The Political Foundation: Evolution and Revolution “Those who give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”---Benjamin Franklin
The Roots of American Independence The English Civil War & the Glorious Revolution Enlightenment ideals & the Great Awakening Colonial expansion: population, migration, the consumer revolution, & colonial government The French & Indian (Seven Years) War & Pontiac’s War
Mid-18th c. Colonial Trade
Allies & Enemies: the French the Indians the British the Americans
The British Imperial Crisis: The End of “salutary neglect”
The American-British Conflict The essential issue of sovereignty New taxes for government revenues Indian trade to Quebec & protection of Catholics New restrictive trade regulations Increased customs duties
Admiralty courts, navy inspections & writs of assistance (search warrants) British army in colonial cities Prohibition of colonial paper money Favoritism in the tea trade Parliamentary supremacy Suppression of Massachusetts & American trade
The American Response The Stamp Act & the Sons of Liberty Forms of protest & opposition The Continental Congress Common Sense The Declaration of Independence
The American Revolution, 1775-1782
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”---Thomas Paine The creation of a new country’s government State constitutions Republicanism Natural rights Limited government
The Articles of Confederation
Western Land Claims by the States
Essential Achievements of the Revolutionary Generation Won the war for independence Created: 1. 1st nation-sized republic 2. 1st completely secular state 3. political parties as institutions to channel debate and political conflict Reconciled: 1. localism and nationalism in a federal system (state & national governments) 2. sovereignty of the individual (Dec. of Independence) & sovereignty of the collective, “the people” (U.S. Const.)
Summary 1. 2. 3. 4.