American literature - přednášky

Middle/South colonies

• For example people from Sweden

• Chesapeake colonies, Maryland and Virginia, were heavily dependent on trade with England

• The Middle Colonies had lots of rich soil, which was allowing the area to become a major exporter of wheat and other grains

• The Middle Colonies were the most ethnically and religiously diverse (rozmanitý) British colonies in North America

Towards War of Independence

• 1756 – the Seven Years War started – that was a war between Britain and France known also as French and Indian war

• 1758 – British forces captured the French strongholds in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and as a punishment after the Boston Tea party, British government closed the Boston harbour in 1774

War of Independence

• It began with march of British soldiers to Concord in 1775 (Americans had there ammunition)

• The same year was when the Second Continental Congress met to discuss the past events and it began to act as national government - They wanted to established their own government

• July 4th the Declaration of Independence was issued

• They claimed that everyone was treated equal

• Battle of Saratoga – 1777 – Americans became lucky and they captured (zachytit) British army – it was turn of events

• 1781 the war came to an end when the British army surrounded at Yorktown (but peace treaty was signed in 1783) – George III. accepted colonies independent

• Southern colonies were mainly for economic reasons

• It was hard to rule 13 colonies when each of them was established for different reason

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Years of growth – Political changes

• The Philadelphia convention – 1787

  • A new Constitution

  • More powerful and efficient central government

• George Washington – the first president in 1789 – he established department of treasury (money), war and state

• The Bill of Rights – a list of the most important rights to the citizens of a country

Political situation

• The First Party system

  • Usually named after the major representatives – first republicans – the Jeffersonians – opposed the new national Bank, the Navy and federal taxes

  • The Federalists favoured Britain, which was involved in a series of wars with France

• After the independence there was a lack of land

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• The Louisiana Purchase – 1803 – American purchase land to Napoleon

• Northwest Ordinance – 1787

  • The westward expansion of American settlers

  • Tense diplomatic relations with GB and Spain

  • Violent confrontations with Indians

  • They had to deal with the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation – American administration

  • The biggest problem: the empty treasury of the American government – they need money for expansion to the west

• Thomas Jefferson

  • He tried to act peacefully, to compromise

  • He quite knew how to get money

  • Proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights

  • Pursued the nation’s shipping and trade interests against pirates and aggressive British trade policies

  • The Embargo Act of 1807 – against Great Britain and France during Napoleonic wars

  • He began a controversial process of Indian tribe (kmen) removal – beginning of removal of Native Americans