History TE#1 : The American

Revolution
1. The settlement of north America
2. The first colonies
3. Involuntary immigrants
4. The colonies
5. From resistance to open rebellion
6. The revolution begins
7. The war of independence
8. Forming a nation
 1. The settlement of north America :
Native Americans :
When Christopher Colombus discovered the new world in 1492, about 1,5 million natives
were living there.

Spain took (actual) South America + Mexico, France (actual) Quebec + Caribbean islands and
England (actual) USA.

Trading posts = colony just to trade with natives

Settlement colonies = large colony

The beginning of English colonization :

In 1497-98, King Henry VII sent John Cabot, his explorations were the basis of Britain’s claims.

There weren’t any colonies created during the 16 th century because England was fighting
with Spain. After England defeated Spain, Spain wasn’t able to block England from
developing in the New World.

Reasons for colonization :

1. Europe was too crowded, and people wanted a better life so English government was
happy if people went to north America.

2. The second was religious, Henry VIII loved women and he wanted to have different
wives. In the catholic religion, you can’t divorce so Henry VIII changed the religion of
England to Anglicanism which is basically the same as Catholicism but you can’t
divorce. Then, Charles the first (the future king of England) has persecuted the
protestants (and also Catholics), so that’s why there is a lot of them in the USA today.
They wanted to live their religion and not the Anglican’s one.

These protestants were called the Puritans.

Colonization really started in 1603, but there was almost nobody there, but then in
1625, because of Charles the first, a massive migration has started.

3. The third reason is the taste of adventure, people though they could become rich
there, finding gold, diamonds or by doing business. All European were concerned not
only English one’s. But there were also some fears such as diseases, food and water,
wild beasts and many more.

Indentured servants :
These people wanted to go to America but didn’t have enough money, so people in America
paid the trip and a little bit of land, and indentured servants had to work for them from 4 to
7 years. Then, after they were free and received some land and some tools from the person
who paid the trip. It seems great for them but during the 4 to 7 years the were treated
almost as slaves. About a half of the immigrants to the colonies came under this system.
 2. The first colonies :
Jamestown, Virginia :
In 1607, Jamestown was founded, the first permanent colony of England. First, it was very
difficult due to diseases and lack of food but then with the tobacco export, it was better. In
1619, the first black slaves arrived. People in the colonies had the same rights as real English
citizens.

The problem of the colony was that they weren’t self-sufficient. They had to deal with the
natives even if the relationship weren’t always good.

Other English colonies :

The second colony was in Massachusetts, in 1620. Then, eleven other colonies were founded
and the last one in 1732 was Georgia.

Three colonial groups :

The New England colonies : New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut
The middle colonies : New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware
The southern colonies : Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia
 3. Involuntary immigrants :
African slaves :
The first black African were arrived in Virginia, in 1619. At first, they were basically equals to
white indentured servants. But in 1664, Maryland declared that they would “serve for life”.
And after, more and more black slaves arrived to work in the fields, in the southern colonies.

The black population in America grew faster than the white population. 90% of the slaves
were working in the southern colonies.

Triangular trade :
Europe sent manufactured goods to Africa in exchange of black slaves who were sent to
America. From America, raw material produces by the salves were sent to Europe.
 4. The colonies :
Colonial government :
All the colonies had, by 1760, a similar governmental structure consisting of a governor and a
legislative assembly. Governors were managed by the king of England. All free men in
America were able to elect the legislative assembly.

English government realized that it wasn’t a good idea to trouble the colonies as they were
4800 km away from England. This detached policy is called “salutary neglect”.

Population :
Between 1700 and 1763 the population went from 250000 to 2 million, due to a high birth
rate and to the immigration. Half of this population lives in the southern colonies so in farms,
a quarter in the middle colonies and another quarter in the New England colonies.

Non-English colonists who lived in the 13 colonies, they adapted to the culture, the language,
the laws, the customs, …

Colonial economy :
Farming was the main economic activity, but there was still a great diversity :

New England : The soil was thin and poor, so there wasn’t that much agriculture. Their
economy was linked to the exportation of fish and boats as they had the best harbors. They
also exported wood.

The middle colonies : Exportation of wheat and flours. Production of raw materials such as
cotton. As there were different nationalities they had different knowledge, the quackers, for
instance, were successful in business.

The southern colonies : Trading of tobacco, rice, indigo, … with the rest of the colonies and
also with Europe. The winter were short and the summer were long (≠ New England). They
had huge land to cultivate.

Political life :
Their laws had to be approved by the English parliament, which didn’t contain any American
deputy.

All goods that were sent from the colonies had to go to England and all goods that came to
America had to be sent from England. During the 18 th century the American export played an
important part in the economy of England.

Society :
Almost all slaves were working in the farms, but some of them were working as domestic
servants. Even 80% of white free men worked in farms. The big majority spoke English and
came from the UK. The slaves were at the bottom of the society and there were big
differences between the rich and the poor.
Family and education :
Women were denied from the political life and they had no rights of property.

