The American RevolutionThe American Revolution

Road to RevolutionRoad to Revolution

• England tightens control on the colonies after the French and Indian War– Taxes, laws,

reduced rights– felt that

colonies should pay their share of French and Indian War

• Issued at end of French & Indian War

• Banned new settlement west of Appalachian Mountains

• Infuriated colonials, ignored

The Proclamation of 1763The Proclamation of 1763

1765 - Stamp Act1765 - Stamp Act

Stamp Act Congress– protested Stamp

Tax• tax on all printed

materials• 1st direct tax on the

colonies

– Decided to boycott English goods

– sent a letter of protest

– tax repealed

Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams• Father of the American

Revolution– Organizes “Sons of

Liberty”• Led resistance to British

regulations

• “Committees of Correspondence”• Maintain communications

between colonies

1770-Boston Massacre1770-Boston MassacreBritish soldiers fire on a mob killing 5

1773-Boston Tea Party1773-Boston Tea Party• Sons of Liberty protest tea policy• Leads to Intolerable Acts

– closes Port of Boston

1775 - 11775 - 1stst Continental Congress Continental Congress

• Protest the Intolerable Acts

• Boycott British Goods and send a letter of Protest (Stamp Tax Congress)

• British reply with tougher policies

Patrick HenryPatrick Henry• “Give me Liberty or give me death”

1775-Lexington/Concord1775-Lexington/Concord first battles of the Revolution

Retreat to Boston

Battle of Bunker Hill

Battle of Bunker Hill

1776-Second Continental 1776-Second Continental CongressCongress

• 11stst National Government National Government

George Washington

• appointed Commander in Chief

of Colonial Army

adopts The Declaration of Independencewritten mainly by Thomas Jefferson

Committee of FiveCommittee of Five

• With help from Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, John Adams and Roger Sherman

Unidentified HelperUnidentified Helper

““Dang it Dang it Thomas, i before e , i before e except except…”…”

““Let’s see what you’ve Let’s see what you’ve got so fargot so far.”.”

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

• Has three partsHas three parts• Natural RightsNatural Rights::

– purpose of government is to protect inalienable rights

– rights that all people have

• List of wrongs: – by the British that led to the

Colonies to break away

• Independence:

– announces that colonies are a free and independent nation, The United States of America

Celebrating the signingCelebrating the signing

Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense”Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense” lists reasons to rebel lists reasons to rebel

ColonialColonial

Advantages Advantages Disadvantages Disadvantages

• Knew the Land Knew the Land

•Allies Allies

• Great military Great military leadersleaders

• Cause: Cause: INDEPENDENCEINDEPENDENCE

•Inexperienced Inexperienced militarymilitary

•Poorly trained Poorly trained MilitiasMilitias

•Poor central Poor central governmentgovernment

•No moneyNo money

•Little supportLittle support

British British Advantages DisadvantagesAdvantages Disadvantages

•Powerful MilitaryPowerful Military•Mercenaries Mercenaries hired to fight hired to fight for the for the BritishBritish

•Loyal ColonistsLoyal Colonists(Tories)(Tories)

• Distance between Distance between England and the England and the ColoniesColonies

• Did not know the Did not know the landland

• Poor leadershipPoor leadership• Some in British Some in British Government Government sympathized with sympathized with ColoniesColonies

1776-Battle of Trenton1776-Battle of Trentonfirst colonial victory

crosses Delaware River at night (cheated)

1777-Battle of Saratoga1777-Battle of Saratogaturning point of War

French Join Colonies

1777-Valley Forge1777-Valley Forgewinter encampment

1781-Battle of Yorktown1781-Battle of Yorktown last battle – Lord Cornwallis surrenders

1783-Treaty of Paris1783-Treaty of Paris• Granted independence• Ended the War• Set boundaries of new nation

• Received land between Appalachian Mountains and Mississippi River

• Known as The Northwest Territory

• Fishing Rights in The Grand Banks

THE EARLY REPUBLICTHE EARLY REPUBLIC

1781-18011781-1801

• Colonists came to America with concepts of :

