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Period: to
1700-1812
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Key player born: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Frankin was a key player in the development of America. Not only was he a key player in America's early colonial history and independence, but he was an original American having been born in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston, located on the east coast of North America, was settled by the English in 1630 by Puritan settlers. Benjamin Franklin would later leave Boston and migrate to Philadelphia, where he would start publishing The Pensylvania Gazette. US history.org
http://ushistory.org -
Benjamin Franklin: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Benjamin Franklin, having experience writing about controversial events in his brother's paper "The New England Courant" (which was published in Boston under the fictitious name of Silence Dogood) desired to continue his writings when he migrated to Pennsylvania. He started the Pennsylvania Gazette, "which eventually became the most popular colonial newspaper." www.ushistory.org/franklin/courant/silencedogood.htm
www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-col.htm -
The American Revolution 1763-1773
It started, colonists were tired of being ruled by a far away country that took no regard to the American colonists, and their needs. Britain was concerned with Britain, and Americans were expected to pay the price. That price included the blood, sweat, and tears of all those that initially settled the colonies, and now the resources and profits that the colonists were able to obtain. Tyranny had to end, so the colonists began their revolt. -
Treaty of Paris
In the1763, the French signed the Treaty of Paris. The French and the British had been at war, and because of increased resources and money that had been given to the British Empire to fight against the "...hated Catholic French, France was at a disadvantage. This defeat would help align the French with the rebels for the American Revolution in providing the rebels with ammunition to help defeat England.
1(2016).US History. http://dx.doi.org/http://penstaxcollege.org/textbooks/us-history(ph.118) -
Stamp Act
This was a direct tax that would affect all colonists that used any printed paper material, such as newspapers. This was believed, by some, to be a way in which the British would have a tighter grip on what the colonists were doing. Protests began against the British, and feelings of resentment about the Motherland, which was so far away, dictating rules for America without representation increased those feelings.
http://dx.doi.org/http://penstaxcollege.org/textbooks/us-history(pg130). -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Act was another way to produce revenue for Britain; it also imposed Britain's power over the colonists.This act would create revenue from the colonists by imposing duties on items that were imported from Britain to America. This drew a greater rift between Britain and the colonists, causing the colonist to boycott English luxury items, even the ladies were encouraged to join in on the boycott.
http://dx.doi.org/http://penstaxcollege.org/textbooks/us-history(pp. 136-139) -
Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense"
Thomas Paine, born in Thetford, England, was now an influential agitator in America. He published "Common Sense," a pamphlet which strongly encouraged America to break from England, and becoming its own independent nation giving it freedoms that were not allowed under English rule. Thomas Paine was a friend of Benjamin Franklin.
www.ushistory.org/PAINE/
UTA History Department, " Topic 8 Independence Declared and Won." -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence has many single words that reflect the feelings that Americans were holding. Some of these words such as "We" and "The People" show a unity that was not present in the early formation of the colonies. The declaration of rights, and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, address the individual and their right to a voice in government. -
Washington crossing the Delaware
This one act of bravery shows the resolve that the Amercian people had. Because of that example of bravery that George Washington and his soldiers gave in the name of independence, fueled the Patriots to go on to win victories for America, and turn the heads of those such as France and Spain that would later help America win the war.
UTA History Department, " Topic 8 Independence Declared and Won." -
Treaty of Paris
The United States of America is official. Britain acknowledges the independence of America. Britain signs the Treaty of Paris which gives liberties that were not allowed before when America was under British rule. Along with these freedoms are the responsibilities that come from being an independent nation. The young United States is on its own.
UTA History Department, " Topic 8 Independence Declared and Won." -
The Constitution
The reason for the Constitution was a desired need by some for a strong centralized government. Some were skeptical and believed that a new national government would have too much power and that the United States would end up, like Britain and its monarchy with all the power. This fear was evident in the fact that the vote was close with eighty-nine to seventy-nine in favor of the constitution. https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Constitution.html -
Our first President of the United States of America
George Washington becomes the first United States President. He took his oath, to serve America, in New York. George Washington had some failures early on in his life as a general, but he also had many victories that helped establish America's independence and place his mark in history as a symbol of America.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/georgewashington
