UsHistoryOverview1

13 Colonies Groups

New England, Middle, Southern Colonies

New England Colonies

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire

Middle Colonies

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware

Southern Colonies

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

New England Geography

Rocky soil, forests, coastline, cold winters

Middle Geography

Fertile soil, rivers, moderate climate

Southern Geography

Warm climate, rich soil, long growing season

New England Resources

Fish, lumber, ships

Middle Resources

Grains, livestock, iron

Southern Resources

Tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton

Proclamation of 1763

Colonists couldn’t settle west of the Appalachian Mountains

Sugar Act 1764

Tax on sugar and molasses

Stamp Act 1765

Tax on paper goods like newspapers and legal documents

Townshend Acts 1767

Taxes on imported goods like glass, lead, tea

Tea Act 1773

Gave British East India Company control of tea sales

Intolerable Acts 1774

Punished Massachusetts for Boston Tea Party, closed Boston Harbor

Writs of Assistance

Allowed British officials to search homes and ships without a warrant

Colonial Reaction

Boycotts, protests, “No taxation without representation!”, Boston Tea Party, militias formed

King During the War

King George III

Sons of Liberty

Group of patriots led by Samuel Adams who protested taxes and organized boycotts

Committees of Correspondence

Groups that shared information and coordinated colonial actions against Britain

First Continental Congress 1774

Delegates from 12 colonies met to protest Intolerable Acts and organize boycotts

Boston Massacre 1770

British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing 5 colonists, used as propaganda

Boston Tea Party 1773

Colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act

French and Indian War 1754–1763

War between Britain and France for North America; Britain won but went into debt

Proclamation of 1763 Purpose

Stopped colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains

Native Americans and French

Friendly trade partners and allies in war

Native Americans and British

Distrustful relationship; British took more land

Native Americans and Colonists

Mostly hostile; colonists wanted Native land

Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775

First battles of the Revolution; “shot heard ’round the world”

Battle of Saratoga 1777

Turning point; American victory convinced France to help

Treaty of Paris 1783

Ended the war; Britain recognized U.S. independence and borders to Mississippi River

Thomas Paine

Author of “Common Sense” encouraging independence from Britain

Benjamin Franklin

Creator of “Albany Plan of Union” for colonial unity

Declaration of Independence 1776

Document declaring independence and listing King George III’s abuses

King’s Reaction to Declaration

Called colonists traitors and sent more troops

Second Continental Congress 1775

Created Continental Army, chose George Washington, approved Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government giving power to states, weak national government

Why Articles of Confederation Failed

Couldn’t tax, no president, no national court, weak central power

Mayflower Compact and Virginia House of Burgesses

Both showed colonial self-government and lawmaking

Northwest Ordinance 1787

Set rules for new states, banned slavery in Northwest Territory

U.S. Constitution 1787

The U.S. Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation to create a stronger national government, protect citizens’ rights, establish three branches—Legislative makes laws, Executive enforces them, Judicial interprets them—and set up checks and balances so each branch limits the others’ power.