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USA - COLONIAL LIFE, THE ROOTS OF REVOLUTION

• According to what you have read in chapters 5, 6 and 7, do the following activities:

1. Prepare a mind map summarizing the most important ideas concerning: the extension of the USA by the middle of the 18th century, three main
groups of people, characteristics of frontier people and its relation to the future development of North America. (IN THE LAST PAGE)
2. On what grounds did France claim for the American colonies?

The French claim over Canada and Louisiana was based upon journeys made in the 17 th century by 2 famous explorers, Samuel de Champlain and René La
Salle, when there were still vast unexplored areas by Europeans.

3. What was the most relevant outcome concerning the Seven years’ War?

The most relevant outcome of the Seven years’ War was Britain increasing their power and the French expulsion from North America. Britain won an
Empire; but its victory led directly to conflict with its American colonies.

4. What were the main reasons leading to conflict between Britain and the American colonies?

At first, the colonists were angry because of King George III forbidding them to settle west of the Appalachians until proper treaties had been made with the
Amerindians who lived in the area. But then colonists became angrier when the British government told them they must pay new taxes on imports of sugar,
coffee, textiles, and other goods. The government also told them that they must feed and find shelter for British soldiers that stayed in the colonies.

5. Refer to each of the following aspects in as much detail as possible:

 Form of Government: All the English colonies in America shared a tradition of representative government, i.e. people had a say in how they
were governed. Each colony had its own government. At the head of this government was a governor, chosen in most cases by the English
king, who depended upon the cooperation of assemblies elected by the colonists.
In most of the colonies all white males who owned some land had the right to vote. Since so many colonists owned land, this meant that far
more people had the vote in America than in England itself or in any other European country at this time.
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 People should not allow governments to become too powerful: This idea originated from the King George III’s proclamation after the
Seven Years’ War. The colonists became angry when they were forbidden to settle west of the Appalachians; then they were told to pay
taxes on imports; and finally they were obliged to feed and find shelter for British soldiers that stayed at the colonies.
At that time, merchants believed that the new import taxes would make it more difficult to trade at a profit. Other colonists believed that
the taxes would raise their costs of living. They also feared that if British troops stayed in America they might be used to force them to obey
the British government. This last objection was an early example of this important tradition in American political life that people should not
allow governments to become too powerful.
Even today, with the separation of powers, there is a system in the U.S government that ensures no one branch becomes too powerful.
 The Stamp Act: it was a law that was intended to raise money to pay for the defense of the colonies. This law said that the colonists had to
buy special tax stamps and attach them to newspaper, licenses, and legal papers such as wills and mortgages.
 No taxation without representation: Ever since the early years of the Virginia settlements Americans had claimed the right to elect
representatives to decide the taxes they paid. During those times, colonists had no representatives in the British Parliament, so they began
to demand that they could not be taxed because of it.
 The Stamp Act Congress (relate it to the present): In 1765 representatives from 9 colonies met in New York. They formed the “Stamp Act
Congress” and organized opposition to the Stamp Act. All over the colonies merchants and shopkeepers refused to sell British goods until
the Act was withdrawn. In Boston and other cities angry mobs attacked government officials selling the stamps. Most colonists simply
refused to use them.
All this opposition forced the British government to withdraw the Stamp Act. But it was determined to show the colonists that it had the
right to tax them.
The Stamp Act Congress was the first unified meeting of the colonies to respond to British policies.
 The Boston massacre: On March 5, 1770, a Boston mob began to shout insults and to throw sticks and stones at a group of British soldiers.
One of the crowd tried to take a soldier’s gun and the soldier shot him. Without any order from the officer in charge, more shots were fired
and three more members of the crowd fell dead and others were wounded.
Samuel Adams, a politician and a writer who organized opposition in Massachusetts to the British tax laws, used this “Boston Massacre” to
stir up American opinion against the British. He wrote a letter which inaccurately described the happening as an unprovoked attack on a
peaceful group of citizens, and sent out copies to all the colonies. To make his account more convincing, he asked a Boston silversmith
named Paul Revere to make a dramatic picture of the “Massacre”. Hundreds of copies were printed.
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Adams’ letter and Revere’s picture were seen by thousands of people throughout the colonies. Together they did a great deal to strengthen
opposition to British rule.
 First Continental Congress: On 1774, British warships took up position at the mouth of Boston harbor to make sure that no ships sailed in or
out. Then, a group of colonial leaders came together in Philadelphia and formed the First Continental Congress to oppose what they saw as
British oppression. The Continental Congress claimed to be loyal to the British king. But it called upon Americans to support the people of
Massachusetts by refusing to but British goods.
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