Unit 1 Lesson 1 By Janice Moore

Compare England to America

Vocabulary Terms Founders Government Indentured Servants Self-sufficient Subject

Why study the British colonies in North America? What do you think it would be like to live in a colony ruled by another country? Would you like to live under the rule of a king or queen? Why or why not? Can you give some examples of people and institutions that make up government?

What did it mean to the colonies to be subjects of King George III? Subject being under the rule of a monarch Government the people and institutions with authority to make and enforce the law and manage disputes about laws.

Indians in America How did American Indians live before the Europeans came?

Where did the British colonist settle?

How did people in the colonies earn a living? Self-sufficient people had to provide for their own needs Indentured Servants Men and women who sold their labor in exchange for the cost of the trip from Europe to the colonies.

How were the people living in the colonies different from one another? Settlers

Religion

Who compared colonial farmer’s life in America with life in Great Britain? Hector St. John Crevecoeeur

What was it that Crevecoeur liked about life in the colonies? No aristocracy that had extensive wealth at the expense of the majority of the population. It was possible to make a good living by working the land. Even the most modest home in the colonies was better than what many people had in Europe. There was much more freedom in America and government did not interfere extensively in everyday life. (Rewrite)

What rights did he enjoy? The freedom to live without unreasonable interfere from government because laws fair and government did not abuse its authority. He had a right to make a living and increase his financial and social status.

Given what you know of Crevecoeur’s experiences, explain why he would or would not favor laws that: Guarantee each individual the right to own property He would favor this law because it would give more people opportunities to gain financial independence Limit an individual right to buy and sell goods to anyone he or she chooses He would probably not favor this law since it would interfere with his sense of freedom and his ability to make his own decisions about buying and selling goods. Give people certain rights because they are wealthy or from a certain family background or group He would not be in favor of this law. Crevecoeur’s narrative criticizes the social system of Europe and extols the virtues of the social system of the colonies. Giving a class of people special rights would eliminate the opportunity of the individual to make meaningful decision about his or her own life. People would not be free under this arrangement.

How might people in Great Britain react to Crevecoeur’s comparisons of life in America and life in Europe? Explain. The British government and the aristocracy may not have liked the comparison because Crevecoeur clearly states that the social structure in Great Britain is unfair, abusive, and gives few rights to ordinary citizens. The poor may have felt envious of Americans and may have had a greater desire to emigrate to the colonies.

Why were class differences not important in the colonies? Whose opportunity was limited? What rights did the colonists value?

Founder - were the political leaders of the colonies Who were the Founders? “revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people before Lexington and Concord.” (John Adams) John Adams Abigail Adams

Founders Benjamin Franklin Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson

Founders Mercy Otis Warren George Washington