Colonization of North America

The American Revolution and its Aftermath

• The British military was renowned for its expertise during the American Revolution.
• The French monarchy supported the American independence movement, seeking revenge for their losses in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).
• The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1781, established a weak central government for the newly formed United States, leaving significant power to individual states.
• In 1787, the Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger federal government.
• The Bill of Rights was not added during the Philadelphia Convention, but rather in 1791 as the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
• The Constitution established a system of bicameral legislature, with the Senate representing each state equally with two senators each, not three.
• Federalists and Antifederalists had opposing views on the structure of the government, with Federalists advocating for a strong central government and Antifederalists fearing it would undermine states' rights.
• George Washington was elected the first president in 1789 after the ratification of the Constitution.
• English colonization in North America was largely driven by private enterprise and individual initiative, not significant state intervention.
• The Federalist Papers, a series of essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, not solely by Hamilton.
• The Constitution included the Three-Fifths Compromise, counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes, which appeased Southern states but fueled controversy about slavery.
• Many of the colonies were founded by religious dissenters seeking freedom from the established Anglican Church in England.
• Antifederalist support was found in various regions, including coastal cities, rural areas, and regions with diverse populations.
• The thirteen colonies had varied religious and ethnic compositions, a significant factor in shaping their political and social landscape.
• Colonial loyalty towards the British Crown varied, with New England often exhibiting more resistance than other regions.
• Hamilton envisioned a future for the United States that was strong in both agriculture and manufacturing, promoting a balanced and diversified economy.
• The French played a crucial role in the American Revolution, providing military, financial, and diplomatic assistance to the colonists.
• Federalist supporters of the Constitution published their ideas through a series of articles known as The Federalist Papers.
• The Philadelphia Convention was not an effort to establish British Crown control but rather a response to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and a desire for a stronger union.
• Pennsylvania had a significant German-speaking minority among its colonists, contributing to the colony's diverse population.
• British Crown-appointed governors held considerable power in the New England colonies, often clashing with colonial assemblies over local governance.

Explore the diverse approaches to colonization in North America, focusing on the English methods compared to Spanish and French ones. Learn about the establishment of the thirteen colonies, their social structures, and the various religious and ethnic groups involved. Discover how these factors shaped colonial loyalty and governance in the region.