Colonial Empires and the American Revolution

Colonialism spreads… What is colonialism? What is colonialism? See overheads

The 16 th Century European countries establish colonies all over the world European countries establish colonies all over the world –Spread their culture, and in some countries, their ethnicity

Colonial Empires in Latin America Portugal and Spain both dominate large territories of Latin America Portugal and Spain both dominate large territories of Latin America –Latin America is a multi-racial society –Spanish rulers allow intermarriage between native people and Europeans Mestizos: Offspring of Spanish/Europeans and Native Americans Mestizos: Offspring of Spanish/Europeans and Native Americans –Slaves brought to work for Spanish and Portugese in Latin America Mulattoes: The offspring of Africans and Europeans Mulattoes: The offspring of Africans and Europeans

How to make $$$ in Latin America Abundant supplies of gold and silver Abundant supplies of gold and silver Farming/Agriculture Farming/Agriculture –Large landowners have huge estates which Native Americans work on Trade Trade –Sugar, tobacco, diamonds, animal hides –Trade is closely regulated by Spain and Portugal. Why?

RELIGION Want to Christianize Native Americans Want to Christianize Native Americans Role of Catholic Church Role of Catholic Church

Britain and British North America What happens during the Seven Year’s War? What happens during the Seven Year’s War? –Britain adds India and Canada to its already expansive empire –British colonies are highly profitable Many colonists don’t want to share their power or their money with their British colonizers Many colonists don’t want to share their power or their money with their British colonizers What does this lead to? What does this lead to?

The American Revolution

British want to collect revenue from their colonies to pay for the Seven Year’s War British want to collect revenue from their colonies to pay for the Seven Year’s War –Stamp Act: Parliament imposes this act on the colonies, which requires that certain printed materials carry a stamp showing that a tax has been paid to Britain –Eventually repealed because of colonist opposition, but the seed is planted for Revolution

September 1774: Congress sets up First Continental Congress September 1774: Congress sets up First Continental Congress –Urge revolt against British April 1775: Fighting between British and colonists erupts April 1775: Fighting between British and colonists erupts July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence is approved July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence is approved –Based upon the ideals of who?

The American Revolution United States gets much support from France and other foreign nations United States gets much support from France and other foreign nations Britain forced to surrender at Yorktown to General George Washington in British accept defeat Britain forced to surrender at Yorktown to General George Washington in British accept defeat

After the War: The United States is Born Americans created a new social contract in Americans created a new social contract in –What is a social contract? The creation of the Constitution made Enlightenment concepts of liberty and representative government a reality for the first time The creation of the Constitution made Enlightenment concepts of liberty and representative government a reality for the first time

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights The Constitution Used the Enlightenment concepts of separation of powers Used the Enlightenment concepts of separation of powers –What are these? –Who thought these up? The Bill of Rights 10 amendments guaranteeing certain natural rights to all Americans 10 amendments guaranteeing certain natural rights to all Americans Where did natural rights come from? Where did natural rights come from?

The American Revolution - Seen as the embodiments of the Enlightenment’s political dreams - France takes notice…