Humanities 12/2/13 The Documents and Events Leading up to the Articles of Confederation

The Albany Congress of 1754 Major player: Ben Franklin Background: The French-Indian Wars made it clear that the colonies needed to be bound together in some formal way, and British officials in the colonies recognized this. There were 3 types of colonies: Royal charter : VA, NY, NH, MA, NJ, NC, SC, and GA Proprietary (property): PA, DE, and MD Charter (Business/Corporation): RI and CT Ben Franklin agreed that the colonies needed to be bound together formally

Albany Plan of Union, Continued The Plan of Union proposed: A President-General to be appointed by the Crown A Grand Council elected every 3 years by the individual colony’s assembly Membership in the Grand Council dependent upon a proportion of money deposited in the national treasury The Grand Council will oversee: Indian Treaties/Trade—in fact they met with the Iroquois to discuss this and to make a plan to fight the French National Military (big problem for King) Taxes and tariffs National Treasury

The Albany Plan for Union, cont Why do you think the individual colonies refused this plan? Why do you think the Crown (British govt) was thrilled this didn’t go through? Does it remind you of anything?

Heading to the Articles of Confederation: the Intolerable Acts After the Boston Tea Party: Boston Port Act: Closing of the Boston Harbor until pay for tea Massachusetts Govt Act (closed MA gov’t down; set up a different govt controlled by crown) Quartering Act Administration of Justice Act Quebec Act

The First Continental Congress Philadelphia, 9/5/1774 Convened in response to the Intolerable Acts imposed upon MA 12 of 13 colonies sent delegates (GA was so far away…) Representatives were elected by their own assemblies (colonial govt) NY and PA wanted a peaceful resolution w England Some wanted legislative parity (an equal voice in the English parliament) Others, most notably VA, wanted separation

The First Continental Congress, cont Agreed that Grievances against the Crown must be made publicly known Bonding time for the colonies as they had been their own entities up to now The Plan of Union, proposed by PA, was discarded because of the Suffolk County Resolves: the resolution to Boycott English goods (imports) This became The Association which was the agreement that all colonies would boycott English goods and that they would work to create mechanisms to resist England (ie Militias) Formed the Continental Association and sent grievances to the King The English govt had until the end of 1774 to rescind the Intolerable Acts

Common Sense by Thomas Paine Published January 1776 Written by an Englishman new to the colonies Political pamphlet read by the educated (thus the colonial leaders) Argued for separation from the Crown Colonists had been loyal to the Crown and feared the British army, but this provided a final push to revolution Used biblical language Argued for democracy “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”

The Second Continental Congress Began a series of meetings on May 10, of 13 once again, but GA did eventually join in July Tasked with managing the war effort (that began at Concord/Lexington April 1775) Created the Continental Army (the first national military) and appointed Washington as General of the Army Wrote and presented the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (a predeclaration to the Declaration): “taxation without representation” The Crown’s indifference to the grievances focused on the Intolerable Acts

The Second Continental Congress, cont The Olive Branch Petition was drafted next Negotiate trade and tax laws Remain loyal to Crown Too late as it was received after the Cause and Necessity of Taking Up Arms King declared a Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition===war on the colonies declared The Second Continental Congress now assumes the role of a national government: declaring war, issuing money, raising armies, signing treaties, etc

The Second Continental Congress, cont The Congress then issued a need for A Declaration of Independence Noted the philosophy upon which the govt would be formed “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” Outlined the 27 Grievances against the Crown Declared solidarity as a union Proclaimed itself as a union so that other countries might understand and support the Revolution

The Second Continental Congress, cont The Model Treaty It was a template It served as our first diplomatic document Free and reciprocated trade Reinforced the trade arrangements with France and Spain that already existed Set up free ports Set up a list of contraband 9/24/1776 accepted and Ben Franklin took it to Paris which lead to the Treaty of Alliance which provided military assistance to the Revolutionary forces

Assignment: The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union