Witness the tumultuous birth of a nation in this gripping account of early American history, charting the course from the Pilgrims' arrival on the Mayflower to the seismic Declaration of Independence. Delve into the motivations and struggles of the Puritan settlers as they sought to establish a "godly community" in the New World, navigating complex relationships with Native American tribes and laying the foundation for a burgeoning society. Uncover the escalating tensions with the English crown, fueled by restrictive trade laws like the Navigation Act and the imposition of taxes without representation, igniting a fervent desire for self-governance. Experience the pivotal moments that shaped the American identity, from the fiery sermons of the Great Awakening to the defiant acts of resistance, including the Boston Tea Party, which catalyzed a revolution. Explore the key events such as the French and Indian War and the Stamp Act, which escalated animosity towards British rule. Confront the grim realities of the era, including the expansion of slavery and the brutal conflicts with indigenous populations, as the seeds of liberty were sown amidst injustice and hardship. Meet the key figures who shaped this era – from John Winthrop to George Washington – and understand their motivations, their flaws and their lasting legacies. Finally, understand the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of the revolution, culminating in the powerful ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, forever altering the course of history and inspiring generations to come. This is a chronicle of courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of freedom against the backdrop of burgeoning colonial America, a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the origins of the United States. Discover the complex tapestry of events, ideas, and personalities that forged a new nation, a beacon of liberty in a world yearning for change, exploring themes of religious freedom, colonial life, taxation without representation, and the road to revolution.
American History from the Mayflower to the Declaration of Independence
In 1620, the pilgrim fathers landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They were Puritans, who where persecuted in Europe because of their belief. They signed the “mayflower compact”, the first constitution of America and arranged treaties with neighboring tribes and were taught how to plant corn. The Puritans wanted to create a godly community. They didn’t object to material gain.
In 1629, king Charles I dissolved the parliament, which was dominated by Puritans. This caused an enormous emigration wave from England to America. One year later, John Withrop founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony, later Boston, with 900 Puritans.
Charles I died in 1949 in the English civil war from 1640-1659. This led to a change of the kingdom to the Republican Commonwealth in England. In 1660, under king Charles II the English monarchy was restored. A couple of new laws were issued, among these was the Navigation Act, which prohibited the population of America to trade with other countries except for England and regulated trade between the thirteen colonies.
In 1672, the Royal Africa Company got the monopoly for slave trade.
One year later, for the first time taxes were imposed for trade between the colonies.
From 1674-1675, the Wampanoags tried to drive the English back to the sea. This war cost 600 colonists and 3000 Indians life’s. It was clear that there would never be a peaceful life between Indians and English.
After king Louis XIV repealed the edict of Nantes in 1685, many French protestants fled to America. (The edict was issued in 1598 by Henry IV in order to Stopp religion wars. It gave freedom in areas such as economy and politics to the protestants.)
In England James II becomes successor of Charles II.
In the year 1688, in Boston resistance against the patronage through English governors arose. Governor Andros prohibited political meetings.
He was arrested and brought to England. He was not sentenced but sent back to America as governor of Virginia.
The English king James II fled to France and William of Orange followed him on the English throne.
The English were set under pressure because of the first english-french war in America (King Williams’s war). The French were supported by Indian tribes. The Peace of Ryswick stopped King William’s war in 1697 and the French had to give up their conquests. The Status Quo was restored.
In 1692, the witch trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts. 20 women were killed. 6 months later, the special court was dissolved and the other imprisoned women were set free. 5 years later, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts apologized for the execution of the women at their families.
In the year 1699, the English Parliament issued the „Wool Act“. It prohibited the export of wool from the colonies to England.
One Year later the non-Indian population of America reaches 250.000.
In 1702, Anne became Queen of England. She declared war on France. The colonies fought against French, Spanish and their Indian allies for 11 years.
3 years later, slaves were declared as possession in Virginia by law.
(Virginia Black Code of 1705). In New York the death penalty for escaped slaves was introduced and in Massachusetts marriages of people of the same races were prohibited.
In 1710, British Parliament issued the Post Office Act. This meant, that a postal service was introduced in the colonies. It was controlled from London.
4 years after that, the first tea-imports reached England and George I became king of England.
The number of white inhabitants in America had almost doubled since 1700 and reached 475.000. The number of slaves amounted to 75.000.
In 1727, king George II succeeded his father on the English throne.
The Molasses Act imposed high taxes on rum- and sugar-imports from non-British Caribbean islands in 1733.
