“Birth of a Democratic Nation” (ch. 2.4) Civics Unit 1 “Birth of a Democratic Nation” (ch. 2.4)

I. Colonial Resistance British Control Mercantilism is the economic theory that a country’s power depends on its wealth Great Britain needed the colonies to be a source of cheap, raw materials and a market for manufactured goods Navigation Acts- forced colonies to get manufactured goods only from GB

Growing Tensions Albany Plan of Union (1754)- plan to unify colonies for mutual defense, failed because colonies did not have enough common experience

French and Indian War (1754-1763) GB and colonists vs. French and Native Americans Effects: GB wartime debt, colonial resentment, GB control over most of N. America Proclamation Line of 1763- colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian Mountains

Propaganda What is propaganda? Where have you seen it used? What techniques of persuasion have you seen?

To pay off war debts, Britain placed taxes on the colonists (end of salutary neglect) The Stamp Act of 1765 required colonists to attach tax stamps to newspapers and documents Quartering Act required colonists to provide living and supplies for GB troops

Worsening Relations Stamp Act Congress (1765)- nine colonies met sent a declaration against British actions to king First time a majority of the colonies joined together to oppose British rule GB gov’t repealed (cancelled) the Stamp Act

Townshend Acts (1767)- taxes of variety of goods and allowed British customs officers to search for smuggling Colonists began to cause trouble for officials The Boston Massacre (1770)- British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing five people

Open Resistance “No taxation w/out representation”- slogan of Patriots because they had no representatives in Parliament Colonists decided to boycott, refuse to buy, British goods

The Boston Tea Party (1773)- colonists dumped tea in Boston harbor in rebellion of Tea Act Parliament responded with the Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)- punished city of Boston and restricted colonists’ civil rights including trial by jury

II. Independence First Continental Congress (1774) They decided to boycott all British goods and organized militias Wrote letter to king demanding that rights be restored, swore to meet again

Lexington and Concord (April 1775)- First battle of the American Revolution

Second Continental Congress (1775 on) Met to decide what to do- divided opinion Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Made the case for American Independence Swayed public opinion Moved closer to independence despite military failures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg

Declaration of Independence Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson Borrowed ideas from John Locke Purpose Argue legitimacy of cause to Parliament, other countries Troop morale, support for cause

Conclusion of the War Small victories, evading bulk of British forces French support turned war around

Battle of Yorktown (1781)- British surrender Peace of Paris (1783)- officially won independence