American History-Part I

8/23/2019 American History-Part I

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American HistoryPart 1Course No. 2100310

Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Services

Division of Public Schools and Community Education

Florida Department of Education

2000


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This product was developed by Leon County Schools, Exceptional Student Education

Department, through the Curriculum Improvement Project, a special project, funded by the

State of Florida, Department of Education, Division of Public Schools and Community

Education, Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Services, through federal

assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B.

Copyright

State of Florida

Department of State

2000

Authorization for reproduction is hereby granted to the State System of Public Education as

defined in Section 228.041(1), Florida Statutes. No authorization is granted for distribution

or reproduction outside the State System of Public Education without prior approval in writing.


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Exceptional Student Education

Curriculum Improvement ProjectIDEA, Part B, Special Project

American HistoryPart 1

Course No. 2100310

revised and edited bySue Fresen

Joshua Logan

Kathleen McCarron

graphics byRachel McAllister

page layout byBlanche Blank

http://www.leon.k12.fl.us/public/pass/


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Curriculum Improvement ProjectSue Fresen, Project Manager

Leon County Exceptional Student Education (ESE)

Ward Spisso, Director of Exceptional Education and Student ServicesDiane Johnson, Director of the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)/Miccosukee Associate Center

Superintendent of Leon County SchoolsWilliam J. Montford

School Board of Leon CountyTom Young, Chair

Joy BowenJ. Scott DaileyMaggie LewisFred Varn


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v

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................... xi

Section 1: Founding the New Nation (Prehistory-1877).......................... 1Unit 1: America from Exploration through Colonization (Prehistory-1763)....... 3

Unit Focus .................................................................................................................... 3Vocabulary.................................................................................................................... 5Introduction ................................................................................................................. 9Pre-Columbian Era...................................................................................................... 9Columbus Opens the Door for Exploration .......................................................... 11British North America Is Colonized ....................................................................... 13New England Colonies Formed for Religious Reasons....................................... 15Other Colonies ........................................................................................................... 18

The Three Regions of the Thirteen Colonies ......................................................... 18British Colonial Policy .............................................................................................. 20Summary .................................................................................................................... 22Practice........................................................................................................................ 24

Unit 2: Road to Revolution (1764-1788).................................................................... 33Unit Focus .................................................................................................................. 33Vocabulary.................................................................................................................. 35Introduction ............................................................................................................... 39Stirrings of Rebellion ................................................................................................ 39

First Continental Congress ...................................................................................... 42Second Continental Congress.................................................................................. 43War for Independence .............................................................................................. 44E pluribus unumOut of Many, One ................................................................ 46Articles of Confederation ......................................................................................... 47Constitutional Convention of 1787 ......................................................................... 50Creating a Federal Union ......................................................................................... 53Summary .................................................................................................................... 54Practice........................................................................................................................ 55

Unit 3: The Constitution and Early National Period (1787-1820)........................ 65Unit Focus .................................................................................................................. 65Vocabulary.................................................................................................................. 67Introduction ............................................................................................................... 71Need to Ratify the Constitution .............................................................................. 72Federalists and Antifederalists ................................................................................ 72Political Parties Take Shape ..................................................................................... 73Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification ......................................................................... 74


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Basic Principles of the Constitution........................................................................ 75The Constitution of the United States of America................................................ 76Beginnings of the War of 1812 ................................................................................. 87Major Events and Results of the War of 1812 ........................................................ 88Summary .................................................................................................................... 91Practice........................................................................................................................ 92

Unit 4: The Civil War and the Reconstruction Era (1820-1877).......................... 109Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 109Vocabulary.................................................................................................................111Introduction ............................................................................................................. 117Re-emergence of Regions ....................................................................................... 117Missouri Compromise of 1820 .............................................................................. 118Nullification Crisis .................................................................................................. 119Olive Branch and the Sword.................................................................................. 120Mexican War ............................................................................................................ 121Different Economies................................................................................................ 122Compromise of 1850 ............................................................................................... 122Bleeding Kansas ...................................................................................................... 126The Dred Scott Decision ......................................................................................... 128The Lincoln-Douglas Debates ............................................................................... 128The Civil War Begins at Fort Sumter .................................................................... 129Reconstruction and the Freedmens Bureau ....................................................... 134

Summary .................................................................................................................. 137Practice...................................................................................................................... 138

Section 2: Strengthening the New Nation (1840-1933)........................ 149

Unit 5: Westward Expansion (1840-1890) ................................................................ 151Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 151Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 153Introduction ............................................................................................................. 157

Native Americans in the West ............................................................................... 160American Settlement of the West .......................................................................... 160Conflict with the Native Americans ..................................................................... 162Farming in the West ................................................................................................ 165The Cattle Kingdom................................................................................................ 166Mining Towns .......................................................................................................... 167Summary .................................................................................................................. 167Practice...................................................................................................................... 168


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Unit 6: Development of Industrial America (1865-1925) ..................................... 181Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 181Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 183Introduction ............................................................................................................. 185Why American Industry Developed .................................................................... 185The Role of Inventions............................................................................................ 186Development of Corporations............................................................................... 188Reform of the Trusts................................................................................................ 189Summary .................................................................................................................. 190Practice...................................................................................................................... 191

Unit 7: Problems in Industrial America (1867-1935)............................................ 201

Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 201Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 203Introduction ............................................................................................................. 205Problems of the Farmer .......................................................................................... 205Problems of Industrial Workers ............................................................................ 206Problems of Urban Growth.................................................................................... 211Summary .................................................................................................................. 211Practice...................................................................................................................... 212

Unit 8: Becoming a World Power (1867-1898) ........................................................ 221

Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 221Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 223Introduction ............................................................................................................. 225Reasons the United States Wanted Colonies ....................................................... 225The United States Gains Colonies......................................................................... 226The United States Colonial Policy ........................................................................ 229Current Status of American Colonies................................................................... 230Summary .................................................................................................................. 230Practice...................................................................................................................... 231

Unit 9: United States Foreign Policy (1898-1933).................................................. 241Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 241Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 243Introduction ............................................................................................................. 245Spheres of Influence in China................................................................................ 245President Theodore Roosevelt and Foreign Affairs ........................................... 246


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The United States Takes Action in Latin America .............................................. 249Summary .................................................................................................................. 251Practice...................................................................................................................... 252

Section 3: America at Peace and at War (1890-1921).............................. 261

Unit 10: The Progressive Era (1890-1917) ................................................................ 263Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 263Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 265lntroduction.............................................................................................................. 269Problems with Big Business................................................................................... 269The Progressive Movement ................................................................................... 270Reforms in City Government ................................................................................ 271Reforms in State Government ............................................................................... 271Reforms in Business ................................................................................................ 273Social Reforms ......................................................................................................... 274Problems of African Americans ............................................................................ 275Role of American Women ...................................................................................... 276Summary .................................................................................................................. 277Practice...................................................................................................................... 278

Unit 11: World War I in Europe (1914-1918)........................................................... 291

Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 291Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 293Introduction ............................................................................................................. 295Events in Europe ..................................................................................................... 295The Buildup of Militaries ....................................................................................... 296World War I Begins in Europe ............................................................................... 298Summary .................................................................................................................. 299Practice...................................................................................................................... 300

Unit 12: The United States Enters World War I (1915-1918) ................................ 313

Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 313Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 315Introduction ............................................................................................................. 317Americans Attitudes towards the War ................................................................ 318Early Effects of the War on American Trade ....................................................... 318The United States Is Drawn into the War (1914-1916) ....................................... 319How the War Affected Life in America ................................................................ 321The United States Military Joins Allied Forces in Europe................................. 324


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A New Age in Weapons ......................................................................................... 324Summary .................................................................................................................. 325Practice...................................................................................................................... 326

Unit 13: Looking for Peace after World War I (1918-1921) ................................... 337Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 337Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 339Introduction ............................................................................................................. 341Fourteen Points........................................................................................................ 342The Treaty of Versailles........................................................................................... 344The League of Nations............................................................................................ 345Summary .................................................................................................................. 346Practice...................................................................................................................... 347

Section 4: Between Two Wars (1918-1940) .................................................. 355

Unit 14: Prosperity after World War I (1918-1929) ................................................. 357Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 357Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 359Introduction ............................................................................................................. 361The Economy in the 1920s...................................................................................... 361

The Growth of Intolerance ..................................................................................... 363A Technological Revolution ................................................................................... 364American Culture.................................................................................................... 367Post-War Isolationism............................................................................................. 370The End of the Twenties ......................................................................................... 370Summary .................................................................................................................. 370Practice...................................................................................................................... 372

Unit 15: The Great Depression (1929-1932) ............................................................ 381Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 381

Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 383Introduction ............................................................................................................. 385The Great Depression ............................................................................................. 385Causes of the Great Depression ............................................................................ 386Summary .................................................................................................................. 391Practice...................................................................................................................... 392


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Unit 16: The New Deal (1933-1940) .......................................................................... 401Unit Focus ................................................................................................................ 401Vocabulary................................................................................................................ 403Introduction ............................................................................................................. 405Economic Conditions.............................................................................................. 405The First 100 Days ................................................................................................... 406The Second New Deal ............................................................................................ 409Criticism of the New Deal...................................................................................... 410Election of 1936 ........................................................................................................ 410Social Conditions..................................................................................................... 411Summary .................................................................................................................. 412Practice...................................................................................................................... 414

Appendices ............................................................................................................... 431Appendix A: The Mayflower Compact................................................................ 433Appendix B: The United States Constitution ...................................................... 435Appendix C: The Declaration of Independence ................................................. 457Appendix D: The Articles of Confederation ....................................................... 463Appendix E: The Bill of Rights .............................................................................. 472Appendix F: The Presidents of the United States ............................................... 475Appendix G: Index.................................................................................................. 477Appendix H: References......................................................................................... 481


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Acknowledgments

The staff of the Curriculum Improvement Project wishes to express appreciationto the content revisor and reviewers for their assistance in the revision ofAmerican HistoryPart 1 from original material by content, instructional, and

graphic design specialists from Leon and Pinellas county school districts.

Content Revisors

Joshua LoganSocial Studies TeacherFlorica State University SchoolTallahassee, FL

Kathleen McCarronSocial Studies Teacher

Department Chair, Lincoln High SchoolTallahassee, FL

Copy Editor

Deborah ShepardNational Board for Professional

Teaching Standards (NBPTS)Certified English Teacher

Lincoln High SchoolTallahassee, FL

Production Staff

Sue Fresen, Project ManagerBlanche Blank, Text Design Specialist

Rachel McAllister, Graphics Design SpecialistTallahassee, FL

Review Team

Dr. Robert CassanelloAssistant Professor of HistoryMiles CollegeBirmingham, AL

Mark Goldman

Professor of HistoryTallahassee Community CollegePresidentLeon Association for Children

with Learning Disabilities (ACLD)Tallahassee, FL

Richard K. GraySocial Studies TeacherDepartment ChairLincoln Park Academy

Ft. Pierce, FL

Dr. Cheryl D. JenningsAssociate DirectorStavros Center for

Economic EducationFlorida State UniversityTallahassee, FL

Eileen SchaapSocial Studies TeacherDepartment ChairLeon High SchoolTallahassee, FL

Margaret WoodExceptional Student Education

TeacherLeon High School

Tallahassee, FL


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Section 1: Founding the New Nation (Prehistory-1877)

Unit 1: America from Exploration through Colonization(Prehistory-1763)

Unit 2: Road to Revolution (1764-1788)

Unit 3: The Constitution and Early National Period(1787-1820)

Unit 4: The Civil War and the Reconstruction Era

(1820-1877)

Unit 3: The Constitutionand Early NationalPeriod(1787-1820)

Unit 4: The Civil Warand the

Reconstruction Era(1820-1877)

Unit 1: America fromExploration throughColonization(Prehistory-1763)

Unit 2: Road to Revolution(1764-1788)

Prehistory 1750 1800 19001850


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Unit 1: America from Exploration through Colonization(Prehistory-1763)

This unit emphasizes early historical developments in the Americas andhow religious, social, political, and economic developments shaped theNorth American colonies.

Unit Focus

description of pre-Columbian era

explorations of Columbus and other explorers how British North America was colonized

reasons Pilgrims, Puritans, and other groups came to theNew World

ways geography affected development of New England,Southern, and Middle Colonies

examples of British Colonial policy


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Unit 1: America from Exploration through Colonization (Prehistory-1763) 5

Vocabulary

Study the vocabulary words and definitions below.

adobe ............................................... building material or brick made ofsun-dried earth and straw

agrarian economy .......................... economic system based on makingmoney by growing crops

banish .............................................. to formally and legally remove from a

place and not allow to return

breadbasket .................................... refers to a region that can produce a lotof food and provide it to others

cash crop ......................................... a crop grown by a farmer for sale, notpersonal use

chattel .............................................. possession or property

commercial economy .................... economic system based on makingmoney by buying and selling things

conquistadors ................................ Spanish military leaders who conqueredthe Native Americans of Central andSouth America

consent of the governed .............. people agreeing to be governed, making

decisions in government, and selectingtheir own leaders

democratic ...................................... type of government or rule where thepower comes from the people


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Unit 1: America from Exploration through Colonization (Prehistory-1763)6

French and Indian War ................ war between England and France from1754 to 1763 for control of NorthAmerica that eliminated France as arival in North America; known inEurope as Seven Years War

indentured servants ...................... people who agreed to work foremployers for a certain period of time,often in return for travel expenses,shelter, and food

Jamestown ...................................... first surviving British colony established

in 1607 by the Virginia Company inwhat today is Virginia

joint-stock company ..................... a business in which individuals investtheir money for a common purpose

land bridge ..................................... frozen water and land which connectedthe continents of Asia and NorthAmerica

