Topic 16- American Revolution
Cards (11)
- Britain, 1763 - Society
- About 6 million people
- Society of estates (aristocracy, commoners) ( 3 classes: royal family, aristocracy (lords), and commoners)
- "Class society" with minimal social mobility ( land, estates were owned by them, keeps it in the family )
- Britain, 1763 - Britain's Constitution
- The boast of Every Britain
- Mixed and balanced
- "King, Lords, Commons"
- Preserves order and liberty
- House of Commons: 558 MP's
- Britain, 1763 - Voters and Elections
- "40-shilling freehold" requirement
- Or: Borough citizenship
- 25% of adult males enfranchised (declining)
- Uncontested elections (80% +) - only one candidate
- Britian, 1763 - "Court" government
- King rules
- Appointments
- Placemen (1/3 of Commons) - the king had complete control over what rules were posted
- No need for Royal Veto (last used 1707)
- British North America, 1763 - The population boom
- 1700 -> 250,000
- 1760 -> 1.6 Million
- 1770 -> 2.1 Million
- Doubling every 25 years
- Compare England - 6 Million
- British North America, 1763 - Immigration in 1700s
- Africans: 250,000
- Scots / Scots-Irish: 150,000
- Germans: 100,000
- English: 80,000
- British North America, 1763 - Government ( in each colony )
- Imitation of Britain
- Governor ( like King )
- Council ( like Lords )
- Assembly ( like Commons )
- Ideas at Stake - English Constitution
- Structure/ powers of government
- Rights of the people
- "Unwritten"
- Ideas At Stake - Republicanism
- Ancient Origins
- Virtue
- Liberty
- Independence
- Country over Court
- Republic over Monarchy
- The American Revolution: Legacy - Constitution
- A "conservative" revolution
- Fought first for Constitutional rights
- Leads to a New Constitution w/ many rights from old one
- Americans fight for constitutional rights in 1775
- The American Revolution: Legacy - Republic
- A "radical" revolution
- Ends monarchy
- Creates a republic
- Elevates Quality
- "Enlightened"