Britain and the American Revolution in the 1700’s

Britain and the American Revolution in the 1700’s

Objectives • What influences spurred Britain’s rise to global power? • How did the growth of constitutional government reflect conditions in politics and society? • How did George III reassert royal power? • What were the chief characteristics of the 13 English colonies? • How did growing discontent lead to the American Revolution? • How did the new constitution reflect the ideas of the Enlightenment?

Why Did Britain Rise to Global Power in the 1700s? 1) Location placed England in a position to control trade during the Renaissance. 2) In the 1700s, Britain was usually on the winning side in European conflicts. 3) England had developed a powerful navy, which could protect its growing empire and trade. 4) England was more open to business and commerce than its European rivals. 5) The union of England and Scotland brought economic advantages to both lands.

United Kingdom of Great Britain

Growth of Constitutional Government In the century following the Glorious Revolution (1688- Mary and William sign the English Bill of Rights) , three new political institutions arose in Britain: 1. Political parties emerged in England in the late 1600s. The first political parties, the Tories and the Whigs, represented small exclusive groups of wealthy men. 2. The cabinet system was a group of advisers to the prime minister. They were called the cabinet because they met in a small room. 3. The Prime Minister was the leader of the majority party in Parliament and in time the chief official of the British government. The appearance of these institutions was part of the evolution of Britain’s constitutional government, that is a government whose power is defined and limited by law.

George III • George III came to power anxious to reassert royal power. • He wanted to end Whig domination • choose his own ministers • dissolve the cabinet system • make Parliament follow his will. • What kind of government does George III want to create? ABSOLUTE MONARCHY • To complete his goals, George III…. • Gave parliamentary seats to his friends and supporters. • Tried to force English colonists in North America to pay the costs of their own defense.

Causes of the American Revolution In 1775, George’s policies in North America triggered the American Revolution Major Causes • George’s policies • The colonists felt entitled to the rights of English citizens • Their colonial assemblies exercised much control over local affairs. • Increasing sense of their own identity separate from that of Britain.

Growing Discontent……WAR! • “No taxation without representation.” • George III wanted the colonists to help pay for the French and Indian War and troops still stationed along the frontier. • The colonists protested that since they had no representation in Parliament, the British had no right to tax them. • War starts between Britain and the colonists. • The 2nd Continental Congress declared independence from Britain and issued the Declaration of Independence.

American Revolution in the East How did the most powerful nation in the world get beaten by a bunch of country bumpkins?

Advantages and Disadvantages British Advantages British Disadvantages • Professional Soldiers • Huge Fleet • Plentiful money • 1/3 of Americans were Loyalists • Fighting on unfamiliar territory • Fighting without a cause • Far away from home base American Advantages American Disadvantages • Fighting for a cause • Home turf advantage • Controlled the countryside • French alliance • Few resources • Low on money • Enemies within their territory (slaves, Loyalists, Natives)

The Revolution Ends • Treaty of Paris- 1783 • Britain recognizes new American nation American Nation writes a Constitution after first government fails

Enlightenment Influences the Constitution The new constitution reflected the Enlightenment ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. • The framers of the Constitution saw government in terms of a social contract. Elected legislature and an elected president. • The Constitution created a federal republic, with power divided between the federal government and the states. • The federal government was separated among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each branch was provided with checks and balances on the other branches. • The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, recognized that people had basic rights that the government must protect. Next to each bullet point above, write who was the originator of each idea.

Separation of Powers What is the main job of the President? What is the main job of the Congress? What is the main job of the Supreme Court?

Review Questions • Which three new institutions emerged in Britain during the 1600s and 1700s? • a) prime minister, political parties, monarchy • b) prime minister, cabinet, political parties • c) power of the purse, prime minister, cabinet • d) monarchy, power of the purse, political parties • Which of the following was a goal of George III? • a) strengthening the Whig party • b) holding elections for ministers • c) dissolving the cabinet • d) increasing the power of Parliament

Review Questions • The three branches of the United States federal government are • a) executive, legislative, and judicial. • b) state, legislative, and judicial. • c) legislative, state, and judicial. • d) state, executive, and legislative. • Which of the following is a reason for England’s rise to global power? • a) England was on the losing side in its wars • b) England developed a powerful navy • c) England kept foreign merchants away to control inflation • d) During the 1700’s England dissolved into a small nation

Britain and the American Revolution in the 1700’s