Birth of the American RepublicChapter 2.3

Britain Becomes a Global Power 1500-1600’s Britain began to build its

empire controlled trade with much of North

America, the West Indies, and India. George III came to power in 1760

determined to assert his control.

The 13 Colonies in the Mid-1700s economic life was booming by 1750.

Britain tries to regulate trade (& other aspects of life in the colonies) Navigation Acts-regulate trade and

manufacturing (not rigorously enforced) there was a sense of semi-independence

on the part of the colonists, who tried to control their own affairs

Colonists Express Discontent When King George III imposed taxes on the

colonies to help pay for wars ( Seven Years & French Indian) Sugar Act 1764- import tax Stamp Act 1765 - taxes on paper goods Colonialists “No taxation without representation”

Colonists rebelled & tensions escalated Inspired by Enlightenment ideas

natural rights of man and the right to revolt against an unjust government,

July the Second Continental Congress declared independence from Britain

The American Revolution Continues Colonists advantages

With passion, knowledge of the countryside

help from France, the Netherlands, and Spain

the colonists defeated the British The Treaty of Paris signed 1781

ended the war and recognized the independent United States of America.

A New Constitution Articles of Confederation

proved too weak to establish effective government,

some of the nation’s leaders drafted the Constitution based on Enlightenment ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. The new government recognize some basic rights of the people establish

three branches of government (checks and balances) served as a model for constitutions created by other

countries.