The Programme

I)                    The age of exploration:

1)        The prelude to the Age of exploration

a)                   The Middle Ages (5^th- 15^th C)

b)                  Renaissance 15^th C >>> The Age of Exploration (Gle)>>> Africa, Asia.

2)        The exploration of the New World (1492)

3)         Territorial claims and the Tordesillas treaty (1494).

4)         The European race for territorial acquisition (Spain, Portugal, France, England...)

II)                  Settlement:

1)        First forms of settlement and the emergence of conflicts over the issue of territorial acquisition in the N.W.

2)        Causes of the English lateness in the process of settlement (under Henry VIII) [Personal, Religious, political...]

3)        First English interests in the process of settlement under Elizabeth I (1558- 1603).

Ø  Factors of the English strength during the Elizabethan age.

Ø  First important experiences >>>  mission of Sir Francis Drake: the destruction of the Invincible Armada.

III)                Colonial America:

1)        First colonial failures:

Ø  First English colonial attempts: e.g. Sir Humphrey Gilbert & Sir Walter Raleigh.

2)         The motivations of the royal interests in the colonisation of the N.W. (Eco, Pol, Mil...)

3)         The creation of colonial agencies and the encouragement of investment in the New World.

Ø  The Corporate type of col. Ag.

Ø  The Proprietary type of col. Ag.

4)        The first successful colonial attempts:

Ø  The creation of two chartered colonizing companies in 1606 (James I) (the Virginia company of London and Plymouth. >>> the emergence of the English Colonies: (4 regions: a. Chesapeak, b. New England, c. Middle Colonies, d. Southern Colonies).

IV)               The Immigration to the American Colonies:

1)        The reasons behind voluntary and involuntary Immigration from Europe to the N.W (mil, eco, social, religious....)

2)        The development and organisation of the American colonies in the NW.

3)         The Unification of the British Colonies and the emergence of the Spirit of Self-reliance. (political consciousness, economic self-reliance, cultural. ID) >> The Great Awakening>>Common defence

4)        The nature of the British authority with the American colonies.

5)        The French and Indian War>>> the treaty of Paris (1763).

V)                 The American Revolution: causes and process:

1)        The first continental congress 1774

2)        The incidents of Lexington and Concord

3)        The second continental congress 1775

4)        The Proclamation of Rebellion 1775

5)        Propaganda campaign (Thomas Paine)

6)        The Motion of Richard Henry Lee

7)        The Declaration of Independence (4/07/1776)

8)        From national to international conflict (Europeans involvement).

9)        Independence: 03/09/1783

VI)               The Preparation for Civilian life:

1)        The Articles of Confederation>>> adoption>>>defects>>> examples of their weakness.

2)        Reaction to the weaknesses of the articles.

3)        The Great Compromise.

4)        The birth of the American Constitution.

END OF THE PROGRAMME