Scientific Revolution caused many people to think that reason was a better guide than faith or tradition.

-reason was a “light” that led them to the truth

-Thinkers believed in natural law

-this was law that applied to everyone and everyone could understand this law through reason

IV. The American Revolution=

-English settlers came to America as a way to start over- a new life

-English govt. was interested in America to satisfy its need for resources

-Mercantilism

-England wanted to control trade from the American colonies= Navigation Acts

-England needed money to pay for French & Indian War

-wanted to use colonial taxes to pay for expenses

-Stamp Act= a tax on printed materials

-angered colonists and caused protests by the colonists

-Boston Massacre- Soldiers fired into a crowd of protestors

-5 people were killed

-Boston Tea Party- colonists protested the Tea Act by throwing tea into Boston Harbor

-disguised as Indians

A. Independence=

-2nd Continental Congress wrote the Dec. of Independence after two attempts to settle differences peacefully with the King

-1st Battle- Battle of Lexington & Concord= “Shot heard round the world”

-France joined the colonists & helped them win

B. The Constitution= 1787

-Const. set up a federal system in which power is shared by the national & state gov’t.

- set up 3 branches of gov’t & checks and balances

- provided for elections

- Bill of Rights protected the basic rights of Americans