Mayflower Compact ..................... written agreement signed aboard theMayflowerby the Pilgrims of the colonyof Plymouth to be ruled by a democraticgovernment and recognizing the king ofEngland as their monarch

Northwest Passage ........................ inland water route from the east coast ofNorth America to the Pacific, and thus

to the Orient

persecute ......................................... to treat someone or a group in a crueland unjust way


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Pilgrims........................................... a group of religious reformers who fledEngland to seek religious freedom;established first permanent colony inNew England at Plymouth in what isnow Massachusetts

Pocahontas

(poh-kuh-HNN-tuss) ................. daughter of chief Powhatan; marriedVirginia colonist John Rolfe

Powhatan (pow-uh-TN) ............ chief of the Powhatan tribe and head ofthe Powhatan confederacy of tribes; a

group of Native Americans that lived ineastern Virginia at the time of the firstEnglish settlements in that area

pre-Columbian era ........................ the time period in North America beforethe discovery of the New World byColumbus

Puritans ........................................... members of a Protestant group who

wanted to eliminate all traces of RomanCatholic rituals and traditions in theChurch of England; many later settledin the colonies to avoid persecution inEngland

Roanoke Island ............................. an island off the northeast coast ofNorth Carolina; site of the Englishsettlement founded in 1587 by SirWalter Raleigh that disappearedwithout a trace

salutary neglect ............................. period when English regulations wererelaxed in return for the coloniescontinued economic support


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scurvy .............................................. disease caused by lack of ascorbic acid(or vitamin C), characterized by spongygums, loosening of teeth, and bleedingskin and mucous membranes

starving time .................................. period early in a colonys existencewhen many people died because theylacked food and protection

tariff ................................................. tax or duty that a government chargeson imports or goods coming into acountry

vice-admiralty courts .................... military courts created by the EnglishParliament to try colonists without ajury of their peers, violated thecolonists rights as Englishmen

Whos Who in America from

Exploration through Colonization

Christopher Columbus Juan Ponce de Lon

Franciso Vsquez de Coronado Chief Powhatan

Hernn Corts Walter Raleigh

Hernando de Soto John Rolfe

Leif Ericson John Smith

Anne Hutchinson SquantoKing James I Roger Williams

Pocahontas


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Introduction

People have lived in the Americas for thousands of years. Thefirst Americans left no records. Researchers are still trying to

determine when the first people reached the Americas.

About the year 1,000 A.D. the Vikings had reachedNorth America. The news of their voyages did notspread to other parts of Europe during the MiddleAges. However, in the Renaissance period, Europeannations had begun to look overseas to explore. Sailorsfrom many nations explored the world in the 1500sand 1600s.

Pre-Columbian Era

Historians call the time before Christopher Columbuslanded at Santo Domingo in the Caribbean Sea thepre-Columbian erain the New World. Researchindicates that more than one group of settlers crossedover to the Americas perhaps as early as 30,000 to40,000 years ago. Most historians agree that Asians

crossed a land bridgethat connected the Siberianregion of Russia in Asia with Alaska and Canada inNorth America (see map on next page).

Asians crossed the frozen water and land where the BeringStrait is today and traveled south, settling throughout Canada, the UnitedStates, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Other researchers think that an earlier group of people may have crossedthe Atlantic from Europes Iberian Peninsulathe area that is now Spain,Portugal, and southwestern France. These explorers are believed to have

originally settled the Eastern Seaboard, eventually going as far as theAmerican deserts and Canadian tundra, and perhaps into South America.This theory is still being researched.

The movement of groups to the Americas involved many different peoplesover many periods of time. The environment of the areas where differentgroups settled dictated how they developed into different tribes andcivilizations. When Columbus arrived in the New World, millions of

Viking

Christopher Columbus


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Native Americans lived in what today is called the United States. NativeAmericans of the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon) adapted towet weather and extensive waterways relied on fishing and hunting forsurvival. In the dry Southwest region in New Mexico and Arizona, theHopi, Pueblo, and other tribes of the region irrigated their tribal farmlandswhile living in homes made of adobe. The Northeast region of the UnitedStates (Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and other states)provided a densely wooded area where Native Americans hunted gameand gathered nuts and berries. Native Americans who lived in theSoutheastern region (the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida) enjoyed goodfarming in the fertile soil and also hunted.

ArcticOcean

Atlantic

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Hudson

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GREENLANDICELAND

UNITED STATES

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Pacific

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ALASKA

SIBERIA

SOUTHAMERICA

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glaciers

glaciers

Bering LandBridge

land bridge

glaciers

migration route

key

Crossing the Land Bridge to North America


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During the pre-Columbian era, the Native Americans of North Americatraded with each other for items they needed. Some tribes tradedvegetables and fish for animal hides and tools made of bone. The onething that the Native Americans of North America did not trade was land.Most tribes lived communally, working together for the community andnot just themselves; they did not have strong ideas of personal ownership.

With the arrival of the Genoese explorer, Columbus, his men, and hisships in the Caribbean in 1492, Europe learned of the New World. Inreality, the New World (North America and South America) was notunknown, only unknown to Europe. During this time period, anestimated 43-65 million Native Americans may have lived in both Northand South America.

Columbus thought he had reached the East Indies, so he called the peoplehe met Indians. These Native Americans were descended from the peoplewho reached America thousands of years ago.

Columbus is remembered and credited with the discovery of the NewWorld in 1492. However, Columbus was not the first European to visit theshores of North America. More than 500 years earlier, in 1,000 A.D.,LeifEricson, a Norse explorer on a voyage from Greenland, visited thecontinent.

Columbus Opens the Door for Exploration

As the 15thcentury came to an end, Columbus madeseveral voyages to the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.He was searching for a shortcut to Asia, his original goal.Later explorers who were still searching for thisshortcut called it the Northwest Passage. Europeowned both the technology and the resources forsafe passage to and from the New World. Kingsand queens funded exploration. The printing presswas used to publish stories about the findings of

explorers. The stories spread quickly, encouragingother nations to strive for the same success.


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Throughout the 16thcentury (1501-1600), the Spanish dominated

exploration and colonization of theAmericas. Beyond the Caribbean,the Spanish explorer HernnCortsconquered the NativeAmericans of modern dayMexico. Next, Spanishexplorer Francisco Vzquez deCoronadoset out to explore the

northern area of Mexico and the southwestern areaof what would become the United States (California,Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada). On the east

coast the Spanish explorerJuan Ponce de Lensearched for the Fountain of Youth and discoveredFlorida. In 1565 the Spanish established St. Augustine.This settlement survived to become the oldestEuropean-founded city in the present-day UnitedStates. Further exploration of the southeast was doneby Spanish explorer Hernando de Sotoand his men asthey traveled through Florida, Georgia, Alabama,and Mississippi to the Mississippi River.

