Birth of a Nation

How did the English colonies become the United States of

America?

Where did the English colonists get their ideas about government?

• They borrowed ideas from England who borrowed ideas from the Greeks and Romans

Ancient Ideas- Greeks• Earlier societies laid a

foundation for the representative governments that developed in the colonies.

• Thousands of years before the British Empire, the ancient Greeks developed democracy.

• Democracy (Representative

government)– any form of government in which people rule by voting or voicing their opinion

Ancient Ideas- Romans

• The ancient Romans modified this concept by creating a republic.

• A republic is a form of government in which the people elect representatives.

Limited Government and The Magna Carta

• Limited Government is a government that can NOT do what ever it wants but must obey a set of laws. These laws are usually in the form of a written document.

• In 1215, a group of English nobles forced King John I to sign a document called the: Magna Carta -that limited the monarchy’s (king’s) power and gave some power and rights to Englishmen. Ex: right to own private property, a trial by jury

Magna Carta

• The Magna Carta granted nobles various legal rights including the right of a jury trial by their peers and prevented the king from imposing taxes without the consent of a council (group of men).

Rule of Law

• This document also began the tradition of rule of law, the principle that every member of society must obey the law, even the executive.

British Parliament• The idea that the king could not

pass taxes without the permission of a group of men eventually gave birth to the British Parliament.

• Parliament came to be comprised of two houses. The upper house, known as the House of Lords, consisted of appointed noblemen.

• The lower house, the House of Commons, was made up of elected officials.

English Ideas• The ideas of a Democracy and a Republic

led to representative government in England.

• England added some of their own ideas to this.

• English settlers brought these ideas of representative government from England to the colonies.

• **The colonists considered themselves to be English citizens.**

Colonies

England

Some Representative Government in the Colonies

• Mayflower Compact- example of people forming own government

• Town Meetings- people can voice their opinions– BUT: only men of the Puritan church could vote

• House of Burgesses- people have a say in government by electing representatives– BUT: only property owners were allowed to vote

• All 13 Colonies end up having some form of representative government.

Back in England other ideas are developing…

The English Bill of Rights

• In 1689, Parliament gained more power as a result of the English Bill of Rights. The monarch now had to have the approval of Parliament to pass taxes.

• People also have right of religious freedom.

• This was the model that the colonist will use for their Bill of Rights.

John Locke• Impact of the Enlightenment: One

Influential figure was John Locke (1632-1704).

• Locke’s thoughts on government challenged the old view that monarchs possess a God-given right to rule with citizens obligated to obey.

• Locke believed that people were born with certain natural rights that no government could morally take away. What were those rights?

•Life

•Liberty

•Property

John LockeJohn Locke

The Social Contract Theory• The Social Contract Theory: According to

this philosophy, there is an implied contract between government and citizens. Citizens are born with freedom and rights. However, for the good of society, people agree to give up certain freedoms and empower governments to maintain order.

• Locke also believed that if a government failed to fulfill this role, then the government should be replaced. (Who might use this idea in the future?)

Salutary Neglect• Due to England’s policy of

salutary neglect (letting the colonies govern themselves), settlers in America became accustomed to sovereignty.

• In other words, the colonists were used to running things on their own.

• England allowed this freedom because of the distance between Europe and America.

• England will eventually change this policy which made the colonists very angry

Who’s in Charge?• The first example of representative

government in the British colonies was Virginia’s House of Burgesses

• Colonial governors were appointed by the king and possessed most of the power.

• But colonial legislatures elected by the people created and passed most of the laws and really had more influence.

• This often caused tension between governors appointed to serve the king and England and legislatures concerned with colonial interests.

Causes of the American Revolution

Causes of the Revolution

• As the British moved west for more land and resources they found themselves fighting French settlers and Native Americans.

The French And Indian War

• It was named the French and Indian War because the British were fighting the French and their Native American allies.

• After nine years of fighting the French gave up and surrendered its claims in Canada and east of the Mississippi.

