1607: First permanent English settlement where settlers struggled, but tobacco saved it

Settled by pilgrims for religious freedom

Had many plantations for farming and agriculture but used slaves for tobacco

Diverse people

Very religious with a diverse economy that included shipbuilding

First representative democracies and first self-government in the colonies

The colonies had limits on trading and shipped raw materials to Great Britain

The colonies only existed for the benefit of the mother country (Great Britain)

goal= favorable balance of trade (EXPORT more than you import) 

colonies= markets and raw materials

Before the colonist fought against the British for independence, they were on the same side fighting France and the Native Americans

New land west of the Appalachian Mountains was won, but colonists couldn’t move into it because of the Proclamation of 1763

To pay off the war, Great Britain imposed and pursued new taxes

First attempt to unite the colonies: Ben Franklin’s “Join or Die”

Rejected because colonies each wanted self-government and not unity

Greece & Roman Democracy, The Enlightenment, The English Bill of Rights, The Magna Carta (limited the power of the King), John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu

the first law in North America requiring religious tolerance for Christians, passed by the assembly of the Maryland colony

like the Mayflower Compact, it’s an example of early self-gov’t and democracy in the colonies

Salutary Neglect- The British didn’t really enforce the laws against the colonies, so the colonies were left alone, little enforcement and regulation

It ended with new taxes: Stamp Act and Sugar Act, which upset the colonists.

Tried to catch smugglers with writs of assistance – could enter places without a search warrant (violation of the rights of British citizens (English Bill of Rights)

Britain wouldn’t let colonist move past the Appalachian Mountains

This land was gained after the French and Indian War

Upset the colonists and the settlers who had moved into the area

Colonists believed taxes were on them unfairly

Colonists wanted a vote in British Parliament (rejected the idea of “virtual representation)

Colonists protested and boycotted British goods

initiated new taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea and 75 other things

increased animosity between colonists and British

a series of four laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party. 

The Colonists fought the better trained and more experienced British

Colonist Advantages

Knew the land better

Alliance with France and Spain

Militia fighters – regular non-military people who did sneak attacks on the British

The will to fight for independence was much stronger

The people get to approve the government

The people have the power, not a king

Enlightenment thinker believed in “Natural Rights” and the “Social Contract Theory” and inspired the Declaration of Independence

From John Locke: the idea that the people can overthrow a government that does not protect their rights

Inspired by John Locke and the Enlightenment

Listed grievances against the king

Statement and explanation of why we are fighting for Independence

Includes “Natural Rights” and the “Social Contract Theory”

Pamphlet that encouraged the Colonists to fight the British

First US Government – TOO WEAK!

It was weak because they feared a strong central government

The states had too much power

No president or Supreme Court, only a Congress

Congress could not tax to raise money to pay off war debts

It had to be replaced with the stronger constitution

Could not fight against Shays’ rebellion

The Articles of Confederation set up the way to sell and divide new land into square townships

The Articles of Confederation set up admission of new states to the US and also prohibited slavery in NEW territories

A rebellion of Massachusetts farmers  who were in debt

Attacked courthouses because farmers were sentenced to debtor’s prison, homes foreclosed

Showed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, because the federal government didn’t have enough power to help stop the rebellion

It made people want to change the AOC and give the government more power

After the Articles of Confederation government had trouble fighting against Shays rebellion, many people wanted to “fix” the weak AOC to make it stronger

Then, instead of fixing it, the weak AOC was replaced by the stronger Constitution