Atlantic

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Caribbean

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NEW SPAIN

Pacific

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Santa Fe, 1609

St. Augustine, 1565

Mexico City,1521

Veracruz,1519

CUBA

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RioGrandeR.

Ponce de Len, 1513

Corts, 1519-1521

de Soto, 1539-1542

Coronado, 1540-1542

key

Early Spanish Explorations

Juan Ponce de Len

Hernn Corts

Hernando de Soto


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The Spanish military leaders, called conquistadors, conquered the NativeAmericans of South America and took their riches for Spain. The Spanishforced the Native Americans to mine for gold and silver, and then theseriches were taken to Spain. As other countries heard of the riches and sawthe benefits to Spain they wanted to do the same.

British North America Is Colonized

England set out to establish colonies along the eastern coast of NorthAmerica. The English goal was to follow in Spains footsteps, to conquer

the Native Americans, and to force them to mine for gold,silver, and other riches that would be sent to England. The

first English colony failed. Roanoke Island, the Lost

Colony, was established on an island off the northeastcoast of North Carolina in 1587. The founder, Sir WalterRaleigh, was delayed in bringing supplies to the colonybecause he helped defend England from an attack bythe Spanish. When Raleigh finally reached the islandthree years later in 1590, no one was left. Nobody everdiscovered what happened to them.

Jamestown, Englands first surviving colony in British NorthAmerica, was foundedin 1607 at Jamestown, Virginia. Itwas named for King James Iof England. A group of

investors bought the right to establish a colony from theking. These investors formed a joint-stock companycalled the Virginia Company, which permitted numerousinvestors to pool their wealth to fund colonies and sharein any profits. Joint-stock companies were very importantbecause they financed many of the colonial expeditions.The investors in the Virginia Company hoped that goldwould be discovered as it had in New Spain (in what istoday's Mexico) so they would get a quick return ontheir investment.

Jamestown never experienced the success of theSpanish colonies. Like Roanoke, the colony nearlydisappeared because its colonists were not preparedto work for their own survival. English gentlemenwere sent to start the colony, and they did not know

Sir Walter Raleigh

English gentlemen weresent to start the colonyof Jamestown, but theydid not know how toestablish a successfulsettlement.


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how to work together. The first several winters saw the population ofJamestown shrink and nearly disappear. Jamestown was saved whenCaptainJohn Smithtook over in 1607 and demanded that all the colonistswork for the benefit of all.

John Smith went to nearby Native American villages to trade for food. Hewas captured by the chief, Powhatan(pow-uh-TN) and was sentencedto death. Pocahontas(poh-kuh-HNN-tuss), the chiefs 12-year-olddaughter, begged her father to spare him. Powhatan agreed and even soldcorn to Smith to feed the hungry colonists at Jamestown. Life in the colonyimproved when colonists began planting crops. However, in 1609, JohnSmith was injured in an accident. After he returned to England, the colonyagain fell on hard times. The winter of 1609-1610 was known as thestarving time

because so many people died without enough food to eat.Less than half the original colonistssurvived to see a relief ship withsupplies and newcomers arrivefrom England in the spring of 1610.Discouraged by the harsh livingconditions and gloomy outlook,the colonists and newcomers wereready to pack up and go back toEngland. They were convinced to

stay, and in 1619 the VirginiaCompany put new leaders in charge ofthe colony.

The Virginia Company sent a governor with orders to consult the settlers.The settlers who owned land were allowed to elect burgesses, or

representatives. The burgesses met in an assemblycalled the House of Burgessesand with thegovernor, made laws for the colony. The House ofBurgesses brought representative government tothe English colonies. Settlers now felt they had a

say in how they were governed.

The burgesses had the power to make strict rulesand laws, and Jamestown again began to grow.The English eventually realized they would notfind gold or silver in Virginia. With the food andthe support of the nearby Powhatanpeoples, theEnglish learned what crops could grow in the


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local climate. They learned from the Native Americansthat the Virginia soil was excellent for growing tobacco,which the colonists called brown gold. In 1612,John Rolfecross-bred tobacco seeds from South America withnative American seeds. The demand for tobaccoprovided the colonists with the cash crop they neededto build the colony. By 1619 the Virginia colony waswell on its way to success. Tobacco farms grewthroughout the Chesapeake Bay area, creating ademand for farm workers.

Many people wanted to come to America but were toopoor to pay for their passage. Thousands of men,

women, and children came to America asindentured

servantsto work on tobacco farms. Indentured servants werepeople who promised to work for others for a certain number of years,usually two to seven, in return for passage to the colonies and food andshelter upon arrival. Indentured servants were usually from the lowerclasses of English society and had little to lose by leaving England. At theend of their indenture, some were given clothes, tools, land, and theirfreedom. They then supported themselves as farmers, merchants, andcraft workers. Some indentured servants became very successful and roseto positions of respect in the colonies.

In 1619 a Dutch merchant ship with 20 Africans aboard, originally headedfor South America as slaves for the mines, landed off course inJamestown. These Africans became indentured servants and after a fewyears most of them received land and freedom. Eventually, more Africanswere brought to help with the difficult farming of tobacco. However, itwould be several decades before the English colonists began thesystematic use of Africans for slave labor and came up with the idea ofchattelslavery, where enslaved human beings are considered property.

New England Colonies Formed for Religious Reasons

Plymouth Colony

In September of 1620, 102 Pilgrimsset sail from England on a ship namedtheMayflower, heading for Virginia. Blown off course, they instead landedat Plymouth, along the coast of what would later become the state ofMassachusetts. These colonists established the second permanent colony


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in America and the first in New England. Not all colonies were formed forcommercial reasons. Plymouth was different from Jamestown because thePilgrims came to the New World for religious

freedom.

When the colonists aboard theMayflowerarrived, they realized they were outside of thearea they were granted by the king. Beforeleaving the ship, the colonists signed adocument called the Mayflower Compact(see Appendix A). This agreement created thebasic legal system for the colony with thesettlers agreeing to democraticrule, or rule bythe group. They also promised to support theking and pay back the joint-stock company thatpaid for their journey. The Mayflower Compact helped establish theimportant idea of consent of the governed, where the people makedecisions. The Mayflower Compact was the first document of self-

government in North America and is part of thefoundation of government for the United States.

Weakened by scurvyand malnutrition, more thanhalf of the Pilgrims perished that first winter. Likethe colonists at Jamestown, the Pilgrims were

given help by Native Americans. Their greatesthelp came from Squanto, a Native American whohad learned to speak English after having beenheld captive by traders who took him to Englandyears before. Squanto provided corn to plant andinstructions on how to grow it. In spring thecolonists planted crops and had a good harvest inthe fall which helped them survive the comingwinter and succeed as a colony.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Another group who sought religious freedom were the Puritans. Like thePilgrims, the Puritans were also unhappy with the Church of England.Unlike the Pilgrims, the Puritans did not want to separate from theChurch, but wanted to purify its religious practices. However, Churchauthorities rejected their ideas, and they were persecutedfor their beliefs.In March of 1630, a group of these Puritans left England and settled 40

theMayflower


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miles north of the Plymouth Colony. They called their colony theMassachusetts Bay Colony. Its capital was Boston.

