1. The Colonies &
The Road to
Independence

2. Philosophical Changes and Influence
All provided a unifying experience that bridged colonial divides of faith, region, and class
Glorious Revolution
Enlightenment
John Locke
Great Awakening

3. James II was overthrown in England
Glorious Revolution
James II was overthrown in England
James II is Catholic, has a son, appears he will be heir and Catholic monarchs would continue.
Unacceptable to most English people. Parliament supported his daughter Mary & husband William of Orange (ruler of Netherlands)– both Protestants
William invades England so James II flees to France.
William & Mary crowned co-rulers of England in
Turning point in English constitutional history
Parliament established right to limit Monarch’s power; control succession to throne.
England now constitutional monarchy
Encouraged uprisings against British authority in Mass, NY, & Maryland
Glorious Revolution Summary:
In 1685 King James II came into power. James was a Roman Catholic and a believer in the divine right of kings. English Protestants were afraid that he wanted to make Catholicism the official religion. They hoped that when James died, his Protestant daughter, Mary, would become queen. But James’ wife gave birth to a son in Because a male heir to the throne took precedence, or came before, a female, it appeared that rule by the Catholic monarchs would continue. This was unacceptable to most of the English people.
Parliament withdrew its support from James and offered the English throne to his daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange, ruler of the Netherlands, both Protestants. William invaded England and James fled to France. In 1689 William and Mary were crowned co-rulers of England. The Glorious Revolution, as it came to be called, was a turning point in English constitutional history. Parliament had established its right to limit the English monarch’s power and to control succession to the throne. England was now a constitutional monarchy, in which the powers of the ruler are restricted by the constitution and laws of the country.

4. Enlightenment
Encouraged people to study world & think for themselves
Major ideas include:
Every social, political and economic problem could be solved through the use of reason
Governments are created to secure an orderly society; through a “Social Contract”
Separation of powers is the best way to protect human liberties
All men are created “free and equal”
A free market should be allowed to regulate trade

5. 3. John Locke Believed in natural rights
Government is to protect these rights
If government fails to protect rights people can revolt and create a new government
Influenced many founding fathers (ex: Thomas Jefferson)
Ideas throughout the Declaration of Independence

6. principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights
4. Great Awakening
Religious Revival Movement
Expressed democratic &
egalitarian values (belief in the
principle that all people are
equal and deserve equal rights
and opportunities. The
individual matters)
Encouraged the questioning of authority (movement de-emphasized importance of church leaders; individual relationship with God)

8. French and Indian War
War between the British/Colonists and the French/Indians over territory in North America
British/Colonists won, but it strained the relationship between the two
War caused Brits to fall into debt & they wanted the Colonies to pay
Key Idea! British have A LOT more land and need to raise taxes to govern it and recover from war debt…place burden on Colonists, without their input or consent in Parliament!
Colonists wanted to expand into territory acquired without British approval
Colonists felt equal to all other British citizens

9. British Policies Proclamation of 1763 New Taxes! Quartering Act
British closed the region west of the Appalachians to colonists
New Taxes!
Sugar, Stamp, Townshend, and Tea Acts all place new taxes on colonists
Colonists react with protest (ex: Boston Tea Party)
Quartering Act
required colonists to provide housing and supplies to British troops

10. Proclamation of 1763

11. 3. 1774 Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
Result of Tea Party – punishment for Boston
Closed Boston Harbor, changed the government of Massachusetts giving the crown more power (Tar & Feathering…when watch “John Adams Episode 1, you’ll see.)
Scared all colonies that they would lose the little political power they had

12. Colonial Political Reaction
Committee of Correspondence (1772)
Formed to coordinate resistance to British Acts
First Continental Congress (1774)
Organized by the Committee of Correspondence
Met with delegates from the colonies
Decided to boycott British goods, create a militia, and to send a letter to King George asking for representation in Parliament
The Patriots Organize
Following First Continental Congress, colonists create their military – the Continental Army (Patriots)

13. Key Idea
Every time the British Parliament slaps the Colonists with a new tax or law; the Colonists react strongly…and Parliament backs down
The Colonists want equal representation in Parliament…but if they yell too loud…they just might get it…and still have to be ruled from afar (will never be truly equal)
Every time Parliament backs away from enforcement of acts, the Colonists realize the power independence can bring.

14. The Revolution Begins... … and ends with a Patriot victory!!!
The colonies are officially independent from Britain!
Now all we need is a government….