History: British North America

Unit 2

The Thirteen ColoniesThe Colonists• Colonists had immigrated to the 13 colonies from different European

countries. • They were mainly from England, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden,

and Germany. Most colonists were farmers. In southern colonies, farms were called ‘plantations’. The plantation owners brought slaves from Africa to work their land for them.

• Population in the Thirteen Colonies had grown so much that people were living there needed more land.

• Colonists wanted to move west into the Ohio Valley. This area was where the First Nations traded with the French fur traders; some First Nations did not want new settlers taking their land.

• Their leader, Pontiac, led a revolt to keep the settlers out; many settlers were killed.

Britain and the Thirteen Colonies• Many events began to cause unrest between the colonies and Britain. When the

Britain passed the Quebec Act in 1774, the borders changed so that the Ohio Valley belonged again to the colony of Quebec.

• Colonists from the Thirteen Colonies were not allowed to settle in the Ohio Valley. This made many of the colonists angry at Britain. They had been loyal to Britain during the 7 Years’ War in North America. They thought they deserved this land.

• Britain still made the laws in the Thirteen Colonies. Although Britain appointed the Governor and a Council, there was still an elected Assembly (by the people).

• Many of the colonists liked having an input and wanted British rule to end so that they could govern themselves in a representative government of their own.

• Britain still had troops in North America to defend itself from First Nations’ attacks. But it cost them a lot of money to keep troops there—the 7 Years’ War also cost a lot and it was a large national debt.

• The British government decided to collect taxes from the colonists to repay debt; colonists boycotted goods that had taxes and protested against these taxes. They didn’t think it was fair and they had no fair way to voice their opinion in Parliament because they had no representatives there. This also angered them.

• Britain wanted the Thirteen colonies only to trade with the British Empire; but colonists wanted to sell their goods to whatever country they wanted. Protests and disagreements became stronger—finally, the situation became violent, when British soldiers and Colonial militia (volunteer soldiers) got into an armed fight. This event started the American revolution in 1775.

The Thirteen Colonies can be divided into three general regions:

Regions Major Economic Activities

Major Cities

Northern Colonies wheat farming, fishing, trade

Boston

Middle Colonies farming New York Philadelphia

Southern Colonies tobacco, sugar, and rice, plantations (large farms/slaves)

Charleston Baltimore

• Colonial Government: Britain set up a government in each colony to pass laws for the colony. A major stipulation was that no laws could be passed without the approval of the governor, who was a representative of the British Government.

• Representative Government: An election takes place, whereby the citizens of a colony choose a group of people who will work to create laws for the good of the colony.

• Taxation without Representation: Great Britain imposed taxes on people living in the Colonies. This money was being given to Britain, and therefore not being invested in the colonies. The citizens did not have representation at the government level to defend or protest this system of taxation.

13 Colonies Map

• Complete the map provided, using the background information I provided.

• • Include the three regions, the Thirteen Colonies, and the major cities.

• • In your legend use a symbol that will represent the major economic activities of each region. Be sure to also include each symbol on the appropriate regions of the map.

• • Identify the bodies of water.

Acting Up!Producing the Dramatization• Step 1: Decide upon the following roles within their group: 1. The official "Town Crier" (who will publicly read the Act) 2. The "Citizens" (who will demonstrate their reactions to the Act)

• Step 2: Using a grade 7 textbook and teacher provided handouts, write out the scenario of the Act which they will present (role of the Town crier, the reactions of the Citizens).

• You are encouraged to plan simple dialogue and perhaps use some props to demonstrate protest or manifestations .

• Step 3: Acting Up! Each group presents their dramatization to the class.

• Although the Seven Years War had ended quite some time ago, there was still a wedge between Britain and the Thirteen Colonies.

• In fact, it was getting worse. The five reasons why both sides might be upset with one another:

• land • Allegiances• power• Taxes• money