In the year 1739, England once again declared war on Spain. This led to fights between Spanish-Florida and North and South Carolina.
One year later, the Austrian war of succession also took place in the American colonies as King George’s War.
In 1751, the Currency Act prohibited the use of own money in the colonies. Meanwhile, there were many laws and decrees, which prevented the single developing of the colonies. The seed of separatism seemed to work, more and more often the English crown wanted more independence.
3 years after that, the French and Indian War started, caused by quarrels about the possession of land. George Washington earned first praise as a brilliant strategist. One year later, a military force of 900 French beat a British army of 2000 men.
In 1757, William Pitt becomes new minister of state and strengthened the British troops in America.
The British lost almost 2000 soldiers in the battle at Ft. Ticonderoga in 1758 but could push the French further back. The French military troops consisted mainly of Indian allies and were almost not supported from Europe. The first Indian reservation was created in New Jersey.
In 1760, the population reached 1.500.000 people. The French gave up Quebec and George III became king of England.
The British spread the war on the Spanish occupations in 1762. A year later, the Peace of Paris stopped the French and Indian War. The French ceded the land east of the Mississippi except for New Orleans to the Americans. The Spanish claimed the land west of the Mississippi and changed big parts of Florida against Cuba. In the proclamation of 1763 king George III prohibited any settlement of the land west of the Appalachians to bring an end to the quarrels with the tribes in that area.
In order to pay the debts of the war, the English Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764. Taxes on non-British products were doubled although these goods could only be imported over England. The Import of Spanish rum and French wine was prohibited. The Currency Act was tightened. This united the industrial north and the agricultural south in the fight against the mother country.
The Stamp Act, introduced in 1765, was a tax on all kinds of printed paper and the first tax which had to be paid over to Britain directly. That meant, that the receipts from this tax were only used in England and not in the colonies. Enough was enough. Boycotts in Boston led to the first dead people. The Stamp Act Congress met in New York and issued a resolution to George III. They demanded the annulment of the Stamp Act.
In 1766, the colonies threatened with a split of from England. As a reaction, the British kingdom strengthened the troops in America. This led to the next problem because most of the population of the colonies refused to follow the Quartering Act. This obligated the inhabitants of the colonies to accommodate and feed the soldiers. In March 1766 the Stamp Act was annulled, but at the same time the Declaratory Act was passed in which the sovereign right over all colonies “in all cases whatsoever” was decreed.
From 1767 the Quartering Act and especially the Townshend Revenue Act were responsible for conflict which had their climax in the Boston Massacre: In the year 1770 English soldiers killed 5 protesting colonists. In order to prevent the outbreak of a war the Quartering Act and the Townshend Act were repealed. Only the import of tea was still taxed.
In 1773, the “Boston Tea Party” took place in the harbor of Boston.
The East India Tea Company wanted support from the British against American tea smugglers. The British crown reduced the price for tea in order to undercut the smugglers. The colonists thought there could be a monopoly because of that and that this could also happen with other products and did not buy the tea. But British ships kept on arriving in the harbor of Boston. On 23rd of November, the Americans forbid to unload the tea ship “Darthmouth”. Three weeks later, on 16th of December, thousands of people assembled in the harbor and stormed the “Darthmouth”. They threw 342 boxes with tea into the sea. This action strengthened the resistance movement in the whole country. British tea was boycotted almost everywhere in America.
The British crown reacted and passed new laws which were called Intolerable Acts by the colonists. Among these were the close of the harbor of Boston, the members of the judicative force were replaced by English governors and the destroyed tea should be paid by the colonies. As a reaction, the colonies founded the First Continental Congress, a meeting of all American colonies.
The Declaration of Independence was passed by the Continental Congress on 4th of July, 1776. At the beginning it was just a sign to break away from the British Empire. It was signed by all 56 members of the Congress. The Declaration contained principles of human rights and of democracy.
The revolution was now completed but it would have been senseless without an own constitution and government. The preparation for the constitution started in 1776. The problems were the connection of the single states and how many power the parliament should have. The Articles of Confederation which were finished in 1777 didn’t give enough power to the parliament. It had more power than the states but it didn’t have the right to get passed laws through in the states.
England didn’t leave the states without a fight. A war broke out between the English army and the American army led by George Washington. Because the Americans got help from the French, Spanish and the Dutch the colonies could make England capitulate in 1781. In 1783, England accepted the independence of the 13 United States.
