ACE Class Report #60 – US History 1604 – 1803.
Begin: 3/23/2024
Finish: 6/8/2024
Title: US History 1604 – 1803
Instructor: Rodrigo Santos
Why I choose to take This Class:
History form 1604 – 1803 covers the first European settlers in America to formation of a new nation. History of this era about how the country was formed and secured its independence from the United Kingdom.
What I learned from this class:
Presidents: George Washington – 1789 – 1797
John Adams – 1797 – 1801
Thomas Jefferson – 1801 – 1809
Facts in Brief (1600 – 1803)
1607 – Jamestown colony, first English settlement.
1620 – The Pilgrims founded Plymouth Colony, the second English settlement.
1624 – Dutch began in settlement in New Netherland ( New York).
1636 – Harvard – The first college in the colonies was founded.
1638 – Sweden established the settlement of New Sweden.
1752 – Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is an electric spark.
1763 – The French and Indian war, began in 1754, ended with Britain controlling
almost all French land in Eastern North America.
1765 – British passed the Stamp Act of 1765.
1770 – British troops killed American civilians – known as the Boston Massacre.
1773 – Boston Tea Party, dumping British tea.
1774 – The first Continental Congress met to consider action against the British.
1775 – Revolutionary war between the colonist and the British began.
1777 – French entered the war on the side of the United States.
1781 – The American defeated the British at Yorktown, Virginia. Last Major battle of the revolutionary war.
1783 – The Treaty of Paris officially ended the revolutionary war.
1787 – Founding fathers wrote the Constitution.
1791 – Ten Amendment – Bill of Rights added to guarantee individual freedom.
1800 – Washington DC, became the National Capital.
1803 – The Louisiana Purchase double the size of the US (from France)
The American Colonies:
In 1607, a band of 100 English colonist reached the coast near Chesapeake Bay. They founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. In the next 150 years, a steady stream of colonist arrived and settled near the coast. Most were British but they also included people form France, Germany, Ireland and other countries. Many Africans were kidnapped and brought to the colonies as slaves. The colonist developed political practices and social beliefs that have a major influence on the US. Most placed a high value on individual liberty and respected hard work as a means of getting ahead. Many believed that the white Europeans were superior to Indians and Africans and they felt they had the right to take Indian lands by violence and force African labor through slavery. By the mid 1700’s most of the settlement had been formed into the 13 colonies, under the control of the British Government. Virginia was the largest of the 13 colonies. It began as Jamestown settlement on 1607, they were hoping to find gold and other riches, but instead faced hardships. In 1612 colonist began growing tobacco and sold it to Europe. Virginia prosper in response to rising European demands. In 1620 Puritans settled in Plymouth colony, they did not tolerate religious dissent. the Pilgrim established the Mayflower Compact among adult males to provide ” Just and Equal Laws” for all. The Puritan created a democratic political system which all the officials were elected. The Dutch founded New Netherland which is now New York and Northern New Jersey in 1624, and New Jersey in 1660. The Swedes established New Sweden settlement in 1638, now Delaware and Southern New Jersey. Swedes established a small settlement in what is now Pennsylvania in 1643.
Life In Colonial America:
Reports of the economic success and religious and political freedom attracted a steady flow of settlers. Colonist lived under British rule. Voters elected their own Colonial Legislatures. The British passed many laws to regulate trade that helped the British but sometimes the Colonist.
The Movement For Independence (1754 – 1783):
Relationship between colonist and Britain began to break down during the 1760’s. Britain tried to tighten its control over the colonist and passed law that taxed the colonist and restricted their freedom. In 1775 the revolutionary war broke out. During the war on July 4, 1776 – The Colonist declarer their independence. In 1783 they defeated the British with the aid of the French government. The French Indian war (1754 -1763) which the British won, Britain gain control of 1) all of the French Territory in Canada, and 2) All French Territory East of the Mississippi except New Orleans. The war created a huge debt for the British. they passed a series of Taxes on the Colonist. The Colonist claimed the British had no right to restrict their freedom and opposed British Taxes ” Taxation without representation is tyranny”. On Dec. 6, 1773 – Boston Tea Party. The first Continental Congress sept. 5, 1774 to repeal the Coercive Act and boycott trade with Britain. Revolutionary was began on April 19, 1775 in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. Inflicted numerous casualty on the British. May 10,1775 to prepare for war and chose George Washington as their Commander in Chief.
The Declaration of Independence:
On July 4, 1776, the second Continental Congress adopted the declaration of independence and formed the United States of America. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson. France and other European nations who opposed Britain helped and France fought on the US side and defeated the British on Oct 19, 1781 – Battle of Yorktown in Virginia. Sept. 3, 1783 – Treaty of Paris ended the war, British recognized American Independence.
Formation of a New Nation (1784 – 1819):
Each of the new states and its own constitution. In 1777, the Articles of Confederation, the Federal Government consisted of the Congress. Writing the Constitution,, in 1787 authored by George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin. Along with Thomas Jefferson. The Constitution established the two-house legislature, consisting of a House of Representative and a Senate. In the House, representation was based on population. In The Senate, each state has two seats. It created the Office of the President of US. The President was elected by an Electoral College, a group of men chosen by the state. The Constitution gave power to the Federal Government including: Power to collect taxes and regulate trade. The Constitution provided for the three branches of the Federal Government: 1) The Executive Branch, President, 2) The Legislative, two Houses of Congress and 3) Judicial < Consisting of Federal courts.
The Louisiana Purchase:
The first major action of Jefferson’s Presidency, almost double the size of the US in 1801. Jefferson bought from France land from West of the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountain called Louisiana,, known as the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson arranged to buy it for about $15 Millions in 1803.
How will this class contribute to my success upon release:
This history lesson taught me about how this country was created, conflicts, resolution and the Constitution. The various branches of the government . These knowledge contribute to my analytical and critical thinking skills. These knowledge will be passed on to communities which I will volunteer my services through teaching, tutoring and mentoring.
