Great Britain:“At Home and Overseas”

Mid 1600’s to 1780’s

Britain as a Global PowerHow did Great Brittan become a global power?• England had colonies and trading outposts across the globe

• West Indies, North America, India, Australia, New Zealand

• Military might = Success in Conflicts• Powerful Navy, French & Indian War, Seven Years War, Treaty of Utrecht

• Favorable Economic policies» Economy is a mix of Mercantilist policies and Capitalist Business policies

• Expansion• Act of Union (1707) unites England and Scotland

• Irish Repression• England controlled Ireland since 1100’s and in 1600’s place them under strict control

A. Britain becomes a Constitutional Government in 1688 after the Glorious Revolution and English Bill of Rights

• power of the king is limited by constitution and by parliamentB. New Political Institutions

1. Political Parties (the Tories and the Whigs)2. Cabinet System

- Cabinet- leaders of the majority party; advisors

to king and prime minister who set policy

- Prime Minister- leader of majority party and

head of the cabinet

British Internal Politics

C. Politics and Society1. Wealthy and Elite finds themselves parliament

(House of Lord and House of Commons) Result: Britain is more of an “oligarchy”

A New King Reasserts Royal Power

King George III becomes king in 17601. His Goal: regain powers lost2. Places “the kings friends” in parliament

Result: Ends cabinet system!

Colonists Question British Policies

Founding Fathers follow Republican ideas and Enlightenment ideas

British Parliament was illegitimate

1763 no new settlements west of Appalachian Mts.

1764 Sugar Act 1765 Stamp Act 1773 Tea Act

1774 Intolerable Acts

American RevolutionA. July 1776 the 13 the American

Revolution begins (ends 1783)

Declaration of Independence (1776) and the American Constitution (1787) = summary of the ideals and values of the Enlightenment

Effects of the American Revolution

American Revolution did the following:• put into practice Enlightenment ideas• created a new people led form of government (Democracy)• gave hope to those nations under power of Absolute

monarch• Led to French Revolution