From Revolution to a New Nation

Unit 2

The Revolutionary War

Chapter 4

England Passes new LawsSugar Acto British troops remained in the colonies after the F

& I War.o Parliament passed a tax on sugar and molasses.

The Stamp Act (1765)o Tax on all gov’t/legal documents such as

contracts and licenses. o Affected lawyers, printers, and ministers.o Colonists protested heavily.

Quartering Acto Colonist must provide housing for British Troops.

Townshend Acts (1767)o Declared British authority over the colonies.o Suspended the colonial gov’ts.

Colonial Response o The Boston Massacre (1770)- British troops opened

fire on protesting colonies. 5 colonists died.o Colonists called for the removal of British troops.

Tea Act (1773) o Colonial tea merchants lost business.o Result- Boston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts (1774) o Closed the Port of Boston.o Shut down self- gov’t.

The First Continental Congresso The Intolerable Acts unified the colonies.o Delegates met in Philadelphia in September 1774.o Composed a list of grievances and sent it to

England.o Agreed to boycott British goods.o Formed a force of minutemen- colonial soldiers

who would be ready to resist a British attack with short notice.

The Battles of Lexington and ConcordBuild up to battleo The colonists were stockpiling weapons and

gunpowder. o The British were anticipating battle and planned a

surprise attack for April 18, 1775.o Alarm riders (including Paul Revere) rode out to warn

of the attack.

The Battleso Colonists severely outnumbered in Lexington.o First shot of the Revolutionary War shot. o Colonists were ready at Concord and were successful

in gaining a British retreat.

Assignment

Page 113Questions: 1bc, 2abc, 3ab, 4a

Construct a timeline of events leading up to the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Declaring IndependenceThe Second Continental Congress

o Formed the Continental Army; George Washington is Commander in Chief.

o Issued Continental currencyo Proposed Olive Branch Petition w/ King George o Explained why Americans were at war

The Battle of Bunker Hillo Colonists were low on gunpowdero The put up a good and brave defense even though the

British won. o The British took control on Boston.

Washington takes commando Washington took command 2 weeks after Bunker Hill.o By March 1776, Washington retook Boston.

The Declaration of Independenceo The events of 1775 angered the colonists more.o They did not feel that they were treated the same as other

British citizens. o People began to call for independence. o Virginia called for independence in May 1776. o The Continental Congress decided to declare independence

in June. o Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the declaration. o Independence was officially declared on July 4, 1776.

Reactions to Independenceo Some Loyalists remained loyal to Britain (25% of colonists.)o All colonist did not want to fight.o Most supported independence at any cost.

Back to the War…Continental Army British Army

Strengths:-Strong military leadership-Fighting on home territory-Alliance with France

Strengths: -Well-trained military-Ample resources -Alliances with loyalists

Weaknesses:-Small, untrained military-Shortages of resources-Weak central government

Weaknesses:-Fighting in unfamiliar territory-Fighting far from home

BattlesIn the North

o Fighting was centered in NY, NJ, and PN in 1776.

o The British took control of NY and Philadelphia and dominated the North.

o The Battle of Saratoga (1777) was the biggest victory in the North for the colonists (and maybe the war.)

It encouraged colonist and rallied support. It persuaded the French to join the American

cause. o Washington’s leadership carried the colonists

through hard times at Valley Forge.

In the Southo The British thought this war would be a quick win…it was

not.o Dependent on loyalist for help they moved the fighting to

the South.o At the Battle of Kings Mountain the Patriots defeated a

loyalist forces.o Battles in NC severely hurt the British forces (Spring of

1781.)

Help Arriveso The French sent supplies and promised military help.

Victory at Yorktown

o Colonial Armies from the North and South forced the British towards the coast.

o They built a fort at Yorktown, Virginia.o Washington’s Army surrounded the British on

land.o The French set up a blockade on the coast. o The British were forced to surrender after 3

weeks of bombardment.o They surrendered on October 19, 1781.

Treaty of Paris

o England formally recognized the United States as a nation.

o Established the Mississippi River as the western border of the US.

Creating a New Government

Chapter 5

The American RepublicRepublicanism

o Americans were scared of a monarchy or a powerful central gov’t.

o “Rule with the consent of the governed.”

The Articles of ConfederationAmerica’s first plan of government.Went into effect in March 1781.Established a Congress which made laws.

Problems with the Articleso Congress could not impose taxes or regulate trade.o 9 of 13 states had to agree to pass laws.o No executive branch to enforce laws passed by Congress.o No judicial branch.o States had more power than the national gov’t.

