The American Revolution Introduction to American Society
British Colonies
Regions of the USA
New England Area
New England Colonies Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode Island New Hampshire
Middle Colonies New York New Jersey Delaware Pennsylvania
John Smith -Made the first map of New England’s coast -Made Jamestown, the first British colony, 1607
Pilgrims (also called “Puritans”) Separated from the Church of England Most of them left England to start new life in North America Made Plymouth Colony (1620) and Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628) 20,000 people came from England
Puritans Impact on culture: First were friendly with Native Americans (Thanksgiving) Then had wars with Native Americans because colonists wanted Native American lands (expansion) Believed education was important (first public education was in Boston, Massachusetts)
Southern Colonies Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia
Triangular Trade England and other European countries sent goods like cloth and guns to trade in Africa African colonies traded slaves to European colonies Slaves went to American and Caribbean colonies Ships then took sugar, rum, and tobacco from the Americas back to Europe
Slaves in America Brought on slave ships Worked on plantations (big farms) Many slaves needed for sugar and tobacco plantations Later worked in the Southern states to pick cotton
Southern colonies Different religions, but many people from the Church of England Loyal to England Used slaves in agriculture People who owned plantations and slaves were very rich
Patriots vs. Loyalists Patriots – wanted new country and independence Loyalists – loyal to England, wanted to stay with king Wanted representation in government Wanted freedom if England didn’t give representation Made new government and created the Declaration of Independence Won the war Thought life was better under British rule Business interests in England Afraid of British army Many returned to England after England lost the war
Why did the American colonists win? England didn’t have money because they had just fought a war with the French in North America (Canada) in 1763 France, Spain, and the Netherlands helped give money and weapons to the American colonists The British Army made bad decisions British make peace in Treaty of Paris (1783)
13 Colonies became the United States in 1776 Original flag had 13 stars – why?