American History Review

European age of discovery fifteenth-sixteenth century Great powers- Spain, Portugal, France, Britain
y y y y y y y y y y y Columbus believed the world was round from reading Marco Polo s accounts of travels. However, he underestimated the size of the world. He believed he sail a westward voyage to Asia in three days He tried to persuade King John II of Portugal, but refused. However, convinced Queen Isabella of Spain who supported his voyage Voyage was because of God, Glory and Gold Columbus s three hips Pinta, Nina and Santa Maria Columbus left August 3 1492, 2 months later on October 12 landed on New World (believed to be Cuba) 3 months later returned to Spain with 2 captives as evidence he jad found a route Columbus made two more voyages Columbus was soon ordered home by Spain authorities for killing the Native Americans, also the gold and riches were not there. The new continent was name names after Amerigo Vesspucci

Fall of Spanish Empire y y y y Relations between religions among the nations of Europe during the sixteenth century. Catholic vs Protestant. Spain- leading cathokic nations Britain-leading Protestant nation. Sir Francis and the sea Dogs scored Atlantic sea, pirating Spanish treasure ships. 1573Sir Francis Drake stole a bunch of silver shipment and raided Spanish Settlement. Francis Drake returned to England with rickes 1588- King Philip II sent a hughe fleet (Armada) against England. Outnumbered English two-one, but English ships more maneuverable. Thi wond start of the rise of England.

First English Colonies y Sir Walter Raleigh sailed from England to New World in 1585, seven ships carrying one hundred men landed on Roanoke, coast of present North Carolina. Walter Raleigh returned to England for supplies leaving behind colony, returned three years later. Colony was gone CROATAN Plymouth Company s charter gave it the right to settle land from present day Maine to New York

Londo company acquired rights to the territory stretching from Potamac River south to what is now North Carolina

Jamestown y y y y y y y In 1606 120 men and boys left London to establish settlement, in 1607built a fort on James river and called settlement Jamestown after the king However, disease, and the colonists were all aristocrats who didn t want to do work. Many people died. By end of first year nearly half of 104 settlers had died But Jamestown survives because of John Smith, made strict laws about work, a Captured by Natives but Pocahontas saves him. Pocahontas marries John Rolfe who was first slave owner Jamestown ideal place to grow West Indian tobacco, made a profit encourages slavery

Hose of Burgesses A representative assembly to limit royal authority and increase citizen participation, created a pattern of government that other colonies followed . Reasons for Migration to New World y y y Dissatisfied with lives in England Younger sons who did not inherit any land and low income people left to find better prospects and employment Religious freedom

Protestant Reformenty Europe once ruled by Roman Catholic Church but at beginning of sixteenth century, Martin Luther mad at corruption that crept into it opposed that good works lead to salvation, but only faith alone could, tried to change the church, but then just left it. Started movement call Protestant reformation spread throughout Europe. Henrey VIII declares himself head of the church, Elizabeth became head of church, however protestant church kept many catholic practices

Pilgrims y y Many people thought church hadn t changed enoughand decided to separate themselves from the church called Separatists Pilgrims Created settlement in 16200. 102 men and women set sail onship called Mayflower with permission from London Company to Virginia

However ship went of sail and landed in present day Massacheusettes. Responsible for governing themselves --- created Mayflower compact a set of laws that they agreed on. Detailed the set of rules the Pilgrims had to follow- fourty-one colonists signed agreement Lead by William bradford

Puritans y y y Wanted to reform the church King Charles refused to let Puritans worship how they wanted to Puritans left to New World created colonies, went to Massachusetts bay, under leadership of of John Winthrop

John Winthrop governor. Puritans very strict religiously. Anyone who went against Pilgrim belief was exiled. Anne Hutchinson was exiled was antinomianist believed that people had the right to set their own religion Roger Williams, clergyman, said the government didn t have the right to govern religious behaviour. Rhode Island haven for religious dissenters. Another group of people for Massachusetts Bay, founded Hartford Conneticut. Tom hooker, the leader. agreed with Puritan theology but believed John Winthrop had too much power
COLONY NAME/Year Founded
Leader

Reasons Founded

Type of Government

Massachusetts Plymouth/1620 Massachusetts Bay/ 1630 Massachusetts Conneticut Hartford/ New Haven

William Bradford John Winthrop 1620 Thoms Hooker

Religious Freedom

Puritans Extend trade and Religious Freedom

1691

New Hampshire/ 1622 Ferdinando Profit from trade and fishing Gorges John Mason Rhode Island Roger Williams Religious Freedom

1679

Self-governing 163644 corporate 1644-

1776 New York/1624 Delaware/1638 New Jersey/1664 Pensylvania/1682 Virginia/1607 North Carolina Peter Minuet Swedish Settlers John Berkley William Penn John Smtih 1663/1712 Expand Trade Expand Trade Profit for founders Virginians Trade and Agriculture Profit from trade ad agriculture, religious freedom Profit from trade ad agriculture, religious freedom Profit. Buffer against Spanish Florida N/A N/A N/A 1729 1702 1685

