TAKS LESSON
8th GRADE EDITION
FROM DISCOVERY TO NATIONHOOD
English
Colonists Bring Their Rights to the New World
When English colonists left England to settle in the Americas, they
were still under the rule and protection of the British crown and
government. The government guaranteed the English colonists the
same rights in America that they had at home, in England. Some of
the rights English colonists enjoyed had been won by their forefathers.
In 1215, English barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta,
the Great Charter. The Magna Carta established three basic legal
principles: (1) all people, even the king, must obey the laws -
this is known as the "rule of law," (2) the right of trial
by jury was guaranteed, (3) only the legislature (Parliament) could
levy taxes. English Common Law guaranteed all Englishmen
protection against tyranny and guaranteed that life, liberty, and
property could not be taken by illegal or arbitrary action. Later,
the rights guaranteed in The English Bill of Rights of 1689,
were also granted to the American colonist. |
EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT
In
1492, a skilled Italian sailor, Christopher Columbus, discovered the
Americas and claimed the new lands for Spain. Over the next century,
Spanish conquistadors explored and settled vast regions of the North
and South American continents. By the 17th Century (1600’s) other
European nations began to realize that the
North American continent was rich in "gifts of nature," such
as fur bearing animals, fertile soil, precious metals, and lush forests.
ENGLAND ESTABLISHES COLONIES
The English established their first permanent colony at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. One year later, in 1608, the French built a permanent settlement at Quebec, Canada. Soon after, the Dutch and Swedes, hoping to profit from the rich fur trade, established trading posts in the Connecticut and the Delaware River areas. Eventually, the Dutch and Swedish colonies fell under the control of the British, and by 1733, the British had thirteen colonies in North America.
COLONIAL GOVERNMENT
Although
each colony had its own unique character and purpose, all of the colonies
shared certain common political characteristics. Each colony had a representative
governing body, and settlers were guaranteed individual rights. The
Virginia charter guaranteed the first settlers the same rights they
would have enjoyed if they had stayed at home. These rights extended
to all the other English colonies and became the foundation for American
liberties.
Colonists recognized the need to establish governing bodies that would
insure, enforce, and protect their rights. In 1620, a group of English
colonists established a colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts under the
Virginia Charter. While these Pilgrims were still on their ship, The
Mayflower, they wrote and adopted the Mayflower Compact. In this document,
the Pilgrims promised to:
Connecticut issued The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut as the foundation
for justice in that colony.
The colonists' belief in government and fundamental personal rights
was closely guarded.
PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS
After the French and Indian War, King George III believed the Americans were subverting the mercantile system, so he expanded the trading acts and imposed new taxes on the colonists. The colonists protested these taxes with the slogan, “No taxation without representation!” The colonists claimed the Magna Carta and the English Common Law protected them from being taxed because they were not allowed to send representatives to the British Parliament.
THE COLONISTS TAKE ACTION
In an effort to protect their rights, the colonists refused to obey the new laws. They boycotted, organized protests, and in some incidents such as the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, violence broke out. Sam Adams, “The Pen of the Revolution,” recruited people to join the Committees of Correspondence. Members of these committees exchanged information and planned resistance actives throughout the colonies. Members of these committees urged the colonists to work together as a unified force.
THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
In 1774, the colonial governments called for the First Continental Congress to meet in Philadelphia. Georgia did not send a delegate, but fifty-five delegates from the other twelve colonies met to protest the Intolerable Acts and try to avoid a full-scale war. The delegates sent a Declaration of Rights to the king, petitioning him to repeal the Intolerable Acts. Before the meeting adjourned, the delegates agreed to meet again in May 1775.
THE COLONISTS PREPARE TO FIGHT
When
King George refused to consider the American colonists' petition, the
American patriots prepared to fight for their rights and property. On
March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry told his fellow patriots, "Gentlemen,
I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty,
or give me death!"
In Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, British soldiers killed eight people
in Lexington. Then they marched to Concord, where they were forced to
retreat by American patriots who fired the "Shot heard 'round the
world."
COLONISTS DECLARE INDEPENDENCE
Three
weeks later, the Second Continental Congress met at Philadelphia and began
to prepare for war. The delegates assigned a committee of five men to
write a declaration of separation from England. With the "advice
and approval" of the committee, Thomas Jefferson authored The Declaration
of Independence. In this document he, clearly states the fundamental principle
of American democracy:
On July 4, 1776, fifty-six men signed The Declaration of Independence. For the next five years the American colonists battled against the mighty British navy and army.
WARTIME GOVERNMENT
Ratification of the Declaration established the 13 colonies as free and independent states. During the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress acted as their national representative body. THE CONTINENTAL ARMY George Washington was selected to be the Commanding General of the Continental Army. The American patriots were brave, but they were poorly prepared to fight a war with the most powerful nation in the world, Great Britain. But, the Americans had three major advantages: first, they were familiar with the rugged frontier terrain, second, they were able to use guerrilla warfare tactics, and third, they were fighting for a personal cause.
SUPPORT FROM FRANCE
Fortunately,
Britain’s long time rival, France, sympathized with the American
patriots. America’s Ambassador to France, Benjamin Franklin, convinced
the French king to secretly provided arms, uniforms, and supplies to the
Americans. The French king was not willing to openly help the Americans
because he was not sure they could be successful in their bid for independence.
The turning point in the war occurred in 1777, when American patriots
defeated the British at the Battle of Saratoga. As a result of this victory,
Benjamin Franklin was able to convince the French King to sign an alliance
with the Americans. Under the alliance, the French provided troops, naval
support, and loans to buy supplies. Finally in 1781, with French naval
and military support, the American Continental Army triumphed at the Battle
of Yorktown. After Yorktown, the British agreed to negotiate a peace treaty
to end America’s War for Independence.
THE TREATY OF PARIS
According to the terms of the Treaty of Paris, the British agreed to recognize the United States as a separate and independent nation. Also, the British agreed to remove their troops and give up their claims to the Northwest Territory.
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