Emerging American Identity

1
Emerging American Identity

• Obj. 1.04 Elaborate on the emergence of an
  American identity.

2
Emerging American Identity

1. Britain allowed colonies to develop on their own
   until 1763 salutary neglect (hands-off
   policy).
2. Salutary Neglect was Great Britains hands-off
   policy prior to 1763, which allowed the colonies
   to develop on their on.
3. Created own traditions of self government (House
   of Burgesses, Fundamental Orders of Connecticut,
   Mayflower Compact)

3
Emerging American Identity

• Because of a very diverse population in the
  colonies (less than 50 English). The colonies
  developed a new language, religious tolerances
  (Great Awakening) and other shared ways of
  life.
• The result an American Culture. (now they see
  themselves as different from England since there
  were so many different type of religions and
  culture living in one land mass)

4
Causes of the Revolution

• 1.03 Examine the causes of the American
  Revolution.

5
The Magna Carta

• Nobles in England were tired of not being treated
  fairly by the king and being taken advantage of.
• Forced the king to sign the MC which granted
  citizens more rights and limited the power of the
  king.
• The future founding fathers would use the same
  principles outlined in the MC and put them into
  the DoI and also the Constitution.

6
A. French and Indian War

• Root cause of the Revolution
• Led to three main causes disputes over
• Land
• Trade
• Taxes

7
Dispute over land

1. Proclamation of 1763 closed land won in war to
   colonists (west of Appalachians, east of
   Mississippi)

8
C. Disputes over Tax Laws

• Tax laws were passed so the colonists could help
  pay for French and Indian War.
• Sugar Act (1764) taxed sugar, molasses and
  other related goods
• Quartering Act (1765) pay to house soldiers
  (New York most effected)
• Stamp Act (1765) pay tax to register documents
  and other paper goods (stirred up most anger in
  the colonies)
• Townshend Acts (1767) taxed paint, lead,
  glass, paper, and tea legalized writs of
  assistance.
• Tea Act (1773) gave British East India company
  monopoly on tea trade.

9
C. Disputes over Tax Laws

• No taxation without Representation slogan of
  colonists because they were not represented in
  Parliament.

10
D. Disputes over Trade

1. Navigation Acts (1600s) Used to enforce policy
   of Mercantilism created a favorable balance of
   trade which increases the wealth of the home
   country (aka England).
2. Tea Act gave British East India Co. monopoly on
   tea trade which hurt colonial merchants

11
E. Other Events
British Action/Reaction Colonists Reaction



Boston Massacre (1770) 5 Colonists martyred,
used to stir anti-British sentiment
British Soldiers were taking jobs from colonial
laborers
Tea Act (1773)
Boston Tea Party (1773)
First Continental Congress (1774) petitioned
king for rights back
Coercive/Intolerable Acts (1774) took away
civil liberties
12
F. Common Sense

1. Written by Thomas Paine in January 1776
2. Urged colonists to declare independence from
   Great Britain.
3. Arguments included its ridiculous for an island
   to rule a continent, being part of England would
   drag the colonists into unnecessary wars.

13
G. Second Continental Congress

• Lexington and Concord first battles of
  Revolution, April 1775
• Patriots supported Independence,
• Loyalists remained loyal to England
• The Second Continental Congress (govt in
  America) met in May 1775, but the war had already
  begun.
• June 1775 Appointed George Washington as
  Commander of Continental Army
• July 1775 Sent Olive Branch Petition to King
  (Olive branches are symbols for peace)
• July 1776 Wrote Declaration of Independence

14
H. Declaration of independence

1. The Declaration of Independence was written by
   Thomas Jefferson with help from John Adams,
   Benjamin Franklin, Robert B. Livingston, and
   Roger Sherman.
2. The Declaration was an official statement of
   Independence from England and listed the
   colonists grievances against the King.
3. It was designed to influence public opinion in
   the New States and in France (a country the
   colonists hoped would help them in their war
   effort).

Signing the Declaration of Independence.