The Puritans brought with them the tools, supplies, and skilled workers toestablish good English-style farms and villages. Because of this planning,there was no starving timein the Massachusetts Bay Colony. From 1630 tonearly 1650 thousands of Puritans left England to settle near Plymouth.This period is called the Great Migration. As more people arrived fromEngland, they began to spread out and create new communities orcolonies all throughout the New England region. Gradually, the Puritanscreated colonies at New Haven, in what later became the state ofConnecticut, and Providence, in what later became the state of RhodeIsland.

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The Great English Migration, 1630-1650


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Other Colonies

Even though religious toleration and acceptancewere among the reasons the Puritans migrated toNew England, the Puritans were not tolerant ofother religions. Their intolerance led to thefounding of other colonies by peoplelooking for religious freedom. RogerWilliamsand Anne Hutchinsonwere bothbanishedby the Puritans from theMassachusetts Bay Colony for criticizingthe colony's policies and leadership. In1636 Williams founded the town of

Providence (in what became RhodeIsland), and it became a safe place forfollowers of all religions. In 1638 AnneHutchinson and her followers also movedto Rhode Island and established othertowns. In 1644 Williams obtained a charterfrom England, and the town of Providenceand three others became the colony of Rhode Island.

During the 17thcentury, many people left Europe for British NorthAmerica and created colonies. Swedes settled in the Delaware region, the

Dutch in New York. Eventually, the English were able to take over thesecolonies. The colonies of Pennsylvania and the Carolinas were createdwhen the king of England granted land to people who had supported him.

The Three Regions of the Thirteen Colonies

New England Colonies

Because of geography, the colonies developed differently. Heavily forestedNew England was located in a mountainous region and along the Eastern

seaboard. Therefore, the people of the New England colonies(Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island) soldlumber and fished the coastal waters for their survival. Gradually, acommercial economydeveloped, supporting many merchants.Shipbuilding became one of the greatest industries of the area.


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Southern Colonies

The geography of the Southern colonies (Virginia, Maryland, North

Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia) led to the development of anagrarian economy. Agrarian economies grow food crops or cash crops,which are sold for profits. The most successful products in the southerncolonies were tobacco, rice, and indigo (used as a dye to color cloth). Latercotton would be very successful in the fertile, flat land of the coastal south.

The cash crops of the southerncolonies required a great deal oflabor. Plantations, or large farmsowned by one person, were createdthroughout the region. Indentured

servants and later slaves providedlabor for working the fields. Asplantations were started along therivers, cities or towns sprang up atthe coastal port cities, where goodswere shipped to England inexchange for manufactured goodsbrought to the colonies.

Middle Colonies

The Middle Colonies (Delaware,Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York)provided a varied economy. With fertileland, these colonies became thebreadbasketof the colonies because theyprovided much of the food for othercolonies, especially during the AmericanRevolution. The port cities of New YorkCity and Philadelphia became importantmerchant centers where goods were

shipped in and out.

clearing the land for farming


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COLONY LEADER REASONS FOUNDED

New England Colonies

Massachusetts

Plymouth

Massachusetts Bay

DATEFOUNDED

1620

1630

William Bradford

John Winthrop

Religious freedom

Religious freedom

New Hampshire 1622 Ferdinando Gorges

John Mason

Profit from trade and fishing

Connecticut

Hartford

New Haven

1636

1639

Thomas Hooker Expand trade; religious and

political freedom

Rhode Island 1636 Roger Williams Religious freedom

Southern ColoniesVirginia 1607 John Smith Trade and farming

Maryland 1632 Lord Baltimore Profit from land sales;

religious and political freedom

The Carolinas

North Carolina

South Carolina

1663

1712

1712

Group of eight

proprietors

Trade and farming; religious

freedom

Georgia 1732 James Oglethorpe Profit; home for debtors; buffer

against Spanish in Florida

Middle Colonies

New York 1626 Peter Minuit Expand trade

Delaware 1638 Swedish settlers

Pennsylvania 1681 William Penn Profit from land sales; religious

and political freedom

Expand trade

New Jersey 1664 Profit from land sales; religious

and political freedom

John Berkeley

George Carteret

British Colonial Policy

British colonies were important to England because they either provided

desired luxuries such as sugar and tobacco or served as markets forgoods produced in England. The American colonies served Englandmostly as a market for their goods. Because England owned the colonies,England could create laws defining what the colonists had to buy fromEngland and what they could sell to other countries. These laws werecalled the Navigation Acts. The Navigation Acts passed by the EnglishParliament in 1651 tightened control of trade between the colonies bysetting tariffs(taxes or duties) on imports. These laws required colonists


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to limit their production of iron products so they would buy productsmade in England. They also required colonists to pay tariffs on certainproducts. All goods shipped to or from the colonies were to be transportedon British ships and had to stop in England before going anywhere else. Atax on the goods was paid to the English government.

To make sure the colonists followed the Navigation Acts, Englandestablished vice-admiralty courts, or military courts, with no juries.England felt colonial juries would always side with their neighbors andignore the law and England.

From the 1640s through the 1680s, the English had problems at home.From 1689 to 1763, England fought four wars against the French onbattlefields across the world. With much of her attention focused onfighting France, England began to pay less attention to her Americancolonies. This was known as salutary neglect, a time when Englandignored the colonies by relaxing its regulations. During this period,American colonies grew strong and independent with little help fromEngland because they had to make decisions on their own. One result ofsalutary neglect was the development of colonial assemblies, where thecolonists helped make decisions with representatives of the king.

British Crown

Royal Governor:appointed by the Crown

approved all laws managed all trade in

colonies had the power to

dismiss colonialassembly

Council: appointed bythe governor

served on the advisoryboard to the governor

acted as highest courtin the colonies

Colonial Assembly:elected by the colonists

paid the governorssalary

made laws could raise taxes

Colonial Government

After the French and Indian War, fought from 1754 to 1763, England againturned its attention to its colonies as a source for paying off war debts.These financial demands would set England and the colonies on a collisioncourse. The colonies would declare their independence 13 years later.


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Summary

Native Americans developed many different cultural regions in NorthAmerica before 1492. After the discovery of the New World, Europeansclaimed large parts of the Americas for Portugal, Spain, France, andEngland.

Both Spain and France built large empires in the Americas in the 1500s. Inthe 1600s and 1700s, England set up 13 colonies in North America.Colonists came to America for various reasons, which included religious,political, and economic freedom. Each colony had its own governmentand each differed from the others in part because of geography. The NewEngland, Middle, and Southern colonies each had their own way of life.

Trade and travel between the colonieshelped colonists learn about one another.

