Foundations of US Government Civics Foundations of US Government Overarching Question: What were the events, factors, and influences that led to the creation of the US Government

American Colonies at the End of the Seventeenth Century Roark, American Promise 3e from http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/mapcentral

The Colonies 1607-1776 In what would become the United States several regions were colonized by European settlers. The colonies, settlers, and regions were distinct in many aspects, but one reason many came was OPPORTUNITY

Main British Colonial Regions First Region: New England Puritan background Came to America in search of religious freedom Wanted to create a perfect society

Main British Colonial Regions Continue Second Region: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York Area Cosmopolitan- many different European cultures including Quakers Mix of merchants, people seeking religious freedom, and farmers seeking land

Main British Colonial Regions Third Region: Virginia Settlers seeking economic opportunity Tobacco plantations Sizable slave population

Main British Colonial Regions Fourth Region: The South- Carolinas and Georgia Variety of cash crops Plantations Large slave population

Charters and Mercantilism British government oversaw all Colonial regions Different regions had different levels of autonomy (ability to govern themselves), but all were within the British Mercantilism system Mercantilism- Government regulates (puts in rules) for trade. Forced colonials to only trade with English merchants and to English ports. Taxes are also a big part of this system Many colonials (people living in British North America) had issues with the Mercantilist system and smuggled goods in and out to avoid taxes

Road to Revolution- Why break away from Great Britain? Proclamation Line of 1763- British government said Americans could not encroach upon Native American territory past the Appalachian mountains Taxes- Americans (especially merchants) upset about a variety of taxes the British imposed No representation and the perception of being disrespected- Americans upset that the British Parliament and King did not take their issues seriously. Americans had no official representation in government back in Great Britain Other issues- forcing colonials to fight in British wars, forcing American families to quarter British soldiers, British control over Colonial governments, Americans increasingly seeing themselves as separate from the British

Fighting Breaks Out and Continental Congress Boston Massacre Lexington and Concord Many other smaller skirmishes Continental Congress In Philadelphia representatives gather from all of the colonies Pleas were sent out to the British (Olive Branch Petition) After pleas did not resolve the situation the CC debated, drafted, and pass the Declaration of Independence (we will read later)

Who were major influences for Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence? John Locke (philosopher)- Life, liberty, and property are basic human rights Enlightenment thought in general- Philosophers (especially French) influence people like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin - warn of tyranny - spread human rights Native American tribes and culture- specifically the Iroquois Confederacy which was several distinct Nations combined together in a loose form government Thomas Paine’s Common Sense- laid out in simple words why Americans should break away from Great Britain