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Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but passed other laws that the colonists opposed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