CH. 2-2 THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE
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Transcript CH. 2-2 THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
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”
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Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but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
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
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
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)
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