Birth of the American Republic Chapter 2.3

Britain Becomes a Global Power  ’s Britain began to build its empire  controlled trade with much of North America, the West Indies, and India.  George III came to power in 1760  determined to assert his control.

The 13 Colonies in the Mid- 1700s  economic life was booming by  Britain tries to regulate trade (& other aspects of life in the colonies)  Navigation Acts-regulate trade and manufacturing (not rigorously enforced)  there was a sense of semi-independence on the part of the colonists, who tried to control their own affairs

Colonists Express Discontent  When King George III imposed taxes on the colonies to help pay for wars ( Seven Years & French Indian)  Sugar Act import tax  Stamp Act taxes on paper goods  Colonialists “No taxation without representation”  Colonists rebelled & tensions escalated  Inspired by Enlightenment ideas  natural rights of man and the right to revolt against an unjust government,  July the Second Continental Congress declared independence from Britain

The American Revolution Continues  Colonists advantages  With passion, knowledge of the countryside  help from France, the Netherlands, and Spain  the colonists defeated the British  The Treaty of Paris signed 1781  ended the war and recognized the independent United States of America.

A New Constitution  Articles of Confederation  proved too weak to establish effective government,  some of the nation’s leaders drafted the Constitution  based on Enlightenment ideas of  Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.  The new government  recognize some basic rights of the people establish three branches of government (checks and balances)  served as a model for constitutions created by other countries.