England owned the colonies and couldcreate laws and tariffs that controlled whatcolonists bought from England, could sellto other countries, and could trade betweenthe colonies. During the French and IndianWar, England was too busy to pay muchattention to the colonies. The colonies wereforced to become independent and make

their own decisions. Colonial assemblieswith a representative governmentdeveloped. This independence would behard to give up when England once againturned its attention to the colonies.


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GEORGIA

SOUTHCAROLINA

NORTHCAROLINA

VIRGINIA

MARYLAND

PENN

SYLV

ANIA

NEW JERSEY

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONNECTICUTRHODE ISLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

Lake Superior

LakeMichigan

LakeHuron

Lake

Erie

Lake

Ont

ario

N

S

EW

The Original Thirteen Colonies in the Mid-1700s


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Practice

Use the list below to write the correct term for each definition on the line provided.

Christopher Columbus Hernando de SotoFranciso Vsquez de Coronado Leif EricsonJuan Ponce de Len EuropeanHernn Corts Vikings

1. The had reached North America by

1,000 A.D.

2. During the Renaissance, nations began

looking overseas to explore.

3. , a Genoese explorer, announced his

discovery of the New World in 1492.

4. On a voyage from Greenland in 1,000 A.D., ,a Norse explorer, visited the shores of North America 500 years before

Columbus.

5. , a Spanish explorer, conquered the Native

Americans of modern-day Mexico.

6. set out to explore the northern area of

Mexico and the southwestern area of what is now the United States.


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7. searched for the Fountain of Youth and

discovered Florida.

8. traveled through Florida, Georgia,

Alabama, and Mississippi.


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Practice


adobe indentured servantschattel Jamestownconquistadors joint-stock company

________________________ 1. first surviving British colony establishedin 1607 by the Virginia Company in whattoday is Virginia

________________________ 2. a business in which individuals investtheir money for a common purpose

________________________ 3. Spanish military leaders who conqueredthe Native Americans of Central andSouth America

________________________ 4. possession or property

________________________ 5. building material or brick made of

sun-dried earth and straw

________________________ 6. people who agreed to work foremployers for a certain period of time,often in return for travel expenses,shelter, and food


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Practice

Match each definition with the correct term. Write the letter on the line provided.

______ 1. frozen water and land whichconnected the continents ofAsia and North America

______ 2. an island off the northeastcoast of North Carolina; siteof the English settlementfounded in 1587 by Sir WalterRaleigh

______ 3. period early in a colonysexistence when many peopledied because they lackedfood and protection

______ 4. daughter of chief Powhatan;married Virginia colonistJohn Rolfe

______ 5. inland water route from the

east coast of North Americato the Pacific

______ 6. chief of the Powhatan tribeand head of the Powhatanconfederacy of tribes

______ 7. the time period in NorthAmerica before the discoveryof the New World byColumbus

A. land bridge

B. NorthwestPassage

C. Pocahontas

D. Powhatan

E. pre-Columbianera

F. Roanoke Island

G. starving time


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Practice

Use the list below to write each colony under the correct region.

Connecticut New Hampshire PennsylvaniaDelaware New Jersey Rhode IslandGeorgia New York South CarolinaMaryland North Carolina VirginiaMassachusetts

New England

Colonies

Southern

Colonies

Middle

Colonies


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Practice

Use the list below to write each characteristic under the correct colonialregion.

agrarian economy fishing port citiesbreadbasket lumber shipbuildingcash crops merchant centers tobaccocommercial economy plantations varied economy

New EnglandColonies

SouthernColonies

MiddleColonies


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Practice


agrarian economy democraticbreadbasket Pilgrimscash crop Puritanscommercial economy salutary neglect

________________________ 1. period when English regulations wererelaxed in return for the coloniescontinued economic support

________________________ 2. type of government or rule where thepower comes from the people

________________________ 3. economic system based on makingmoney by buying and selling things

________________________ 4. members of a Protestant group whowanted to eliminate all traces of Roman

Catholic rituals and traditions in theChurch of England

________________________ 5. a crop grown by a farmer for sale, notpersonal use

________________________ 6. refers to a region that can produce a lotof food and provide it to others

________________________ 7. a group of religious reformers who fled

England to seek religious freedom

________________________ 8. economic system based on makingmoney by growing crops


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Practice

Match each definition with the correct term. Write the letter on the line provided.

______ 1. disease caused by lack ofascorbic acid (or vitamin C)

______ 2. to treat someone or a group in acruel and unjust way

______ 3. people agreeing to be governed,making decisions ingovernments, and selecting

their own leaders

______ 4. tax or duty that a governmentcharges on imports or goodscoming into a country

______ 5. written agreement signedaboard theMayflowerby thePilgrims of the colony ofPlymouth to be ruled by ademocratic government

______ 6. war between England andFrance from 1754 to 1763 forcontrol of North America

______ 7. military courts created by theEnglish Parliament to trycolonists without a jury of theirpeers

______ 8. to formally and legally remove

from a place and not allow toreturn

A. banish

B. consent of thegoverned

C. French and IndianWar

D. Mayflower Compact

E. persecute

F. scurvy

G. tariff

H. vice-admiralty

courts


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Unit 2: Road to Revolution (1764-1788)

This unit emphasizes significant military and political events that tookplace before and during the American Revolution and defined theConstitutional period.

Unit Focus

beginnings of the American Revolution

purposes of the First Continental Congress

purposes of the Second Continental Congress

basic principles of the Declaration of Independence

major events of the Revolutionary War

basic principles of the Articles of Confederation

results of the Constitutional Convention of 1787


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Unit 2: Road to Revolution (1764-1788) 35

Vocabulary

Study the vocabulary words and definitions below.

ally ................................................... a sovereign or state united with anothersovereign or state in a common cause

arsenal ............................................. government building where arms andother war supplies are manufactured orstored; war supplies

Articles of Confederation ............ the first constitution or written plan ofgovernment for the United States

assess ............................................... to set the value of property for taxation;to charge or tax

bicameral ........................................ made up of two legislative bodiesconsisting of the Senate and the Houseof Representatives

boycott ............................................. to refuse to buy or use as a means ofprotest

compromise .................................... a settlement in which each side gives upsome of its demands in order to reach anagreement

confederation ................................. a system of government with strongstate governments and a limited

national government

Constitution ................................... the second constitution or written planof government for the United States thatexplains the powers and duties of thegovernment


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Unit 2: Road to Revolution (1764-1788)36

Constitutional Convention ......... the meeting in 1787 at which the UnitedStates Constitution was written

Continental Congress .................. meetings of colonial representatives in1774 (First Continental Congress) toaddress unfair treatment of the coloniesby England, and again in 1775 (SecondContinental Congress) to approve theDeclaration of Independence and planfor possible war

