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

Cards (31)

  • 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