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The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a movement that transformed the traditional, formal modes of preaching & worship that old, motherland Britain had lay as a way of life. The Great Awakening caused a split from the beliefs of predestination taught by the elite ministers of England. The new message was of bringing one's own salvation by accepting Christ. The best example of this day is Jonathan Edwards sermon "Sinners in the hands of an angry God". Beginning the cultural separation from Britain. -
The Enlightenment
Also known as the "Age of Reason", was another cultural movement which furthered the separation of colonists from Britain. This concept adopted reason over superstition. It sought to prove ideas with science instead of following blind faith. "Openness, investigation, and religious tolerance" was spread throughout the Americas and Europe. Rationalism, empiricism, progressivism, and cosmopolitanism were the dominant ideas of this time. Issac Newton was an enlightenment thinker. -
French Indian War Begins
The French Indian War began in May 1754 near present-day Uniontown, Pennsylvania. This was the beginning of the final imperial war between Britain and France. It all started over claims, from both sides, of frontier land in present day Pennsylvania. The expansion of this territory was essential for Britain's conquest, but even more important to the expansion of the colonies. This event was also the beginning of the end of the ties between the colonies and its mother country. -
Treaty of Paris
The French signed the Treaty of Paris ending the French Indian war and also relinquishing all of Frances territories in the mainland of north America. This meant westward expansion for the colonies and the becoming of a global empire for Britain. However, Great Britain had incurred major debt from the war. The money would be have to be raised to pay the debt back and the colonies will have major issues with what Great Britain has in mind for the payment plan. -
Proclomation of 1763
After the end of the war and signing of the Treaty Paris by France, the colonist was eager to begin the expansion westward. Mainly because they thought that the war had been won fought for the colonist right to expand westward. However, the British government knew that the new frontier could become another battleground with the Indian natives in the area. The Proclamation forbade the expansion west of the Appalachians, creating tension between colonist and Britain. -
Common Sense
"Common Sense" was the written by Thomas Paine. This pamphlet ignited the fire for the colonies to declare their independence from Great Britain. The article targeted King George III instead of the British Parliament, creating the idea of a new government where the people elected their representatives instead of a monarchy -
Declaration of Indepndence
The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 agreeing to officially separate from Great Britain and become its own. -
Philadelphia Constitutional Convention
After the events of Shay's Rebellion along with an economic crisis, there was an urgency to amend the previous Articles of Confederation. However, the attendees of this convention created the outline for a new national government. This became the United States Constitution. -
The Bill of Rights
The document contained "the first ten ammendments to the Constitution nad outlined many of the personal rights state constitutions already guaranteed." ( )