• limited government– not all powerful, not

Absolute

• Representative government

• Ordered government– no government

official is above the law

Rights of EnglishmenRights of Englishmen• Magna Carta-1215

– King cannot tax or declare war without permission of the Nobles

– cannot imprison without a jury trial/due process

• The Petition of Right-1628– protection of civil liberties – no taxation without consent of Parliament

• The Habeas Corpus Act-1679– prevent arbitrary arrest and imprisonment

• English Bill of Rights-1689– prevents abuse by monarchs and guarantees citizens rights

• The idea of guaranteeing The idea of guaranteeing individual rights developed individual rights developed over time, 1215 – 1689over time, 1215 – 1689

• Not just with the Bill of RightsNot just with the Bill of Rights

Articles of Confederation• Ran 1781-88• First constitution of the

United States – Provided for a weak central

government – Could tax but could not

enforce – Could declare War– States held most power

• 13 separate governments• Mainly a defensive pact

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

• 1783-17891783-1789 known as known as “The Critical Period”“The Critical Period”• Nation nearly failed• New constitution was needed

Shay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion

• Daniel Shays– led a rebellion by

farmers against unfair economic conditions and laws.

• Showed that the Government was ineffective• US political leadership realized something

had to be done

Constitutional Convention-1787 Constitutional Convention-1787 PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

12/13 States attend (Rhode Island did not)

Convened to Strengthen Convened to Strengthen The Articles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation

• Realized early that a new system of government was needed

• Decided to meet in secret sessions

• George Washington-President of the convention

““Father of the Constitution”Father of the Constitution”

• James Madison– considered best

prepared delegate,– led many

discussions– made many

proposals– Made daily notes

3 Key conflicts to resolve3 Key conflicts to resolve

• led to concepts of:• Separation of powers

– Created 3 branches of government

• Legislative, Executive, Judicial Branch

• each Branch has its own power and responsibility

• Checks and Balances– Maintains the separation of

powers– Each Branch has some

control over other two– No Branch in total control

• President can veto laws, Congress can over-ride veto

#1 - Strong Central Government vs. Weak Central Government

#2 - How to decide representation#2 - How to decide representation

• Large States vs. Small States• New Jersey Plan

– each State represented equally, unicameral congress

• Virginia Plan – Representation by population, bicameral

congress

• Resulted in the Great Compromise– bicameral congress/lower house based on

population/upper house equal representation– Both houses had to agree before something is

done.

#3 - North vs. South

• The 3/5’s Compromise – three out of five slaves would be counted for

representation and taxation

• Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise – congress could regulate trade – slave trade to be outlawed in 20 years (1808)

Ratification ProcessRatification Process• Acceptance needed for

new constitution to be enforced

• Approval by 9 of 13 States needed

• 1st political parties formed– Federalist – For– Anti-Federalist – Opposed,

wanted rights guaranteed

• 1791 – Bill Of rights Added, protection of individual rights

Federalist PapersFederalist Papers

• Series of essays written by Hamilton, Madison, John Jay– Reasons why

Constitution should be approved

• Collected and published in book form in New York – to convince people of

New York to support new constitution

Signing the ConstitutionSigning the Constitution

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

• The Supreme Law of the Land– establish legitimacy,

right to rule– Establishes “Popular

Sovereignty”• the people have the

final authority in government

StructureStructure

• Preamble – introduction/purpose of Constitution

• Articles (7) – rules/powers

• Amendments - 27 – 1-10 are the Bill of Rights– 13-15 are the Civil War Amendments – 16-27 are the 20th century amendments

• protects our individual rights• Added to appease the Anti-Federalists

Launching the New NationLaunching the New Nation

• George elected first President, 1789-1796

• New York City first capital city

• Built the Executive Branch

• Created the first cabinet – Assist, advise the

President

• served two terms (8 years) and stepped down– every President after

followed his example

• Farewell Address:– advises U.S. to stay

out foreign affairs, stay neutral.

John Adams elected 2nd John Adams elected 2nd President, 1797-1800President, 1797-1800

• very blunt, impatient– not very popular

• Fought a Quasi (partial) naval war with France– lasted two years

• Alien-Sedition Acts, 1798

• allowed President to deport or jail any alien considered to be undesirable or

• expressing “false, scandalous, malicious statements against the Government

• Resulted in two States nullifying the Act as unconstitutional