Concetti Chiave
- George III's reign over England began in 1760, lasting 60 years and marking one of the longest reigns in English history.
- In the 18th century, Britain engaged in wars like the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War, securing colonial expansion over France.
- The Navigation Acts established mercantilism, requiring colonial trade on British ships and granting Britain a monopoly on colonial resource re-exports.
- Enlightenment ideas thrived in North American colonies, populated by educated refugees and migrants seeking new opportunities.
- The American War of Independence began in 1775, leading to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and eventual British recognition of American independence in 1783.
-Britain and America in the XVIII century-
George III became the king of England in 1760 and his reign lasted 60 years and is one of the longest in English history.
In the 18th century Britain fought against France for domination; the wars, such as the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War, gave Britain the advantage in colonial expansion.
With the Navigation Acts started the system of mercantilism: all colonial trade had to be in British ships and, so, all colonial produce had to come to Britain, who then had monopoly on the re-export of colonial resources.
The colonies of North America were populated by educated religious and political refugees and economic migrants that wanted to create a new life working hard.
In North America, philosophical ideas of the Enlightenment had found fertile ground.
Much of the fighting against France had place in North America and, after the win, the French Canada and the lands down to the Mississippi were ceded to Britain.
British government wanted the Americans to help pay for their defence and imposed taxes; these new high taxes caused the start of a rebellion: at the Boston Tea Party (1773) the rebels, dressed as native americans, threw the British tea coming from India into the harbour.
The rebels thought that the taxes were unjust, as the colony had no political power, and they used to say: “no taxation without representation”.
The Americans divided into Patriots and Loyalists and the War of Indipendence began in 1775.
The Patriots had no army, but the knew the land and they were also having support from France; the Britain had an army, but it was too small to both attack and defend.
George Washington became the leader of the American Army.
On 4th July 1776 in Philadelphia the Congress signed the ‘Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson; with that, the colonies were a new nation, where all people had a natural right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The British army was defeated, and Britain recognised the independence of its former colonies with the Treaty of Versailles in 1783.
The new republic of the United States of America adopted a federal constitution and George Washington became the first President.
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Cuál fue el impacto de las guerras del siglo XVIII entre Gran Bretaña y Francia en la expansión colonial británica?
- ¿Qué provocó la rebelión de las colonias americanas contra Gran Bretaña?
- ¿Cómo se estableció la independencia de las colonias americanas y qué documento fue crucial en este proceso?
Las guerras, como la de Sucesión Austriaca y la de los Siete Años, le dieron a Gran Bretaña la ventaja en la expansión colonial, permitiéndole obtener territorios como Canadá francés y tierras hasta el Mississippi.
La imposición de altos impuestos por parte del gobierno británico, sin representación política para las colonias, provocó la rebelión, ejemplificada por eventos como el Boston Tea Party de 1773.
La independencia se estableció con la firma de la Declaración de Independencia el 4 de julio de 1776 en Filadelfia, escrita por Thomas Jefferson, y fue reconocida por Gran Bretaña con el Tratado de Versalles en 1783.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
