Jamestown (Virginia)
First permanent English settlement saved by tobacco
Plymouth Colony
Settled by pilgrims for religious freedom
Southern Colonies
Relied on plantations and slaves for tobacco farming
Middle Colonies
Characterized by diverse populations
New England
Known for religious diversity and shipbuilding
Virginia House of Burgesses, Mayflower Compact, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and the New England Town Meetings
First representative democracies in the colonies
Mercantilism
Colonies existed for the benefit of Great Britain, aimed for a favorable trade balance
French and Indian War 1754
Fought against France and Native Americans, led to new land but restricted by Proclamation of 1763
Albany Plan of Union
Ben Franklin's attempt to unite colonies, rejected due to desire for self-government
Ideas that influenced the founding of America
Greek & Roman Democracy, Enlightenment, English Bill of Rights, Magna Carta, John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu
Maryland Toleration Act 1649
First law requiring religious tolerance in North America
Causes of the Revolutionary War
End of Salutary Neglect led to new taxes and enforcement
Causes of the Revolutionary War
Proclamation of 1763 restricted colonists' movement
Causes of the Revolutionary War
Taxation without Representation led to protests and boycotts
Townshend Acts 1767
Imposed new taxes, increased tensions between colonists and British
Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) 1774
Laws to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party
Revolutionary War
The War for Independence saw colonists fighting against the British
Consent of the Governed
People's approval of the government
John Locke
Enlightenment thinker on Natural Rights and Social Contract Theory
The Social Contract
People can overthrow a government that doesn't protect their rights
The Declaration of Independence
Inspired by John Locke, lists grievances and reasons for independence
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Pamphlet encouraging colonists to fight the British
Articles of Confederation
Weak first US government, replaced by the Constitution
Land Ordinance of 1785
Set up the division and sale of new land
Northwest Ordinance 1787
Admission of new states and prohibition of slavery in new territories
Shays' Rebellion
Massachusetts farmers' rebellion showing weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
Held to replace the weak Articles of Confederation with the stronger Constitution