Birth of the American Republic

Britain Becomes a Global Power Location – position to control trade Favorable business climate 1700s – Britain general on the winning side of European conflicts Territory expansion at home In 1760 George III began 60-year reign and he set out to reassert royal power By mid-1700s string of prosperous colonies along Atlantic coast Britain applied mercantilist policies to regulate trade but the Navigation Acts were not strictly enforced Religiously & ethnically diverse, social distinctions blurred, free discussion and colonists felt entitled to rights as English citizens, had colonial assemblies that exercised control over local affairs

Colonists Express Discontent The Seven Years War and the French and Indian War had drained British treasury. King George & Parliament felt colonists should help pay for war Sugar Act 1764 – imposed import taxes Stamp Act – 1765 – taxed newspapers and pamphlets “No Taxation Without Representation!” After a series of violent clashes…colonists/protestors and soldiers met in Boston in March 1770 …..Boston Massacre then in December 1773 – Boston Tea Party…. Tensions increased and representatives from each colony met in Philadelphia in a Continental Congress to take action ….

Colonists Declare Independence April 1775 – Lexington and Concord…”shots heard round the world” 1776 – Second Continental Congress set up Continental Army Thomas Jefferson penned Declaration of Independence “Life Liberty and property” Popular Sovereignty Social contract – right to rebel July 4, 1776 – Declare Independence

American Revolution Continues… British Advantages Colonists Advantages Trained soldiers Huge fleet Greater resources 1/3 of colonists were Loyalists Support of some Native American tribes Knowledge of geography of continent Strong leader – George Washington Support of some Native American Tribes After Battle of Saratoga (1777) – Support of French, Spanish and Netherlands

A New Constitution 1781 – French fleet blockaded Chesapeake Bay forcing British Army in Yorktown, VA to surrender Treaty of Paris (1783) formally ended the war Articles of Confederation were first constitution… 1787 nations leaders again gathered in Philadelphia to draft new Constitution The Framers of the Constitution were heavily influenced by the ideas of the philosophes like Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau It has endured for almost 200 years as a symbol of Freedom and an inspiration for democracy and independence all over the world