The Age of Revolutions

Can you list some of the rights you have as a citizen of Ireland……. 250 years ago almost nobody in the world had these rights.

Do you know what happened on 4th July 1776? On 4th July 1776 the “13 United States of America” declared its Independence.

By declaring its Independence from the British Empire the American colonies/states started one of the most famous wars in history: The American War of Independence

A country or region controlled by another country. What is a Colony? A country or region controlled by another country. Do you know what colonies were owned by the British Empire in the 18th Century?

In 1776 Florida, California and Texas belonged to Spain and Alaska belonged to Russia.

a charter from King James I to establish a colony in North America. Virginia The first British colony in America was Virginia established in 1606 at Jamestown. a charter from King James I to establish a colony in North America.

Over the next 150 years more and more colonists arrived and the British control of east coast of North America expanded.

In 1677 a Quaker called William Penn established a colony called……….?

New Amsterdam was a Dutch colony in America until 1664 when the British defeated the Dutch and claimed the colony for themselves….. Guess what they called it?

1760 At this stage the population of the colonies had grown to over 250,000,000 – immigrants from Germany, Britain and Ireland 1 September 1763

The colonies were wealthy – especially in the south with cotton and tobacco crops. Hundreds of thousands of African slaves were forced to work on the vast plantations of Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia.

British Rule in the 18th Century England was a Constitutional Monarchy It had a king but he had to share power with the Westminster Parliament I’m George III and I became King of England and of the North American Colonies in 1760… but they are 3,000 miles away….

Each Colony was given a Governor (King’s Representative) And each of the 13 colonies had an elected Assembly to advise the Governor.

The Age of Enlightenment 1770s: Discontent As the 18th century wore on many colonists became unhappy with British rule. The Age of Enlightenment This was a time when many educated men and women began to question traditional ideas. The DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS….. Really ??????? Do they expect us to believe that Kings are picked by God to rule on his behalf????

French thinkers influence Americans Jean Jacques Rousseau Did not believe in the Divine Right of King – thought leaders should be elected. Voltaire believed the power of the church was too great and people should be allowed to believe what they want without fear of persecution. French thinkers influence Americans

These ideas spread through Europe and across to the colonies in America

1776: Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense encouraging the American Colonies to revolt and become independent from Britain.

2. The French and Indian War 1756- France Vs Britain extended to America (French used their Indian Allies) The American colonists fought with the British army – gained confidence and experience in battle. 1763- British won & gained Canada.

3. Identity Immigration of Germans and Dutch into America reduced the British identity of the colonies. By 1760 – colonists referring to themselves as ‘American’ rather than ‘British’ Resentment at being ruled by a far-away, foreign King and foreign Parliament.

The colonists had no say about laws or taxes which affected them. 4. No Representation! The colonists had no say about laws or taxes which affected them. The colonies were not allowed to have any representation at Westminster.

We should have a say in the laws that affect our daily lives!!! Americans can only be ruled fairly by Americans……. …….Independent from British Rule ! Thomas Jefferson John Adams Benjamin Franklin

The Navigation Acts are making me rich! 5. Trade Restrictions In order to make money, the British Parliament placed (unfair) trade restrictions on the colonies….. The Navigation Acts Americans were only allowed to sell tobacco to Britain at whatever price Britain wanted to pay. The American colonists had to buy their sugar from the British Plantations in the West Indies. (owned by British nobles or Members of Parliament)

I find this frustrating!

The Quartering Act 6. New Taxes in the 1760s The colonists had to pay the cost of keeping the British Army in America to protect them from the Indians.

You are a colonist in one of the 13 states in the 1760s. Homework: You are a colonist in one of the 13 states in the 1760s. Write a diary entry in which you discuss your frustrations with English rule. Say which colony you live in and fully explain your issues and what you think needs to happen! REASONS FOR REVOLUTION Colonists were confident in their abilities to fight together Immigration diluted their sense of “Britishness” Britain using the colonies as a means to make money All these issues increased tension in the colonies – colonists started to think it was time to split with England and create a real democracy. New taxes introduced in 1760s Trade restrictions Divine Right of Kings seen as old fashioned