Chapter 18, Section 4 - Birth of the American Republic

Who leaded the Continental Army?

George Washington

Continental Congress

Members included: The radical, yet fair minded Boston lawyer John Adams, the Virginia planter and soldier George Washington and pillars of the American Enlightenment, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson -They met to decide what precautions to take - John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson

In the 1600s, Parliament had passed an act to regulate colonial trade and manufacturing. What is the name of the Act?

Navigation Acts

Colonial cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia were busy centers of commerce to whom?

North America, the West Indies, Africa, and Europe

1776

The Americans adopted the Declaration of Independence which gave Americans the right to vote -Pledged our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the cause of the USA

1770

"Boston Massacre" occurred where British soldiers fired at a crowd that threw pebbles and snow at them. FIVE(5) protesters died.

What pamphlet did Tom Paine right?

"Common Sense"

1773

-"Boston Tea Party" -Colonists hurled a cargo of tea into the harbor to protest the tax on tea

1783

-American, British, and the French negotiators signed the Treaty of Paris to end the war. -Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America and accepted the Mississippi River

Treaty of Paris

-American,British,and French negotiators signed the Treaty of Paris, in 1783,ending the war -In it Britain recognized the independence of the USA. It also, accepted the new nations western frontier as the Mississippi River.

Thomas Jefferson

-Drafted Declaration of Independence -He made it reflect the ideas of Locke -He carefully detailed the colonists grievances against Britain -Because the king practically demolished the colonist's natural rights, Jefferson argued that the colonists had the right to rebel and set up a new government.

Navigation Acts

-In the 1600's Parliament had passed the Navigation Acts to regulate colonial trade and manufacturing -For the most part, this act was not rigorously enforced. Smuggling was common and was not considered a crime by the colonists

Bill of Rights

-It formally restated the traditional rights of English citizens such as trial by jury -Did abolished excessive fines and cruel/unjust punishment -Contained the first 10 amendments to the Constitution -Recognized the idea that people had basic rights that the government must protect

Habeas Corpus

-No person could be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime

Battle of Saratoga

-The Americans triumphed over the British in 1777 at the "Battle of Saratoga" -The victory convinced France to join the Americans against its old rival, Britain -The alliance brought the American desperately needed supplies, trained soldiers and French warships -Spurred by the French example, the Netherlands and Spain soon added their support.

1775

-The crisis' became war -Colonial leaders met up in a Continental Congress to decide what action they wanted to take

1777

-There was victory for the Americans against the British at the "Battle of Saratoga" -As an outcome, France joined and helped the Americans. After France joined the Americans, so did the Netherlands and Spain

1781

-With the help of the French, Washington made the British surrender. -Caused the British war effort to crumble

Articles of Confederation

-a national government set up by a document that Americans called the Articles of Confederation was too weak to rule the new United States effectively -the Articles of Confederation was replaced by the Constitution

The central idea of new government was...

-the separation of powers among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches -idea directly borrowed from Baron de Montesquieu

Limited monarchy

A government in which a constitution or legislative body limits the monarchs power

After 1763

Britain started to tax the 13 colonies because the Seven Years War drained the British Treasury

1787

Continental Congress took the central ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau and hammered out the Constitution

Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence claimed that people had the right "to alter or abolish" unjust governments-a right to revolt

What occurred on July 4th, 1776?

The Declaration of Independence was established by Continental Congress

What is the "Seven Years War"?

The French and Indian War in North America which had drained the British treasury

Why were the people protesting "No taxation without representation"?

They were being taxed with out any representatives in Parliament. Therefore, they believed that Parliament had no right to tax them.

1789

the Constitution became law