Frequently asked questions about American History from the Mayflower to the Declaration of Independence
What was the Mayflower Compact?
The Mayflower Compact was the first constitution of America, signed by the pilgrim fathers in 1620 after they landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They were Puritans seeking religious freedom.
Why did the Puritans emigrate to America?
Puritans emigrated to America primarily due to religious persecution in Europe. They sought to create a godly community in the New World.
What was the significance of the Massachusetts Bay Colony?
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop and 900 Puritans, and it later became Boston. It represented a significant wave of Puritan emigration to America.
What was the Navigation Act?
The Navigation Act was issued in 1660 under King Charles II and prohibited the American colonies from trading with countries other than England. It also regulated trade among the thirteen colonies.
What was the Royal Africa Company's role in American history?
In 1672, the Royal Africa Company was granted a monopoly on the slave trade, contributing to the expansion of slavery in the American colonies.
What was King Philip's War (Wampanoag War)?
From 1674 to 1675, the Wampanoags tried to drive the English back to the sea. This war resulted in significant casualties on both sides, highlighting the conflict between the Indians and the English.
What was the Edict of Nantes and why was its revocation significant?
The Edict of Nantes, issued in 1598 by Henry IV of France, granted religious and economic freedoms to Protestants. Its repeal in 1685 led many French Protestants to flee to America.
What was the significance of William of Orange taking the English throne?
The English King James II fled to France and William of Orange followed him on the English throne. The English were set under pressure because of the first english-french war in America (King Williams’s war).
What were the Salem witch trials?
The Salem witch trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. Twenty women were executed, and the events later led to apologies and exoneration.
What was the Wool Act of 1699?
The Wool Act of 1699, issued by the English Parliament, prohibited the export of wool from the colonies to England.
What was the Virginia Black Code of 1705?
The Virginia Black Code of 1705 declared slaves as property. It also established stricter regulations regarding enslaved people.
What was the Post Office Act of 1710?
The British Parliament issued the Post Office Act in 1710, which introduced a postal service in the colonies controlled from London.
What was the Molasses Act of 1733?
The Molasses Act of 1733 imposed high taxes on rum and sugar imports from non-British Caribbean islands.
What was the Currency Act of 1751?
The Currency Act of 1751 prohibited the use of the colonies' own money, hindering their economic development.
What was the French and Indian War?
The French and Indian War started in 1754 due to disputes over land possession. It led to British victories and ultimately to the Peace of Paris in 1763.
What were the terms of the Peace of Paris in 1763?
The Peace of Paris in 1763 ended the French and Indian War. France ceded land east of the Mississippi to the Americans, and Spain claimed land west of the Mississippi.
What was the Proclamation of 1763?
The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited any settlement of the land west of the Appalachians in order to reduce conflict with Native American tribes.
What was the Sugar Act of 1764?
The English Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764 to pay the debts of the war. It doubled taxes on non-British products, uniting the colonies against the mother country.
What was the Stamp Act of 1765?
The Stamp Act of 1765 was a tax on all kinds of printed paper and the first tax paid directly to Britain. This led to boycotts and the Stamp Act Congress.
What was the Declaratory Act?
In 1766, the Stamp Act was annulled, but at the same time the Declaratory Act was passed in which the sovereign right over all colonies “in all cases whatsoever” was decreed.
What was the Quartering Act?
This obligated the inhabitants of the colonies to accommodate and feed the soldiers
What was the Boston Massacre?
In the year 1770 English soldiers killed 5 protesting colonists
What was the Boston Tea Party?
In 1773, American colonists protested the British tea tax by dumping tea into the sea.
What were the Intolerable Acts?
The Intolerable Acts were laws passed by the British crown in response to the Boston Tea Party, leading to the First Continental Congress.
When was the Declaration of Independence passed?
The Declaration of Independence was passed by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776. At the beginning it was just a sign to break away from the British Empire. It was signed by all 56 members of the Congress. The Declaration contained principles of human rights and of democracy.
What led to the American Revolutionary War?
A war broke out between the English army and the American army led by George Washington. Because the Americans got help from the French, Spanish and the Dutch the colonies could make England capitulate in 1781. In 1783, England accepted the independence of the 13 United States.
What was the Bill of Rights?
Not all states agreed and so the Bill of rights had to be added. It contained single basic rights like the right of assembly and freedom of worship.
- Quote paper
- Alex Henn (Author), 2001, American History from the Mayflower to the Declaration of Independence, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/102460