Problems…With the States

o States were to independent and separate.o States did not recognize each other’s laws and

agreements.

With financeso Large war debts.o Not able to support and Army and Navy.o No taxes = No money

With foreign nationso Seen as weak by other nations.

Accomplishments under the Articles

Land Ordinance of 1785o The plan for dividing the Northwest Territory.o The land was surveyed, divided, and sold.

Northwest Ordinanceo Encouraged the orderly settlement and the formation

of new states in the Northwest Territory. o Slavery was outlawed in the territory.

Constitutional Convention

• Meets in Philadelphia from May to September of 1787.

• President of the Convention- George Washington.

• Architect of the Constitution- James Madison.

Constitutional ConventionThe Virginia Plan-

President, courts, and a bicameral legislature.

Representation is each house of Congress would be based on population.

Appealed to the larger states with higher populations.

The New Jersey Plan-Called for a unicameral

legislature with equal representation for all states.

Appealed to smaller states with lower populations.

The Great Compromise- Set up a 2 house

(bicameral) legislature.The House of

Representatives- based on population.

The Senate- Equal representation for all states.

Other CompromisesThe Three-Fifths Compromise

South wanted to count slaves as part of their population.The North said that slaves should not be counted because they

are property.The compromise stated that 3/5 of the slave population would

be counted in each state.

The Electoral CollegeA compromise between popular vote and congressional

appointment.Established a group of people picked by each state legislature

who would select the president and vice president.

RatificationFederalists:

Supported the Constitution. Ex: Alexander Hamilton Showed their support for federalism power is divided between a

national gov’t and state gov’ts. Mainly large landowners who wanted a strong federal gov’t.

Anti-Federalists: Opposed the Constitution. Example: Thomas Jefferson Believed it would create a strong federal gov’t that would take rights

away from the states and people.

Compromise: A Bill of Rights was added. All 13 states ratified it by 1790.

The New Nation

1789-1812

The New Nation

Chapter 6

1789-1812

George Washington

• He had retired but was wanted back!

• He was unanimously voted President and Inaugurated on April 30, 1789.

• He defined the Presidency and set the rules.

Precedent Set• A Precedent is a pattern set for

future leaders to follow.• He preferred the title, Mr. President. • Tried to learn how to balance the government

between powerful and democratic. He did not want to mimic England’s Monarchy!

The President’s Cabinet

Henry Knox- Secretary of War

Thomas Jefferson- Secretary of State

Alexander Hamilton- Secretary of Treasury

Edmund Randolph- Attorney General

John Adams- Vice President.

Alexander Hamilton

- Born poor and worked his way to the top.- Believed the Educated Man should lead.- Favored a Strong Central Government. - Loose interpretation of the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson

• Born rich and privileged.• Believed the common man should

lead.• Favored a weaker national

government and strong state governments.

• Strict interpretation of the Constitution.

The Hamilton PlanTHE PLAN:1.) The Federal Government assume every state’s Revolutionary War debt and pay it for them. THIS IS CALLED ASSUMPTION!2.) Tax the people. Show Gov’t power.3.) National Bank.

WHAT HAPPENED:-Congress passed the Tariff of 1789 putting a tax on all imports into the US.-Excise tax on liquor was passed in 1791.

The Compromise-

-The Capital (Washington D.C) would be moved to the south.

-Southerners would vote for Hamilton’s Plan .

Strict and Loose Interpretations of the

ConstitutionMain Question:

How much power should the Central Government have?

ANSWER:Strict Interpreters: The government should only do what the

Constitution specifically states that it can do. (Jefferson)

Loose Interpreters: The government should be allowed to do some things not specifically stated in the Constitution-as long as the Constitution doesn’t say no then it’s okay. (Hamilton and Madison)

Hamilton’s Bank Plan (Necessary and Proper Clause)

The Whiskey Rebellion

• The Whiskey Rebellion resulted in 1794.-the farmers in Pennsylvania did not like the excise tax on

Whiskey.-The Rebel farmers led an uprising attacking their “enemies.”-Washington took command and made it clear that rebellion against the National Government would not be tolerated. -The Virginia Militia was sent to put down the Rebellion and

did.

This proved the power of the National government and the Constitution.

The Two-Party System Emerges

The Federalists• Led by Hamilton• Supported a Strong Central

gov’t.• Made up of wealthy

business men.• Wanted to use the national

debt to establish credit.• Favored National Bank• Pro-British

The Democratic- Republicans• Led by Jefferson• Supported a weaker central

gov’t.• Made up of more common

men scared of a strong national gov’t.

• Wanted to pay the National Debt.

• Opposed National Bank• Pro-French