Discovering Our Past: The American Journey to World War IChapter 2: Road to IndependenceChapter OverviewThe North American Colonies were founded for a variety of reasons. Some colonies were founded for profit, while others were founded in a search for religious freedom. Many people came willingly to this new land to make a fresh start. Others were brought unwillingly to America as enslaved people. From the very beginning America was a country with a diverse population.As the American colonies grew, each region developed an economy based on its own resources and environment. The English principles of limited government and representative government greatly influenced the development of the colonies, and, later, of the United States. The end of the French and Indian War (1754-1763) led to conflict between the American colonies and Britain. Colonists became angry at British policies over settlement and taxation. Tensions increased, leading to events such as the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. By 1774, colonial leaders recognized the need for unified action. The First Continental Congress was called. The first shots of the American Revolution were fired on April 19, 1775, and by July 1776 the colonists were ready to declare independence. After the colonies declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776, the war for freedom was unavoidable. Militarily, the British had the upper hand at first, but American spirit and military assistance from France and Spain helped turn the tide of the war. On October 19, 1781, the British surrendered. The peace treaty was signed in 1783, and the United States was recognized as a free and independent nation. |  |
