Page 1 1. Why did the colonists choose to rebel against Great Britain? 2. What were several key events that occurred during the gradual decline in the relationship between the two?
Page 2 1765: Stamp Act 1770: Boston Massacre 1773: Boston Tea-Party 1774 : First Continental Congress 1775: Revolution Begins & First Continental Congress July 1776 : Declaration of Independence 1781-1788: Articles of Confederation 1783 : Treaty Signed with England 1786 : Shays Rebellion 1787 : Philadelphia Convention 1791 : Bill of Rights
Page 3 • Until the 1750s, colonists had broad freedoms to run their governments. • 1760: King George III began to tax and impose more laws (to pay for wars with France) • After having been mostly left alone, how do you think the colonists reacted?
Page 4 British Action • Boston “Massacre”, 1770 • Soldiers accidentally fired on a protesting crowd in Boston Colonial Reaction
• Propaganda throughout colonies • Fed the fire of revolutionary sentiment
Page 5 Colonial Action British Reaction Boston Tea-Party, 1773 The “Intolerable Acts” • The cargo of three tea • Closed Boston port until ships dumped into the tea was paid for sea by men disguised as • Soldiers accused of Native Americans. crimes sent back to England • Quartered Troop in colonist’s homes • Replaced elected Governor with one appointed by the King.
Page 6 • All colonies (minus Georgia) went to Philadelphia • Agreed to refuse all trade with until the Intolerable Acts were repealed • Agreed meet again in 1775
Page 7 • Representatives from all 13 colonies attended • Wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. • The first government of the United States, from 1776 to 1781: • Raised armies, directed war strategy and made treaties
Page 8 • Johns Adams and Benjamin Franklin review Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Page 9 • On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. • Between 1776 and 1777, most of the States adopted constitutions instead of charters.
• Massachusetts has the oldest living Constitution in the world.
Page 10 Page 11 • Explained the ideas and the philosophy that justified rebellion against Britain. • Rallied world opinion on side of colonists
Page 12 Page 13 1. The Declaration of Independence was signed in – (a) 1765. – (b) 1776. – (c) 1781. – (d) 1787.
2. The Stamp Act of 1765 was a law enacted by the British that – (a) increased the colonists’ taxes. – (b) was repealed by the Magna Carta. – (c) the colonists ratified one year later. – (d) raised the price of postage stamps by two cents.
Page 14 1. What were the Articles of Confederation? 2. What did Congress do to fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation?
Page 15 • After the Revolutionary War, the newly independent states functioned like separate countries. • The Congress continued to operate under a very weak central government organized around the Articles of Confederation:
Page 16 One vote for each state
"Firm Congress League of Cannot Tax Friendship”
Weakness of the Articles of No 9/13 to Confederation National Pass Laws Executive
No 13/13 to National Amend Courts
Page 17 • Delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. • May 25 to Sept. 17, 1887 • Convention President: George Washington • Decided to create an entirely new system. – Weaknesses of Articles, Shay’s Rebellion) • Now called the Constitutional Convention. Page 18 1. The government set up by the Articles of Confederation had – (a) the power to make treaties and build a navy. – (b) a bicameral congress. – (c) separation of powers. – (d) a President to carry out its laws.
2. Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation? – (a) Congress could not make treaties. – (b) Congress could not borrow money. – (c) The States did not agree to obey the Articles. – (d) Congress could not lay or collect taxes or duties.
Page 19 1. What were the differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan? 2. What were some of the compromises on which the Constitutional Convention agreed?
Page 20 • Three branches • Three branches of government: of government executive, • Unicameral legislative, & legislature judicial (equal • Bicameral representation)
legislature Virginia Plan Virginia (both based on Plan Jersey New population)
Page 21 • Also known as the “Connecticut Compromise”
• Two house (bicameral) legislature • Upper house (Senate) is equal: Two from every state • Lower house (House of Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth Representatives) is based on population
Page 22 Slaves should count for representation in the House Slaves should counted in federal taxes
Compromise: • 3/5ths of slaves would count for both representation in the House and for federal taxes.
Page 23 • Congress cannot tax exports (hurts US businesses)
• Congress could not ban the slave trade for 20 years (1808)
Page 24 1. The first national government for the United States was – (a) the First Continental Congress. – (b) the Second Continental Congress. – (c) the Articles of Confederation. – (d) the Constitution of the United States.
2. The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia involved delegates from each of the following states except – (a) Maryland. – (b) Rhode Island. – (c) New York. – (d) Virginia.
Page 25 • Who were the Federalists and the Anti- Federalists? • How long did the ratification of the Constitution take?
Page 26 • The Constitution was very controversial at first, with some groups supporting it, and others attacking it. • This division created the first two political parties in the nation.
Page 27 Anti-Federalists Federalists
• Objected to the • Favored the Constitution Constitution • Led by Alexander • Led by Thomas Jefferson Hamilton & James • Wanted states to be most Madison powerful • Wanted Federal • Wanted a bill of rights government to be powerful • Thought the Articles of Confederation were too weak
Page 28 • Small states overwhelmingly approved the Constitution • Strong opposition existed in the larger states • By June of 1788, 9/13 had ratified it.
• But not New York or Virginia! • Great debates were held in both states • In New York, the Federalists Alexander Hamilton & James Madison published a series of articles published in major newspapers that were later combined into The Federalist Papers.
Page 29 Page 30 • When you assemble a number of men, to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does…
Page 31 • The new Congress met on March 4, 1789 unanimously elected George Washington as President. He was inaugurated on April 30.
Page 32 1. The debate over the ratification of the Constitution was won by the – (a) Anti-Federalists. – (b) Whigs. – (c) Federalists. – (d) Tories.
2. Why didn’t many people in the large states want to approve the Constitution?
33 Page 33