South Carolina/1663

1663/1712

1729

Georgia

James Oglethorpe

1752

Propriety Colonies Colonies where the settlers could own property

New Hampshire, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia were propriety colonies Royal Colonies English crown wanted to control of colonies and created royal conies, by 1730 all conies were colonies except for Pennsylvania and Maryland

The American Revolution (1763-1787) Writs of AssistanceBritish officials felt contemptuous of Americans and were eager to increaseimperial control over them beyond anything that had previously been attempted. This drive togain new authority over the colonies led directly to American independence. The Writs of Assistance themselves were general search warrants issued to help royal officials stop evasion of Britains mercantilist trade reforms.Grenvillestrongly anti-American prime minister who attempted to solve the problem of thenational debt incurred during the war by taxing the colonies. Of related concern was the cost of defending the American frontier, recently the scene of a bloody uprising led by Ottawa chief Pontiac. Grenville created a comprehensive program to deal with these problems. He sent theroyal navy in to prevent smuggling and enforce the Navigation Acts. He also issued theProclamation of 1763, forbidding white settlement west of the Appalachians, in hopes of keepingthe Indians happy and the settlers easier to control.Sugar Actaimed at raising revenue by taxes on goods imported by the Americans. It halved theduties imposed by the Molasses Act but was intended to raise revenue rather than control trade/ itwas strictly enforced.Quartering Actrequired the colonies in which British troops were stationed to pay for their maintenance. Americans had never before been required to support a standing army in their midst.Currency Act of 1764forbade colonial attempts to issue currency not redeemable in gold or silver, making it more difficult for Americans to avoid the constant drain of money that Britainsmercantilist policies were designed to create in the colonies.Stamp Actimposed a direct tax on the colonies for the first time. The act requited Americans to purchase revenue stamps on newspapers and legal documents and would have created animpossible drain on hard currency in the colonies. Patrick Henry denounced the act and antipathywas prevalent in MA.Stamp Act Congressinstigated by James Otis. It passed moderate resolutions against the act,asserting that Americans could not be taxed without their consent, given by their representatives.They pointed out that Americans were not, and because of their location, could not berepresented by Parliament and concluded by calling for the repeal of the both the Stamp andSugar Acts. The congress showed that the colonies could work together and gave political leadersin the various colonies a chance to become acquainted with one another.Declaratory Actpassed in return for the repeal of the Stamp Act. It claimed that Britain had theright to tax the colonies for any reason. Townshend Actsincluded the use of admiralty courts to try those accused of violations, the useof writs of assistance, and paying of customs officials out of the fines they levied. Americanreaction was initially slow.Massachusetts Circular Letterurged colonial legislators to pass petitions calling on Parliamentto repeal the Townshend Acts. British authorities ordered that if the letter was not withdrawn, theMA legislature would be dissolved and new elections held. They forbade the other coloniallegislatures to take up the matter, and they also sent 4 regiments of troops to Boston to preventintimidation of royal officers.Tea Act of 1773in desperate financial condition, partially because the Americans were buyingsmuggled Dutch Tea rather than the taxed British product, the British East India Company soughtand obtained from Parliament concessions allowing it to ship tea directly to the colonies rather than only by way of Britain. The result was that East India Company tea, even with the tax, wascheaper than smuggled Dutch tea. The colonists would thus, it was hoped, buy the tea, tax andall, thereby accepting Parliaments right to tax them. Americans, however, resisted the cheaper tea and people tried to keep the taxes from being collected.Boston Tea PartyPro-British governor Thomas Hutchinson forced a confrontation by orderingroyal navy vessels to prevent the tea ships from leaving the harbor. After 20 days this wouldresult in the cargoes being sold at auction and the tax paid. The night

before the time was toexpire, Bostonians boarded the ship and threw the tea into the harbor.Coercive Actsthe British response to the Boston Tea PartyBoston Port Actclosed to port of Boston to all trade until local citizens would agree to pay for the lost tea.Massachusetts Government Actgreatly increased the power of the MA royal governor at theexpense of the legislature.Administration of Justice Actprovided that royal officials accused of crimes in MA could betried elsewhere.Quartering Actallowed the new governor to quarter his troops anywhere, including occupied private homes.Quebec Actextended the province of Quebec to the Ohio River, established Catholicism asQuebecs official religion, and set up for Quebec a government without a representativeassembly. For Americans this was a denial of the hopes and expectations of westward expansionfor which they had fought the French and Indian war. New Englanders especially saw it as athreat to their colonies.First Continental Congresscalled in response to the Coercive Acts and met in Sep 1774. It petitioned parliament for relief but also passed the Suffolk Resolves, denouncing the acts andcalling for strict nonimportation and rigorous preparation of local militia companies in caseBritain should resort to military force.Lexington and ConcordGeneral Gage was given orders to provoke any sort of confrontationthat would allow him to turn British military might loose on the Americans. He decided on areconnaissance-in-force to find and destroy a reported stockpile of colonial arms and ammunitionat Concord. Their movement was detected and news was spread throughout the countryside. At

