US History
America Before and After the Civil War
Origins of American Democracy
Middle of the 18th century - British colonies in America were well and
prosperous
British had just won the French and Indian war, populations and trade
were booming
French and Indian war: 1756-1753 resulted in British victories over
French settlers and their Native American allies
Conflict took a toll on the royal treasury - British authorities imposed
higher taxes on the American colonists who directly benefitted from
the war
The colonists were voiceless in this new taxation
After the French and Indian war, the british colonies had a population
of 2.5 million people
Each colony had limited opportunities for self-government, and was
ultimately under control of the British
1764 - members became unhappy with the heavy handed policies of
the British
The British dispatched additional British troops to colonial cities to
continue to levy taxes on goods coming in and out of colonies
the British Parliament passed legislation to restrict the use of paper
money in the American colonies to make sure colonials paid their debts
to British merchants
1765 - Sugar and stamp acts put taxes on paper and confectionery
goods sold in the colonies
Americans were angry at being taxes heavily but being denied
representation
US History 1
, Benjamin Franklin was a vocal opponent of the taxing, and argued that
the American colonies had already contributed greatly to the British in
North America
Parliament disagreed with Bejmamin and reminded the American
colonists that as British subjects, they were technically represented
The angry Americans wanted representation
Groups like the sons of liberty engaged in civil disobedience -
encouraged colonists to boycott British goods until reforms were made
John Dickinson published Declarations of Rights and Grievances which
accused the British of misusing their power in the American colonies
The British devised new ways to get money out of the colonies
The Townshend Acts and the Tea Act levied duties on paper, glass,
and tea
The British solidified their control of the customs boardd in Boston, to
make sure the taxes were imposed
This made sure that Americans could not freely trade with any country
other than Britain
1773 - colonists began setting up Committees of Correspondence
which communicated with each other about fighting against these
unjust taxes
These committee leaders went on to become framers of a new nation
First committee was set up in Boston by Samuel Adams
The largest committee based in Virginia included Patrick Henry and
Thomas Jefferson
Decemeber 16th, 1773, the Boston Tea Party happened
Led by Samuel Adams, a group of men boarded ships belonging to the
East India company, seizing chests of tea from the ship’s storage, and
dumped it into Boston Harbour
This led the British to increase repressive pressure on the colonists
US History 2
, 1774 was a pivitol year for British and American relations
The Intolerable Acts of 1774 were a series of laws which gave Britain
more control of colonial ports, forced colonists to house British
soliders, and allowed British officials to be tried outside the colonies
Colonial patriots were preparing to fight back. In response the British
restricted town meetings and began housing British soldiers in
colonists homes without their consent
First Continental Congress convened in 1774 - with reps from each of
the 13 colonies
Goal was to set up a colonial parliament that would be able to veto acts
passed by the British Parliament
In 1775, colonial militias were formed and the first armed conflict
happened when British troops clashed with the colonial militia outisde
of Boston
Battles broke out all over the 13 colonies and even in British controlled
Canada
This was very difficult for American patriots
George Washington was an important military leader for the American
rebels, who made the Continental Army
French leader, Marquid de Lafayette provided support and employed a
Prussian general to prepare the continental army
On July 4th 1776 - colonial delegates met in Philadelphia and signed
the Declaration of Independence
It was signed by the Continental Congress president, John Hancock
It identified abuses by the British parliament and King George
Declaration aimed to move forward and create a new government that
would guard the lives, liberties, and properties of its citizens
The Battle of Yorktown was the tipping point for the colonists’ victory
Colonists and their French allies moved down from New England, while
British forces moved up from North Carolina and met in Yorktown
US History 3
, General Cornwalis attempted to escape via the coast but French fleet
blockaded by sea while the Americans blocked off Yorktown by land
After 3 days of battle Cornwallis surrendered on October 17th
This essentially ended the american revolution
In 1783 the Treaty of Paris (a peace treaty was signed), and formalized
independence
American Constitution provided architecture for new nation’s
government
The American Constitution
17th and 18th centuries - new ideas emerged in Europe around
governance and freedom
Philosophers stated that individuals had rights and governments had to
protect those rights
The leaders of America’s movement to independence were influenced
by these principles
Colonial leaders began speaking out against colonist’s lack of
representation
British parliament was made up of reps from Britain’s different counties
Britain awarded their own citizens rights, but not the American
colonists
They were angered by the billeting of British soldiers in American
homes
Britain said it had a right to tax colonists, since the taxes were being
used to fund defences of the colonies against Native americans and
french trappers
American revolutionary war from 1775-1783 and led to the creation of
the USA
A new country with a form of ogvernment based on the principles of
the Enlightenment was formed
US History 4
