1. Early American Government and Revolution

2. King George III

3. Colonial Governments
By 1733 all 13 colonies had established governments
Colonists began to separate themselves from England & rule themselves
Mid 1700s – Britain began to tighten control over the colonists under King George III – needed money to pay debts from the French & Indian War
Wanted to maintain control of resources & markets
Class Discussion: Do you think England had a right to tax the colonists?

4. The French and Indian War
French empire collided w/ British empire
Competing over the Ohio River Valley

5. British Policies that lead to Revolution
1. Mercantilism - Policy of encouraging exports and discouraging imports – pushes imperialism
The Navigation Acts of 1660
British Action:
Designed to keep trade in England and support mercantilism
Colonists could only trade goods with England
All colonial ships must stop in a British harbor before going to another country
Colonial Response:
Ignored them (profitable to trade with other countries)
Salutary Neglect (relaxed enforcement for continued loyalty)

6. British Policies Cont. 2. Taxes
Used to pay war debts from the French & Indian War
1765 Stamp Act – tax on virtually everything paper (newspapers, wills, cards, etc)
Virtual Representation – colonists had no representation in parliament so argued “no taxation without representation” – British government argued the colonies were a part of the British empire and parliament made laws for the good of the empire therefore the colonists were virtually represented
British Policies Cont.

7. Stamp Act

8. Colonists began boycotting goods under the Stamp Act until repealed
Townshend Acts – 1767 – a tax on all imports
“Boston Massacre” in 1770
Tea Act 1773 – led to the Boston Tea Party
After the Boston Tea Party, King George III enacted the Coercive Acts – 1774
Colonists called these The Intolerable Acts
Restricted colonists rights including fair trial by jury
Allowed soldiers to search homes
Allowed quartering of soldiers
British Policies Cont.

9. Boston Massacre

10. Boston Tea Party

11. Americans divided on two sides
Loyalists- colonists who supported the British (Tories)
Patriots- colonists who supported freedom from British rule

12. Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the document
America was influenced by the Enlightenment. America became a country during the heart of the Enlightenment. As a result, it was greatly influenced by Enlightened thinkers.
The Declaration of Independence as well as the US Constitution with its Bill of Rights would probably not have existed if the Enlightenment had not occurred.
4 parts
Preamble – Introduction
Declaration of Rights – explained rights that all people should have
List of Grievances – all that King George III did to the colonists
Formal Declaration of Independence
Approved on July 4, 1776

13. Declaration of Independence

14. Difficult Choices 1/3 of Americans supported the war
1/3 were indifferent
1/3 were Loyalists
African Americans – controversial to allow them to fight – slaves were recruited in the end
Native Americans – urged to attack settlers by the British
Women – while active in the war, could not participate politically in the new nation.

15. War’s End Spain entered the war on American side
Louis XVI of France did not really care about the American Revolution but entered the war to weaken France’s rival – Britain
Surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781
Treaty of Paris, 1783 – Officially ended the American Revolution

16. Break Up Letter
You are a colonist and are writing a break up letter to King George III (your own Declaration of Independence). Using the causes of the Revolution you just learned about, tell George why your relationship isn’t working out.
1. Give at least 3 reasons
2. Explain why those reasons are
leading you to make this decision
3. Your letter should demonstrate
that you understand why the
colonists declared independence from Great Britain.

17. Articles Of Confederation
Federal system: Power is divided between national and state governments.
The Federal government was intentionally made weak under the Articles of Confederation.
Could Could not
Make laws Tax
Control military - Enforce laws
Organize treaties - Regulate trade
- Establish national courts
- Control money supply

18. The Articles proved to be too weak for the country and after 10 years the founders realized a stronger central government was needed.
Constitution is created –
Supreme law of the land.
Provides the framework for government in the United States.
All powers for each branch of government are in the Constitution.
Checks and Balances - The powers of the government are divided into three branches: The system of checks and balances keeps one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

19. Federalists supported the Constitution.
Anti-federalists were those that opposed the Constitution. They felt that too much power was given to the National government. They wanted a bill of rights.
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in 1791, protects our civil liberties
the freedoms we have to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair treatment
The first 10 amendments