Early American Politics Early American Politics
Time Line 1629-40 Charles I attempted to purge England of Puritans. Religious controversies also flourished in Continental Europe. As a result, English Quakers, French Huguenots, German Pietists, and people of other faiths fled to America to avoid religious persecution.
1760 King George III became King of England and tries to take power from Parliament.
1765 In Feb, Parliament enacts the Stamp Act in order to pay its debts from the Seven Years War. In Oct, the Stamp Act Congress meets in New York to issue a response.
1766 Stamp Act Repealed.
1767 Townshend acts -- duties on the importation of tea, glass, lead, paper and paint to help pay for the administration of the colonies, named after Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
1770 Boston Massacre.
1773 Tea Act -- removes export duties on tea from Britain to encourage Americans to buy it and set a precedent for the taxation in the Townsend acts (May). Boston Tea Party (Dec).
1774 The Intolerable Acts – furious about the Boston Tea Party and other disturbances, King George blockades Boston harbor and mandates that British soldiers be quartered in colonial homes. Early American Politics
A. Mindset of the Early Americans 1. By 1775, what was the attitude of early Americans toward: a. religious laws? b. British taxes? c. standing armies? d. What was their attitude toward strong central government? Early American Politics
Time Line
1774 Oct. 5: First Continental Congress meets.
1775 Fighting at Lexington and Concord. Second Continental Congress meets.
1776 Declaration of Independence.
1775-83 Revolutionary War.
1781-89 The Articles of Confederation enacted.
1787 Constitutional Convention: Congress meets for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. Produces the Constitution.
1787-88 Ratification (Federalist Debates)
1789 Constitution enacted. George Washington Becomes the first president.
1791 Bill of rights ratified.
B. Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) 1. Organized the country around a confederation of independent and sovereign states. a. Similar to the United Nations. Early American Politics
Congress (legislature, judiciary, & executive)
Voted in State Blocks. Judicial: formed Each state had one committees to vote. settle disputes between states. At first, no executive staff. Beginning 1781 secretaries of Finance, NH MA RI CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA NC SC GA Foreign Affairs, and War. (Congress represented states, not people) Revenues & Soldiers raised by requisitions Early American Politics
C. Failures of the Articles of Confederation 1. Congress could not enforce its trade policy. 2. Congress received few revenues from the states and could not pay its war debts. 3. States fell short in their quotas for soldiers. 4. Congress rarely received a quorum of nine states in order to conduct major business.
Why? Early American Politics
D. Amending the Articles of Confederation 1. Congress proposes; 2. State legislatures must unanimously ratify.
…Amendments attempted in 1781 and 1783.