America Before and After the Civil War
Origins of American Democracy
Middle of the 18th century - British colonies in America were well and
prosperous
British had just won the French and Indian war, populations and trade
were booming
French and Indian war: 1756-1753 resulted in British victories over
French settlers and their Native American allies
Conflict took a toll on the royal treasury - British authorities imposed
higher taxes on the American colonists who directly benefitted from
the war
The colonists were voiceless in this new taxation
After the French and Indian war, the british colonies had a population
of 2.5 million people
Each colony had limited opportunities for self-government, and was
ultimately under control of the British
1764 - members became unhappy with the heavy handed policies of
the British
The British dispatched additional British troops to colonial cities to
continue to levy taxes on goods coming in and out of colonies
the British Parliament passed legislation to restrict the use of paper
money in the American colonies to make sure colonials paid their debts
to British merchants
1765 - Sugar and stamp acts put taxes on paper and confectionery
goods sold in the colonies
Americans were angry at being taxes heavily but being denied
representation
US History 1
, Benjamin Franklin was a vocal opponent of the taxing, and argued that
the American colonies had already contributed greatly to the British in
North America
Parliament disagreed with Bejmamin and reminded the American
colonists that as British subjects, they were technically represented
The angry Americans wanted representation
Groups like the sons of liberty engaged in civil disobedience -
encouraged colonists to boycott British goods until reforms were made
John Dickinson published Declarations of Rights and Grievances which
accused the British of misusing their power in the American colonies
The British devised new ways to get money out of the colonies
The Townshend Acts and the Tea Act levied duties on paper, glass,
and tea
The British solidified their control of the customs boardd in Boston, to
make sure the taxes were imposed
This made sure that Americans could not freely trade with any country
other than Britain
1773 - colonists began setting up Committees of Correspondence
which communicated with each other about fighting against these
unjust taxes
These committee leaders went on to become framers of a new nation
First committee was set up in Boston by Samuel Adams
The largest committee based in Virginia included Patrick Henry and
Thomas Jefferson
Decemeber 16th, 1773, the Boston Tea Party happened
Led by Samuel Adams, a group of men boarded ships belonging to the
East India company, seizing chests of tea from the ship’s storage, and
dumped it into Boston Harbour
This led the British to increase repressive pressure on the colonists
US History 2
, 1774 was a pivitol year for British and American relations
The Intolerable Acts of 1774 were a series of laws which gave Britain
more control of colonial ports, forced colonists to house British
soliders, and allowed British officials to be tried outside the colonies
Colonial patriots were preparing to fight back. In response the British
restricted town meetings and began housing British soldiers in
colonists homes without their consent
First Continental Congress convened in 1774 - with reps from each of
the 13 colonies
Goal was to set up a colonial parliament that would be able to veto acts
passed by the British Parliament
In 1775, colonial militias were formed and the first armed conflict
happened when British troops clashed with the colonial militia outisde
of Boston
Battles broke out all over the 13 colonies and even in British controlled
Canada
This was very difficult for American patriots
George Washington was an important military leader for the American
rebels, who made the Continental Army
French leader, Marquid de Lafayette provided support and employed a
Prussian general to prepare the continental army
On July 4th 1776 - colonial delegates met in Philadelphia and signed
the Declaration of Independence
It was signed by the Continental Congress president, John Hancock
It identified abuses by the British parliament and King George
Declaration aimed to move forward and create a new government that
would guard the lives, liberties, and properties of its citizens
The Battle of Yorktown was the tipping point for the colonists’ victory
Colonists and their French allies moved down from New England, while
British forces moved up from North Carolina and met in Yorktown
US History 3
, General Cornwalis attempted to escape via the coast but French fleet
blockaded by sea while the Americans blocked off Yorktown by land
After 3 days of battle Cornwallis surrendered on October 17th
This essentially ended the american revolution
In 1783 the Treaty of Paris (a peace treaty was signed), and formalized
independence
American Constitution provided architecture for new nation’s
government
The American Constitution
17th and 18th centuries - new ideas emerged in Europe around
governance and freedom
Philosophers stated that individuals had rights and governments had to
protect those rights
The leaders of America’s movement to independence were influenced
by these principles
Colonial leaders began speaking out against colonist’s lack of
representation
British parliament was made up of reps from Britain’s different counties
Britain awarded their own citizens rights, but not the American
colonists
They were angered by the billeting of British soldiers in American
homes
Britain said it had a right to tax colonists, since the taxes were being
used to fund defences of the colonies against Native americans and
french trappers
American revolutionary war from 1775-1783 and led to the creation of
the USA
A new country with a form of ogvernment based on the principles of
the Enlightenment was formed
US History 4
