1. 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

2. American Colonies at the End of the Seventeenth Century
Roark, American Promise 3e from

3. The Colonies
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

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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

9. Road to Revolution- Why break away from Great Britain?
Proclamation Line of 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

10. 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)

11. 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