Britain VS The Colonists• The cost of the French

and Indian War caused Britain to change her policy towards the colonies.

• Great Britain was in debt from the war and wanted the colonists to help pay for the war.

Causes of the Revolution

• In 1660, England began taxing the colonists directly.

• Colonists were only supposed to pay taxes to their colonial assemblies NOT directly to England- This made the colonists angry!

Writs of Assistance

• General search warrants that allowed British authorities to search whatever they wanted for any reason. British used these warrants to board ships, or enter businesses or homes to make sure the colonists were paying taxes

Quartering Act

• Parliament began to pass laws that infuriated the colonists even more.

• The Quartering Act stated that colonists had to house and supply British soldiers stationed in North America.

Stamp Act

• The Stamp Act stated that all printed material would be taxed and it should bear a government stamp.

• This led to the creation of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty – a secret organization that opposed British taxes and laws (almost like a terrorist organization)

• Delegates from 9 of the 13 colonies formed the Stamp Act Congress and asked the king to get rid of the law.

• Colonists began to Boycott British goods. (They simply did not buy them.)

No Taxation without Representation

• Colonists were not upset about how high the taxes were. They were upset because they thought only their representatives in the colonies should be able to pass taxes against them.

• Colonists wanted to keep the governments that they had formed during the time of Salutary Neglect

• Colonists also felt like they were losing their rights as Englishmen.

The Boston Massacre

• The colonists continued to protest violently and Britain sent more troops to Boston.

• In 1770, British soldiers who felt threatened fired into an angry mob of protestors. (The Boston Massacre) The Boston Massacre

3 people died on the scene and 2 people died later

Perspective1. Which point of view did you read? American or British

2. According to the account you read…

A. Who was the most aggressive in this incident, the Soldiers or colonists, why? (Give me SPECIFIC evidence from the account)

B. Do you think Captain Preston ordered his men to fire, why? (Give me SPECIFIC evidence from the account)

3. Get in a group of 2 to 4 with someone who has a different account than you…

– Write a brief account STEP BY STEP of what you think actually happened at the Boston Massacre. (Use evidence from BOTH accounts.)

Perspective

http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre/videos/boston-massacre-helps-spark-the-american-revolution

The Boston Tea Party

• In 1773, a group of men dressed up as Mohawk Indians and went to Boston Harbor. When they got there they found British ships that were bringing in tea. In protest of the Tea Act, the colonists threw the tea overboard.

Coercive/ Intolerable Acts

• In response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed the Coercive or Intolerable Acts.

• The law:– Closed Boston Harbor

– Military governor over Massachusetts

– Took some land from colonies

The First Continental Congress• In order to deal with the

growing tension, representatives from nearly every colony came together in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress.

• They sent a message to the King saying that since they were not represented in Parliament, they should be able to govern themselves.

• They were asking for his permission.

Lexington and Concord

• All hope of a peaceful resolution was lost when fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord.

• British troops were on their way to seize arms and ammunition stored by colonists at Concord, Massachusetts.

• They were met by an organized colonial militia. It was there that someone fired the “shot heard ‘round the world”. The first shots of the revolution. April 1775

• The “shot heard ‘round the world” inspired people to fight for their independence.

Chain ReactionActionAction ReactionReaction

1. French and Indian War 1. Britain in Debt

2. Colonists have to help pay off debt through Navigation Acts and Stamp Act

2. Colonists form Sons of Libertyand Stamp Act Congress

3. More British troops sent to colonies

3. Boston Massacre

4. Townshend Acts and Tea Act 4. Boycotts and then Boston Tea Party

5. Intolerable Acts 5. First Continental Congress, conflict at Lexington and Concord

The Second Continental Congress

• After Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress met in order to discuss the situation.

• Many people believed that the colonies should seek independence because of a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine called Common Sense

Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part.

But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain...let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING.

~Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

Create an Analogy

►From the colonists’ perspective, the relationship between the colonies and Britain was like the relationship between_________ and ______ because...

►From the perspective of Britain, the relationship between Britain and the colonies was like the relationship between _________ and ___________because…

The Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

• Eventually the delegates at the Second Continental Congress stopped seeking peace and chose independence instead.

• Appointed Thomas Jefferson to draft a statement giving the reasons for the separation

• They came together and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence

• Tried to convince colonists “loyal” to the king to join the cause for independence

• This document echoed many of the principles of John Locke.

1. Promoted equality (egalitarianism)2. Natural rights of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of

happiness” 3. It outlined everything King George III had done

wrong.4. It declared that the united states were going to be

an independent nation.• After signing the document on **July 4, 1776**, the

13 colonies became states and began writing their own constitutions (sets of laws).

Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Declaration of Independence

“He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.”

“The history of the present King of England is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

Too late to apologize!

Effects of the Declaration of Independence

1. The Declaration set the groundwork for the US Constitution

2. The document also made people think and debate about “all men” being created equal. (slavery, Native Americans, women)

3. The document also inspired the common people in other movements like the French Revolution AND a revolution in the French colony of Haiti that started as a slave revolt.

4. People around the world began to argue for self determination (the right of people to create their own government)

Impact of Declaration of Independence

• Declaration of Independence- “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

• French Declaration of the Rights of Man- “The representative of the French people…have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man…[and reinforce] the happiness of all.”

Declaration of Independence

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Declaration of Sentiments ~Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1848)

• When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.

A DECLARATION OF LIBERTY BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SLAVE POPULATION OF

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ~ John Brown (1858)

• When in the course of Human events, it becomes necessary for an oppressed People to Rise, and assert their Natural Rights, as Human Beings, as Native and Mutual Citizens of a free Republic, and break that odious yoke of oppression, which is so unjustly laid upon them by their fellow countrymen, and to assume among the powers of Earth the same equal privileges to which the Laws of Nature, and nature's God entitle, them; A moderate respect for the opinions of Mankind, requires that they should declare the causes which incite them to this just & worthy action.

• “Happy white peoples independence day the slaves weren't free but I'm sure they enjoyed fireworks.”

• Tweet from Chris Rock on Fourth of July.

The War for Independence

The Opposing SidesColonial Advantages British Advantages

Fighting on home ground Well-trained, well supplied army/navy

Good decisions by generals Wealth of resources

Fighting for their rights and freedoms

Strong central government

French Alliance: loans, navy TroopsColonial Disadvantages British Disadvantages

Untrained soldiers, small army

Fighting in unfamiliar, hostile territory

Food and ammunition shortages

Fighting far away from Britain and resources

Weak and divided government

Troops indifferent, halfhearted support at home

The War for Independence

• Colonists lost many of the early battles even under General George Washington

• Washington finally got his first major victory on Christmas night 1776 when his troops crossed the Delaware River with a surprise attack on the British.

Help

• General Horatio Gates won a victory for the US at Saratoga, NY

• This victory convinced the French to make an alliance with the Americans that helped them defeat the British

Guerilla Warfare

• South Carolina militia won a victory at Charleston thanks to their palmetto log fort that was able to absorb the blows of the British artillery.

• Many Southerners were Tories (colonists who remained loyal to England; British called them “Loyalists”)

• Southerners began to win several victories against the British by using guerilla forces (small mobile groups of troops that strike quickly and disappear)

Polite War

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdM44rovn6c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Francis Marion

Guerilla Warfare

• Concerned with inflicting damage not winning battles

• Francis Marion

“the Swamp Fox”

• Thomas Sumter

“the Gamecock”

Victory• British General Lord Cornwallis

eventually surrendered to Washington at Yorktown after being surrounded by the Continental Army on one side and the French Navy on the other.

• Treaty of Paris- 1783

• When do you believe the United States became a country?

• In1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence

• or 1783 at the end of the Revolutionary War.

• And WHY?