1. Roots of American Democracy and steps to Revolution
Chapter 2 Section 2
Birth of a Democratic Nation

2. 1. Mercantilism
Adopted in 1760, England tried to squeeze wealth out of the colonies
Theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys
Colonies source for cheap, raw materials
Colonies had to buy British products at high prices

3. 2. French and Indian War
England fought 7 year war against France winning and gaining new North American territory
To cover costs of war and ruling the new land, England began heavy taxation

4. 3. Proclamation of 1763
British announced land won during the French and Indian War (land west of the Appalachian Mountains) would be reserved for Native Americans.
It was against the law for colonists to settle that area
This frustrated the colonists b/c
unable to move westward as they had hoped
British intended to maintain an even tighter control over the colonies than ever before

5. 3. Proclamation of 1763

6. 4. The Quartering Act of 1765
To “quarter”-to give soldiers a place to stay
This act required colonists to put British soldiers up in their homes.
In addition, colonists had to provide fuel, candles, beer, transportation for troops
This act angered the colonists b/c they believed that the British soldiers had been sent not to protect the colonists but to control them.

7. 5. The Stamp Act of 1765
Required colonists to pay a tax on most printed materials, such as newspapers, pamphlets, marriage licenses and playing cards.
Colonists not only angered by having to pay the tax, but felt their freedom had been threatened b/c they had no say in making the law
They cried “Taxation without Representation”
Eventually the act was repealed after the colonists boycotted British goods

8. 6. The Townshend Acts of 1767
Small indirect tax on glass, lead, paper and tea
The tax was indirect b/c it was collected at the sea ports before the items reached colonial stores
Since the tax would then be included in the price the colonists paid at the stores (and not added onto the price as with the Stamp Act), Townshend hoped no one would notice
The colonists did recognize it and saw it as another example of taxation without representation and organized a boycott

9. 7. The Boston Massacre of 1770

10. 7. The Boston Massacre of 1770
On March 5, 1770, a mob of colonists in Boston began to harass British troops by taunting them and throwing snowballs
The situation got out of hand and the troops opened fire killing 5 colonists
Most colonists believed the soldiers were at fault and called a town meeting to demand the removal of the British troops and argue for the trial of the British

11. 8. The Tea Act
In 1773 Parliament passed the Tea Act, which gave the British East Indies company a monopoly on the American tea business
The colonists were now only allowed to buy tea from the British company
Viewed this as taxation without representation

12. 9. Boston Tea Party of 1773

13. 9. Boston Tea Party of 1773
To protest the Tea Act, the Sons of Liberty organized the Boston Tea Party
They dressed as Native Americans and smashed open 340 chests of tea and dumped them into the harbor

14. 10. The Coercive, or Intolerable, Acts in 1774
Picture depicts assault on Native American woman (symbol of colonies)
Distributed throughout colonies

15. 10. The Coercive, or Intolerable, Acts in 1774
British passed in response to Boston Tea Party
Closed Boston Harbor/imposed military rule
Even though the act only applied to Mass. other colonies got involved for fear that England would impose these on everyone else eventually
Minutemen began to store arms and train for possible battle at a minute’s notice

16. 11. The First Continental Congress in 1774

17. 11. The First Continental Congress in 1774
Met at Carpenter’s Hall in Philly

18. 11. The First Continental Congress in 1774
As a result of the Coercive Acts the colonists put aside their differences and for the first time agreed to work together at meeting in Philadelphia
They felt they needed to address their concerns to the King as a unified group
Congress called for a complete boycott of trade of all goods with Britain
The most important outcome of this meeting was that they agreed to meet again

19. 12. Lexington and Concord in 1775

20. 12. Lexington and Concord in 1775
Parliament rejected all petitions from 1st Continental Congress
April 1775, British troops left Boston/marched to nearby Lexington and Concord to seize the stores of colonial gunpowder and arms
At Lexington colonial minutemen met the British soldiers
The British pushed onto Concord, where they were met with more Minutemen
Then, while the British retreated back to Boston, minutemen fired upon them from behind trees and fences
The Revolutionary War had begun

21. 13. Second Continental Congress

22. 13. Second Continental Congress
May, 1775, leaders met in Philadelphia for months
Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense calling for complete independence
Congress now acted as government for colonies and established a committee to declare independence

23. 13. Second Continental Congress
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense encouraged independence

24. 14. Declaration of Independence

25. 14. Declaration of Independence

26. 14. Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote most
Listed abuses of King
Identified rights of individuals/role of the government was to protect those rights
Declared independence

27. 15. John Locke and the Second Treatise of Government

28. 15. John Locke and the Second Treatise of Government
Locke, 17th century English philosopher
Good government is based upon a social contract between rulers and people
People agree to give up some freedom and abide by decisions of government
Government promises to protect the lives, property and liberty of people
People have natural rights including life, liberty and property