Declaration of Independence ..... the document that lists the reasons

Americans wanted to be free of Englishrule

executive branch ........................... the body of government that carries outlaws

federal union ................................. a system of government with strongcentral powers making decisions for thecountry as a whole, with stategovernments making decisions that

affect only their state

judicial branch ............................... the body of government (the courts) thatinterprets laws

legislative branch .......................... the body of government that makeslaws

minutemen ..................................... an informal military composed of

civilian colonial soldiers who couldanswer the call to arms in a minute

negotiate ......................................... work out or settle upon agreements orcompromises in meetings


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Parliament ...................................... Great Britains legislative body, with anupper house, the House of Lords, and alower house, the House of Commons

petition ............................................ a formal request made to an individualor group in power

repeal ............................................... to officially do away with an act or lawso that it no longer exists

seize ................................................. to take control of

smuggled goods ............................ things illegally taken in or out of acountry without paying taxes

Sons of Liberty .............................. secret resistance group of Bostonshopkeepers, artisans, and laborers

sovereign ........................................ having independent or self-governingpower

Treaty of Paris of 1783 .................. agreement to end the RevolutionaryWar and recognize the United States asan independent nation

unanimous ..................................... total agreement

unitary system ............................... a system of government with a strongnational government and weak ornonexisting state governments


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Whos Who on the Road to Revolution

John Adams

Samuel Adams

Charles Cornwallis

John Dickinson

Benjamin Franklin

King George III

Alexander Hamilton

John Jay

Thomas Jefferson

Marquis de Lafayette

James Madison

William Paterson

Edmund Randolph

Daniel Shays

Roger Sherman

George Washington


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Introduction

After the French and Indian War, Britain won control over the Frenchempire in North America but was deeply in debt. Britains debts wereshifted to the colonies through taxes passed by Parliament. The coloniesprotested in different ways, and colonial leaders began to meet to findsolutions. These solutions eventually led to the Revolutionary War and thecreation of the United States Constitution(see Appendix B).

Stirrings of Rebellion

To pay its war debts, England began to pass laws which imposed newtaxes on the colonists. While England focused attention on the war with

France, control over the colonies had been relaxed. After the colonies hadbecome used to making their own rules and decisions, accepting Britishauthority again was very difficult. Colonists were forced to pay taxes tosupport the English government, but were given no voice in governmentdecisions made by Parliament. Colonists began to protest.

Sugar Act

The first new tax, or tariff, was the Sugar Act, passed in1764. The purpose of this tariff was to make money and

to stop the smuggling of goods to the colonies. TheSugar Act also allowed smuggling cases to be decidedby a single judge, rather than by a jury of sympatheticcolonists. These judges also received five percent of anycargo taken from convicted smugglers. EnglandsParliament required that the colonies pay the tariffs ingold or silver, rather than their own paper money.The strain on the colonies was great.

Stamp Act

Adding to the problems between England and theAmerican colonies was the passage of the Stamp Actin1765. The Stamp Act required colonists to pay a newkind of tax. This tax was not assessed at the portwhen a product entered the country but was added


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to a product at the time of purchase. Colonists were required to pay a taxfor a stamp to be placed on all paper productscards, diplomas, marriagelicenses, and even college degrees. This tax was met with great anger.Soon colonists organized to demand that England repeal the tax. Petitionswere sent to local royal officials. Protest groups like the Sons of Libertytook action. One of the leading Sons of Liberty was Samuel Adams. Theytore down tax offices and tarred and feathered many tax collectors orhung their images. Eventually, colonists began to boycottBritish goods.English merchants, who were losing money because colonists would notbuy their products, encouraged Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act in1766.

Declaratory and Townshend Acts

Although Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, it also issued the DeclaratoryActthat said England did have the right tax the colonists. In 1767,Parliament issued a new set of taxes called the Townshend Acts. These weretaxes placed on imports such as paper, lead, paint, and tea. The colonistsonce again were outraged. Encouraged by theirsuccess with the Stamp Act, theyrenewed their protests. Again theboycotts were effective andEngland repealed the Townshendtaxes on all goods except on tea.

Boston Massacre

With the increased tension andtrouble between the colonists andEngland, troops were sent toguarantee that taxes would becollected, to search for smuggledgoods, and to protect officials of theking. Many were stationed in the port town of Boston. England sent 4,000

soldiers to Boston, a city of 16,000 residents. The soldiers looked foradditional work when they were off duty. This made many Bostoniansangry because they did not need the competition for jobs. In 1770 an iratemob threw rocks hidden in snowballs at the soldiers. Someone fired a gun,and when the smoke had lifted, five colonists were found dead. The Sons

troops search for smuggled goods


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of Liberty spread word of the incident, calling it the Boston Massacre. Byexaggerating the event, the Sons of Liberty caused hatred to increase, butboth the British and colonists were frightened by the incident, andrelations were calm for several years.

Boston Tea Party

In 1773 England allowed the East India Tea Company to sail directly to thecolonies. The idea was to save the tea company from going out of businessand to get the colonists to pay the tax placed on the tea when it entered a

colonial port. Colonists feltEngland was using them. All

across the colonies, they

refused the tea. In Boston, thegovernor of Massachusettsordered the tea removed fromthe ship and the tax paid.Before the deadline forpayment, the Sons of Liberty,disguised as Mohawks(members of the League of

the Iroquois), threw 342 chests(15,000 pounds) of tea

overboard. This event becameknown as the Boston Tea Party.

Coercive or Intolerable Acts

England responded quickly to this act of defiance. A group of acts calledthe Coercive Actswere passed to punish Boston and guarantee an actionlike the Boston Tea Party would not happen again. One act closed BostonHarbor to all sea traffic except that carrying food and firewood until thecolonist paid for the tea. Another act made provisions for England to takecontrol of the legislature and courts in Massachusetts. A third act required

citizens to house British troops in their homes if other rooms were notavailable. To the colonists, these acts were not acceptable, and theyreferred to them as the Intolerable Acts.

Boston Tea Party


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Coercive Acts orIntolerable Acts

Declaratory Act

Stamp Act

Sugar Act

Townshend Acts

ACTS PURPOSE

trade law passed by Parliament in 1764 to reduce smuggling in the

colonies and to make money to pay for war

series of acts by Parliament in 1774 to punish the colonists for the BostonTea Party; these acts closed the port of Boston until colonists paid for thetea, made changes in Massachusetts government, lodged British troopswith the colonists, and let British officials charged with murder go on trialin England; colonists called them the Intolerable Acts

law passed by Parliament in 1765 that placed a direct tax on papergoods (cards, diplomas, deeds, marriage licenses) and services withinthe colonies

act passed by Parliament in 1766 that declaredor stated thatParliament had the right and authority to make laws for the coloniesin all cases and any acts of colonial assemblies were null and void

series of laws passed by Parliament in 1767, establishing indirect taxeson goods imported from Britain by the British colonies in North America

First Continental Congress

Englands punishment of the colonies made many colonists fear for otherfreedoms. In 1774, 12 of the colonies met at the First Continental Congressin Philadelphia to discuss the situation. At this meeting,the colonists agreed to work together to protest theIntolerable Acts. The two most important steps theContinental Congress took were to list their complaints,including several laws they wanted repealed, and to agreeto boycott British goods until the king dealt with theircomplaints. Before leaving, the delegates agreed to meet inthe spring of 1775 to see what action they needed to takenext.