New England : These colonies were the foundation of American education. Hardwar college
was founded in 1636 in Massachusetts. In 1647, Massachusetts introduced the compulsory
elementary education which has been copied by all the New England’s colonies except Rhode
Island.

Middle colonies : Schools were poor, for a large proportion of the children there were no
adequate public-school system at all.

Southern colonies : The farms were so widely separated that community schools were
impossible. Sometimes, the parents taught their children how they could… Often, children
were sent to England for schooling.
 5. From resistance to open rebellion (1763-1776) :
The struggle with France :
There were some struggles between France and Britain for control of North America. There
were very few Spaniards in North America as Spain was declining as a great power.

In 1756, Britain declared war on France. From 1756 to 1763 they fought the Seven Years War,
they were basically fighting all over the world, the colonies were paid to support British
forces.

The war ended in 1763 with a British victory. It has driven to the Treaty of Paris (1763),
Britain received Canada and all French possessions.

A new colonial system :

The Sugar Act : Prime minister Greenville passed a new Act in April 1764, reducing the duty
on foreign molasses. It seems a good new for local merchant but before the stamp act
nobody was paying that tax, but now it’s really controlled. People weren’t happy about it
because this decision has been taken by the British Parliament which didn’t contain deputy
from America.

The Stamp act : Greenville also introduced the Stamp Act in 1765, it’s not a tax but a stamp
that has to be on each written or printed in the colonies. Due to boycott, English Parliament
deleted this act and modified the sugar act.

The Townshend Duties : In 1767, Townshend introduced new duties on colonial imports of
glass, wine, china, paint, paper and tea. The people who collected the taxes weren’t
appreciated, so 2 regiments has been sent to protect them. This act will also be deleted but
later except for the tea  the tea tax.

The Boston massacre : It’s an extremely popular event but in fact only 3 persons die due to
manifestations.

The Boston Tea Party : Due to the Townshend tea tax, the colonists boycotted company’s tea
and after 1770, 90% of the tea was imported illegally and duty-free. In all the ports of
America tea shipment were returned to England except in Boston where the agents didn’t
accept. On the night of 16.12.1773, some men went on the boat and threw the tea to the
sea. The British parliament’s reaction was that the harbor of Boston was closed until they
paid the price of the tea and other laws...
 6. The revolution begins :
Thomas Jefferson published “A Summary of the Rights of British America”.

In September 1774 all the colonies except Georgia sent at least one delegate to Philadelphia
to a “Continental Congress”.

From 1775, Americans not only defied parliamentary laws, they openly resisted British
soldiers performing their duty.

The second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on 10.05.1775. Sixty-five delegates

from the 13 colonies attended, with newcomers such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas
Jefferson. The congress voted to go to war and appointed Colonel George Washington as
commander in chief of the American forces.

The Declaration of Independence :

We can basically divide the Declaration of Independence in three parts :
1. Human rights
2. Mistakes of the king
3. The determination to be free

There are many famous people who wrote it like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson or even
Benjamin Franklin.

The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the congress on 04.07.1776, proclaiming

the birth of the USA.
 7. The war of Independence (1776-1783)

This war ended two centuries of British rule for most. Of North American colonies and
created the USA.

The US forces were less trained and they had less soldiers than the British forces. On the
paper, it was impossible for them to beat Britain, but Britain made some mistakes and they
weren’t that much better. But the main problem of the US was that they didn’t have money
and weapons.

They sent Benjamin Franklin to France to negotiate with the king to have some soldiers,
money and weapons. The king said that he wouldn’t send some soldiers yet but maybe if
they show him that they strong and they may beat Britain. But he sent some weapons.

France was happy to help Britain because France was also in war with Britain. In 1779-80,
Louis XVI sent 6000 soldiers to the USA, Britain was also suffered from the entry of Spain and
Netherlands in the war.

Victory and Independence :

In 1783, the Treaty of Paris acknowledged the independence, freedom and sovereignty of
the 13 states.
 8. Forming a nation :
An assembly of delegates from the 13 ex-colonies gathered in 1787 in Philadelphia in order
to write a constitution. This constitution is still used today and ha been signed by the 13
states.

The legislative makes the laws.

Congress : Citizens elect the congress every year
House od representatives : 435 people, elected every 2 years
Senate : 100 people (2 per state) are elected every 6 years

Citizens also elect the electoral college which is composed by big electors (538), who vote for
the president, the president needs 270 votes to be elected.

There are 9 supreme judges, who are elected for life and designed by the president.

The goal of the separation of the 3 powers is to be very democratic.

The US Bill of Rights :

It has been added to the constitution in 1791. It contains nowadays 27 amendments.
- The second one is very famous because it’s the one about having some weapons.
- The 13th is the abolition of slavery.
- The 19th is the ability for women to vote.