CH. 2-2 THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

BRITAIN’S COLONIAL POLICIES Each colony controlled separately by the

Privy Council and the Board of Trade in London.

Colonists became used to self-government because England was 3,000 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean (a 2-month sail)

Colonial legislatures found the power of the purse very effective

Governors were controlled because the legislature wouldn’t pay them if they didn’t follow legislative plans

By mid-1700s, the relationship between colonies and England was similar to a federal system

1760—George III becomes king. Restrictive trade acts expanded and

new taxes were imposed. Colonist expressed strong opposition “taxation without representation”

GROWING COLONIAL UNITY Colonists would need to learn to work

together if they were to break from Great Britain

EARLY ATTEMPTS 1643—New England Confederation Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New

Haven, Connecticut CONFEDERATION—joining of several

groups for a common purpose

League of friendship against Native Americans

Eventually the danger from Native Americans passed and friction among the settlements grew.

Confederation dissolved in 1684 1696—William Penn offered an

elaborate plan for intercolonial cooperation but it received little attention and was forgotten

THE ALBANY PLAN 1754—British Board of Trade called a

meeting of seven of the northern colonies at Albany, NY

CT, MD, MA, NH, NY, PA, RI Main purpose: discuss problems of

colonial trade and the danger of attacks by French and Native Americans

Ben Franklin proposes the Albany Plan of Union

--formation of an annual congress of DELEGATES (representatives) from the 13 colonies.

--congress could raise military, navy, make war and peace with Native Americans, regulate trade, tax, and collect customs duties

Franklin’s plan was ahead of its time Delegates at the meeting agreed but it

was rejected by the colonies and the Crown

THE STAMP ACT CONGRESS Parliament had passed the Stamp

Act of 1765 Law required use of tax stamps on all

legal documents, certain business agreements, and on newspapers

October 1765—Nine colonies (all but GA, NH, NC, VA) sent delegates to NY

Delegates prepared a strong protest called The Declaration of Rights and Grievances

First time a significant number of the colonies had joined to oppose the British Government

Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but passed other laws that the colonists opposed

Mob violence erupted at many ports and a BOYCOTT was supported on British goods

March 5, 1770—British troops fired on a hostile crowd killing 5—The Boston Massacre

Organized resistance was carried out by COMMITTEES OF CORESPONDENCE

Provided a network of cooperation and an exchange of ideas

Protests multiplied December 16, 1773—Boston Tea

Party Men, disguised as Native Americans,

boarded 3 cargo ships in Boston harbor then dumped the cargo into the sea

THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Spring 1774—Parliament passed another

set of laws to punish colonists for trouble in Boston—The Intolerable Acts

Sept. 5, 1774—Representatives from all colonies except GA met in Philadelphia

Samuel Adams, John Adams, Roger Sherman, John Jay, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, etc.

For nearly 2 months—discussions about the worsening situation

They also debated plans for action. Declaration of Rights (protesting colonial

policies) sent to King George III Delegates urged colonies to refuse all

trade with England until the taxes and trade regulations were REPEALED

Meeting adjourned October 26, 1774 with a call for another meeting in May 1775

All colonies, including GA, gave support to the actions of the First Continental Congress

THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Winter 1774-75—British refused to

compromise Reaction to the Declaration of Rights was

with even stricter and more repressive measures

May 10, 1775—Delegates again meet in Philadelphia

Revolution had begun “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”—April 19,

1775 @ Lexington & Concord, NH

REPRESENTATIVES All colonies sent delegates (many from before) Newcomers—Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock Hancock was chosen President of the Congress First action was to create a continental army George Washington chosen as commander-in-

chief Thomas Jefferson replaced Washington in the

VA delegation

The Second Continental Congress served as the government of the United States for 5 years—July 4, 1776 to March 1, 1781

During this time the Congress did several things:

--fought a war --raised armies and a navy --borrowed funds --bought supplies --created a monetary system --made treaties with foreign powers

The unicameral congress exercised both legislative and executive powers

Legislative—each colony had 1 vote Executive—handled by committees

of delegates

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Richard Henry Lee (VA) proposed

independence on June 7, 1776 (p. 38)

Committee of 5 named to prepare a proclamation of independence

Franklin, J. Adams, Sherman, Livingston, Jefferson

Many delegates has serious doubts about a complete break from England

July 2, 1776—delegates agree to Lee’s resolution

July 4, 1776—delegates adopt the Declaration of Independence proclaiming a new nation

Independence was announced in the first paragraph

The rest of the document speaks to “the repeated injuries and usurpations” that led colonies to revolt

(text from the Declaration p. 38)

THE FIRST STATE CONSTITUITIONS Jan. 1776—NH adopted a constitution to

replace its royal charter 3 months later SC followed May 10, 1776—Congress urged each colony

to adopt “governments…that would best give their constituents happiness and safety”

DRAFTING STATE CONSTITUTIONS MA set a lasting example of constitution-

writing

1780—MA passed a constitution and submitted it to the voters for ratification

The oldest of the present-day State constitutions and the oldest written constitution in the world today

COMMON FEATURES --POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

(government can exist only with the consent of the governed)

--limited government --civil rights and liberties --separation of powers --checks and balances (table p. 39) Documents were usually brief New State governors weren’t given much

real power Most authority was granted to the

legislature

Elective terms were short-one or two years

Right to vote limited to adult white males who met rigid qualifications including property ownership

THE END