1. The birth of a democratic nation
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2. Colonial resistance and rebellion
George III became king in 1760
Adopted a policy of mercantilism (theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys)
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3. source of cheap raw materials
Colonies
source of cheap raw materials
required to sell at low prices to Great Britain (GB)
also had to buy British goods at high prices
businesses suffered
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4. After French and Indian War, GB had to pay off war debts
had to cover costs of ruling new lands
so, raised taxes on colonies
Stamp Act: had to attach stamps to any paper
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5. boycotted (refused to buy) British goods
“No taxation without representation”
boycotted (refused to buy) British goods
Parliament repealed (cancelled) the taxes

6. Levied new taxes on basic items Colonists brought back boycott
Townshend Acts
Levied new taxes on basic items
Colonists brought back boycott
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7. 1773: Parliament passed Tea Act
Gave the BEI Co rights to ship tea without paying taxes
Also bypassed colonial middle men
Made tea so cheap no one else could compete
Colonists blocked ships
Boston Tea Party
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8. Coercive Acts (or Intolerable Acts) passed in GB
Restricted colonists rights
Allowed British soldiers to search and/or move into colonists homes
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9. First Continental Congress
12 colonies sent delegates (representatives) to Philadelphia
Sent document to King George asking for rights back
GB fought back
Lexington & Concord April 1775
Colonists questioned attachment to GB
Wanted independence (self-reliance and freedom from outside control)
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10. Second Continental Congress
May 1775
Not all delegates wanted independence
January Thomas Payne Common Sense
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11. The Declaration of Independence
Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson
Included list of abuses and called King George a “tyrant… unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”
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12. Rights of the individual
Purpose of gov. is to protect the people’s rights
Gov. based on consent of the people
Ideas influenced by John Locke
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13. 2nd CC approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776
In theory, colonies were independent states
But only truly free when GB recognized the US as an independent nation
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