From the sixteenth century onwards the
Europeans began to migrate to North
America. The major aim of the migration
was to exploit the resources. By the
eighteenth century, England had
established thirteen colonies in the eastern
coast of North America.
Migration to America
Christopher Columbus, a sailor of the Spanish Government,
reached North America in 1492. He called the indigenous
people as 'Indians'. He thought that the place he reached
was India. Later, they were known as the 'Red Indians'.
The earlier colonies in America were established by a group
of people, who exiled to America from the religious
persecution of the King of England in the seventeenth
century on a ship called 'Maytlower". They were known as
the 'Pilgrim Fathers', With the increase in European
migration, the Red Indians were displaced to the interiors.
The Europeans seized their land and flock of sheep.
The British treated the American colonies as centers for collecting
raw materials for their industry and as market for selling their
products. This policy implemented by the British merchants with
the help of their motherland in the American colonies, is known as
Mercantilism. As part of Mercantilism, several laws were implemented
in the British colonies.
Products of the colonies like
The goods to and from the
sugar, wool, cotton, tobacco,
etc. could only be exported
to England.
colonies must be carried
only in British ships or ships
built in the British colonies.
British stamp must be
affixed on all the legal
documents, newspapers,
Colonies must provide food
and quarters for the British
troops
maintained in the colonies.
which were
pamphlets, license, etc.
Import tax must be paid for the import of tea,
glass, paper, etc.
The entire continent assembles
The delegates of all the colonies except Georgia met at Philadelphia
in 1774 to protest against the policies and rules imposed by England.
It is known as the First Continental
Congress. Subsequently, people of the
colonies submitted a petition to the King
of England. They demanded the revocation
of the regulations enforced on industry and
commerce and not to impose tax without
the approval of the people. But the king
sent a military force to suppress the people.
This led to the war between England and
mtal
the colonies. The Second Continental Congress held at Philadelphia in 1775 elected
George Washington as the commander-in-
chief of the Continental Army. During this
time, through the pamphlet titled 'Common
Sense', Thomas Paine declared that it was
wise for the Americans to break the ties with Britain.
The war between England and the colonies
in North America that began with the
Declaration of Freedom, ended in 1781. According to the Treaty of
Paris in 1783, England ratified the freedom of thirteen colonies
James Madison, framed the American Constitution. George
Washington became the first president of the United States of
America, formed in accordance with the new constitution.
