Chapter 1 : Initial modes of gov. in the American colonies

• Why exploring and settle on the American continent ?

  Discover new riches to be more powerful than the european rivals & Discover the northwest passage : a direct water route to the Far East to facilitate Trade
• Names of the 3 different types of colonies

  Proprietary colonies, Royal colonies and Corporate colonies
• Proprietary colonies are ruled by individuals. 10 out of the 13 first colonies were proprietary and most of the american colonies started as proprietarian
• Royal colonies were directly ruled by a representative of the king. They replaced most of the proprietary colonies. By 1776, there was 9 royal colonies and 2 proprietarian colonies.
• Corporate colonies were established and run by trading companies.
• Each colonies had a governor. Most often, only white adult male proprietors could vote (Sometimes there was exceptions for women if they were proprietors)
• In every colonies the governor had executive powers and ruled with the council and the assembly
• The assembly is the lower house concerning people at large. It was equivalent to the house of commons.
• The council was the upper house and concerned the interests of the local aristocracy. It was the equivalent to the house of Lords.
• In every colonies there was no separations between the branches of power. And no decisions could go against British laws.
• By the late 17th c. , all colonies used to exercising a considerable degree of local political autonomy.
• Throughout the 17th and 18th C. most colonies increased their power. The Crown did not like that and tried to secure its power and control over the colonies.
• There was resentment in the colonies when the Crown tried to secure its power over it. But the Crown was cautious in its way of dealing with the colonies.
• During the times of resentment in the colonies, It was an opportunity to spread Enlightenment theories.
• "Two Treatises on Government" by John Locke - Locke explains each persons has inalienable rights : “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
• During resentment times in colonies, there were attempts at developing self-government
• French and Indian War lasted

  7 years
• French and British fougt over domination of fair trade and ?

  Domination of newly discovered territories
• Reasons of the French and Indian war (2)

  Geostrategic and geopolitical, religious (anglican against catholic)
• Who won the French and Indian War and what were the cost of this war for them ?

  The British had huge war debt
• How the king decided to erase his debts after the French and Indian War ?

  Anglo-Americans were asked to pay a greater share of the cost of running the Empire
• After the French and Indian war, the colonies endured series of taxes imposed by the Crown = colonists infuriated + protested (because for them theses taxes were excessive and unfair)⇒ No reaction by the Crown (didn’t answer to the colonies’s grievances, no more dialogue) = overt acts of disobedience
• After the French and Indian War, Adoption of new measures (the Coercive Acts) by the Crown = escalation of hostilities ⇒ First Continental Congress (1774) = to formulate a common answer (from the Coercive Acts and taxes raise), gather together to confront the Crown
• Lack of answer by King George III from the First Continental Congress + will to counterattack + military confrontation
• First battles of the american revolution

  Lexington and Concord
• What happen after the lack of answer by King George III about the Continental Congress of 1774 ?

  Second Continental Congress, ratification of the Olive Branch petition
• Date of the First Continental Congress

  1774
• Date of the second Continental Congress

  1775
• The Olive Branch petition was written to :

  Airing the colonists' grievances, Pleading the King to listen to them, Pledging their loyalty
• Reaction of the Crown towards the Olive Branch Petition


  The Crown even refused to read the petition, for him, the colonies' leaders were traitors.
• Conclusion of the Olive Branch Petition

  Communities need rules to organize themselves, protect its members and fulfil its objectives