the village of Lexington, Captain Parker awaited the British. The British continued on toConcord to discover that nearly all of the military supplies they had expected to find had already been moved and began to retreat toward Boston. Open warfare began.Bunker Hillin May 1775, 3 more British generals arrived in Boston urging Gage to further aggressive action. The following month the Americans tightened the noose around Boston byfortifying Breeds Hill, from which they could bombard Boston. The British determined toremove by a frontal attack that would demonstrate their power. After the bloodiest battle of thewar, the British gained little and remained bottled in Boston.The Second Continental Congressdivided into 2 main factions. One was composed mostly of New Englanders and leaned towards declaring independence from Britain. The other drew itsstrength primarily from the middle colonies and was not yet ready to go so far. It was led by JohnDickinson. Congress took action to deal with the difficult situation facing the colonies. It adopteda Declaration of the Causes and Necessity for Taking up Arms and the Olive BranchPetition, pleading with King George III to intercede and restore peace.Prohibitory Actdeclared the colonies to be in rebellion and no longer under the protection of the King. The act encouraged many to join the assault against British rule.Thomas Painepublished a pamphlet called Common Sense, calling for immediateindependence. It became immediately popular.Saratogaa strong American victory that convinced the French to join the war openly.Valley Forgethe location where American troops spent a winter drilling to become a more professional fighting force under the leadership of Baron von Steuben.Yorktownthe location of Cornwallis surrender Treaty of Paris of 1783the US was recognized as an independent nation by the major European powers; its western boundary was

set as the Mississippi river; its southern boundary was set at 31north latitude; Britain retained Canada but had to surrender Florida to Spain; private Britishcreditors would be free to collect any debts owned by all US citizens; and Congress wasrecommended that the states restore confiscated loyalist property.Articles of Confederationpreserved the sovereignty of the states and created a weak nationalgovernment. They provided for a unicameral Congress in which each state would have one vote.Executive authority would be vested in a committee of 13, one member for each state. In order toamend the Articles, the unanimous consent of all the states was required. The Articles of Confederation government was entitled to make treaties, determine the amount of troops andmoney each state should contribute to the war effort, settle disputes between states, admit newstates, and borrow money. It was not empowered to levy taxes, raise troops, or regulatecommerce.Ratification of the articles was delayed by a disagreement over the future status of the lands thatlay west of the original 13 states. Some states held extensive claims to these lands based on their original colonial charters, and same states refused ratification until these claims wererelinquished.

Trans-Appalachian Westfor many Americans, this area represented an opportunity to escapethe economic hard times that followed the end of the war. The settlement of Kentucky andTennessee increased the pressure for the opening of lands north of the Ohio River.Land Ordinance of 1784provided for territorial government and an orderly system by whicheach territory could progress to full statehood.Land Ordinance of 1785provided for the orderly

surveying and the tribution of land intownships six miles square. Northwest Ordinance of 1787provided a bill of rights for settlement and forbad slavery northof the Ohio River.JayGardoqui Negotiationsin 1784 Jay began negotiations with Spanish minister Gardoqui for a treaty that would have granted lucrative commercial privileges in exchange for US acceptanceof Spains closure of the MI river as an outlet for agricultural goods of the rapidly growingsettlements in KT and TN. When Jay reported this to Congress in 1786, the West and South wereoutraged.Shays Rebellioneconomic hard times coupled with high taxes intended to pay off the stateswar debt drove western MA farmers to desperation. Led by war veteran Daniel Shays, they shutdown courts to prevent judges from seizing property or condemning people to debtors prison for failing to pay their taxes. The unrest created a disproportionate amount of panic in the rest of theunion. Many came to feel that a stronger government was needed to control such violent publicoutbursts. The United States Constitution (1785-1789) Constitutional Conventionthe delegates shared a basic belief in the innate selfishness of man,which must be kept from abusing the power of government. For this purpose the document thatthey finally produced contained many checks and balances designed to prevent the government,or any one branch of the government, from gaining too much power.Virginia Plan called for an executive branch and two houses of Congress, each based on population. Created by Madison and presented by Edmond Randolph. This plan was eventuallyadopted for further discussion. New Jersey Plancalled for the continuation of a unicameral legislature with equalrepresentation for the states as well as sharply increased powers for the national government.This plan was favored by small states.The Great Compromisecreated a president, a senate with all states represented equally, and ahouse of representatives with representation determined by size. Proposed by Franklin.Three-Fifths Compromisea backhanded way of addressing the issue of slavery. Each slavewould count for 3/5 of a person when determining state population, but slavery itself was never explicitly mentioned in the constitution. The federal government was prohibited from stoppingthe import of slaves prior to 1808.Federaliststhose who favored the passing of the constitution. They were effective in explainingthe convention and the document it produced. The Federalist Papers, written by Hamilton,Madison, and Jay, expounded the constitution and demonstrated how it was designed to prevent

the abuse of power f