Before the delegates could meet again, England sent troopsinto the country outside of Boston looking for guns and

ammunition. On their way to Concord, the British troops,called Redcoats(or lobster-backs) because of theiruniforms, were detained at Lexington (about five milesfrom Concord) by a small militia group called theminutemen, an informal group of civilian colonialsoldiers. Eight colonists died and 10 were wounded at theBattle of Lexington, which lasted only 15 minutes. The

Redcoat


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Redcoats then marched on to Concord. AtConcord they found no arms or supplies, butthey did find a group of minutemen. After asmall battle in which several British soldierswere killed, the British turned back to Boston.On a bridge outside of Concord, they met a largegroup of minutemen. Fighting broke out, andthe British were forced to retreat, but not before

losing a great number of men at the Battle ofConcord. News of the battles traveled fast. The first

shots of the American Revolution had been fired.War seemed certain as hopes of reaching a peaceful

agreement with Britain faded. These battles at Lexington and Concord

launched a war which would decide the future of the 13 colonies.

Second Continental Congress

Following the battles at Lexington and Concord (1775), the SecondContinental Congress met as earlier decided. The first thing the delegatesdid was send King George IIIthe Olive Branch Petition.This petition urgedthe British king to repeal the Intolerable Acts and help find a peacefulsolution to the problems between the colonies and Britain. King George IIIrefused to read the petition.

Continental Army

The second thing the Second Continental Congress did was to organize anarmy and a navy to fight the British. The Continental Army was different

from local militias because it included menfrom many different areas. It was allowed tofight in all 13 of the colonies. George Washington,a 43-year-old veteran of the French and IndianWar, was appointed as commander-in-chief.The Second Continental Congress also

authorized the printing of money to pay for thearmy.

While the Second Continental Congress wasmeeting in Philadelphia, the colonial militiaaround Boston became involved in anotherbattle at Breed's Hillnear Bunker Hill. There theBritish took both Breed's and Bunker hills. The

minuteman


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Americans readied for battle by digging trenches on Breed's Hill, leadingto the confusion that resulted in the battle being misnamed. Themisnamed Battle of Bunker Hill(1775) was the deadliest battle of the war.George Washington and the Continental Army were not part of this battle,but when General Washington reached Boston, he took command of themilitia there. These soldiers became the core of the Continental Army andlater forced the British to evacuate Boston.

The colonists suffered a series of losses starting at the Battle of Bunker Hilloutside of Boston (1775). Always able to sting the British, the colonistsfought a different type of war than the formally trained Redcoats.

Led by Washington, the colonists fought the better-trained, richer, andlarger force presented by the British. Still, colonists had the advantagebecause they knew the land and were closer to their supplies. Early in thefighting, the colonists were lucky, as in the battle at Concord where Britishsoldiers fell by the dozens against 3,000 to 4,000 minutemen.

Declaration of Independence

When attempts to settle their differences with Englandfailed, the Second Continental Congress decided it wastime to separate from England. The Congress askedThomas Jeffersonand a small group of others to write

the official document creating a state. Jefferson wrotethe first draft which the Congress edited. Included inthe Declaration of Independence(see Appendix C)were the complaints which England had ignored. Italso spelled out what ideas would be used by the newstateall men are created equal, and people have theright to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.With the signing of the Declaration of Independence onJuly 4, 1776, the Revolutionary War became official.

War for IndependenceWhen the colonists defeated the British at the Battle of Saratoga(1777) inupstate New York, the war began to swing in the colonists favor, and theyknew they could defeat the British even though they were outnumbered.In part, the success of the colonists in the latter portion of the war resultedfrom help by the French who were impressed with the American victory at

Thomas Jefferson


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the Battle of Saratoga. Represented by theMarquis deLafayette, a wealthy young French nobleman, the Frenchprovided loans, weapons, men, and ships to help fightthe British.

The war was difficult for the colonists. They lackedproper equipment and clothing to survive the warand the weather. The winter of 1777-1778 was oneof the worst, with more than 2,000 soldiers dying atValley Forge, Pennsylvania. While some men left

the army to go home, most stayed. However, whenFrench money and troops arrived in the summer of

1778, the war began to turn back in favor of the

colonists. The war moved to the southern colonies of the Carolinas andGeorgia where the British had greater support. Still, with aid from theFrench, the colonists were able to defeat the British at the Battle ofYorktownin Virginia (1781). On October 17, 1781, the British GeneralCharles Cornwallissurrendered to General George Washington.

event in 1770 when colonists threw rocks and snowballs at Britishtroops to harass them, which resulted in the death of five colonistswhen the British soldiers fired into the crowd

act of vandalism in 1773 by the Sons of Liberty, who threw 342 chests

(15,000 pounds) of tea owned by the East India Tea Company intoBoston Harbor to protest the Tea Act

first battle in the American Revolutionary War in a town in northeastMassachusetts on April 19, 1775; 700 British troops were met by 70minutemen, resulting in the killing of eight Americans and the woundingof 10

second battle in the American Revolutionary War in a town in northeastMassachusetts on April 19, 1775

fighting during the American Revolution outside of Boston in 1775;British won when colonists ran out of ammunition, but the British leftBoston shortly afterward

fighting in upstate New York during the American Revolution in 1777;considered the turning point of the war because the French joinedwith the Americans as a result of their win here

last major battle of the war; led to the surrender of British troops in1781

Battle of Bunker Hill **(Breeds Hill)

Battle of Concord *

Battle of Lexington *

Battle of Saratoga

Battle of Yorktown

Boston Massacre

Boston Tea Party

Events and Battles during the Revolutionary War

* The Concord and Lexington battles are referred to as the shots heard around the world. Thesetwo battles were the start of the Revolutionary War.

** Because the colonists had only a small amount of gunpowder, the American commander warned,Dont shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!

Marquis de Lafayette


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E pluribus unumOut of Many, One

Ending the American Revolutionin 1781 was not enough. A formaldeclaration of peace wasnecessary.

In 1782 peace talks began in Pariswith representatives from fournationsthe newly namedUnited States of America, GreatBritain, France, and Spain (an ally

of France who helped whenFrance joined the war). TheUnited States sentrepresentatives, includingBenjamin FranklinandJohn Jay, toParis to negotiatepeace termswith the British.

After more than a year, the Treaty ofParisof 1783was signed by the fourcountries. The United States was

guaranteed independence andgranted the lands bounded by

Florida (owned by Spain) andCanada (owned by England) andwestward to the MississippiRiver.

Benjamin Franklin

John Jay

On October 17, 1781, the British General CharlesCornwallis surrendered to General GeorgeWashington.


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American History-Part I

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