22.4 The American Revolution Enlightenment ideas help spur the American colonies to shed British rule and create a new nation.

British-colonial Tension Colonists identify less and less as British subjects Colonists identify less and less as British subjects British-Colonial Tensions Arise British-Colonial Tensions Arise Britain taxes colonists to help pay the war debts Britain taxes colonists to help pay the war debts French-Indian War (1763) French-Indian War (1763) Colonists argue that British cannot tax them without their consent Colonists argue that British cannot tax them without their consent No colonial rep.s in Parliament No colonial rep.s in Parliament Trade relationship is British-controlled Trade relationship is British-controlled Forceful means of executing laws & preventing smuggling Forceful means of executing laws & preventing smuggling Searching homes, delaying ships Searching homes, delaying ships

British Acts, Colonial Resistance Sugar Act (1764) Sugar Act (1764) Lowered tax on imported molasses but added new taxes on other sugar goods Lowered tax on imported molasses but added new taxes on other sugar goods Any colonist/merchant charged w/ violating the act would be tried by a vice-admiralty court, not a trial by jury Any colonist/merchant charged w/ violating the act would be tried by a vice-admiralty court, not a trial by jury Stamp Act (1765) Stamp Act (1765) New tax on printed items (newspapers, playing cards, etc.) New tax on printed items (newspapers, playing cards, etc.) Needed a stamp on your document to show tax was paid Needed a stamp on your document to show tax was paid Colonists fought back: formed Sons of Liberty, boycotted British goods, harassed gov’t workers Colonists fought back: formed Sons of Liberty, boycotted British goods, harassed gov’t workers Townsend Acts (1767) Townsend Acts (1767) Taxed goods imported from Britain, including tea Taxed goods imported from Britain, including tea Colonists boycott, and more violent acts begin Colonists boycott, and more violent acts begin

War Begins Growing Hostility Leads to War Growing Hostility Leads to War Boston Massacre (1770) = standoff turned violent Boston Massacre (1770) = standoff turned violent Colonists protest tea tax with Boston Tea Party in 1773 Colonists protest tea tax with Boston Tea Party in party party party party Britain passes Intolerable Acts (1774) Britain passes Intolerable Acts (1774) Shut down Boston Harbor, allowed quartering of British troops, Boston goes under martial law Shut down Boston Harbor, allowed quartering of British troops, Boston goes under martial law Colonists meet in Philadelphia to address British policies (1774); First Continental Congress Colonists meet in Philadelphia to address British policies (1774); First Continental Congress British and Americans exchange fire at Lexington and Concord (1775) British and Americans exchange fire at Lexington and Concord (1775)

Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence (1776) – document justifying colonial rebellion & demanding sovereignty Declaration of Independence (1776) – document justifying colonial rebellion & demanding sovereignty Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration, uses ideas of John Locke Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration, uses ideas of John Locke Unalienable, God-given rights (life, liberty, property) Unalienable, God-given rights (life, liberty, property) Gov’t gets its power from the consent of the governed Gov’t gets its power from the consent of the governed

Americans Win Independence Success for the Colonists Success for the Colonists Despite British military might, colonists have advantages: Despite British military might, colonists have advantages: Motivating cause of freedom Motivating cause of freedom French assistance (signed alliance in 1778) French assistance (signed alliance in 1778) War’s expense for Britain War’s expense for Britain Battles throughout the states Battles throughout the states Bunker Hill (1775) Bunker Hill (1775) Trenton (1776) Trenton (1776) Saratoga (1777) Saratoga (1777) Charles Town (1780) Charles Town (1780) British surrender at Yorktown (1781) British surrender at Yorktown (1781) Treaty of Paris – Sept Treaty of Paris – Sept. 1783

Americans Create a Republic Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation First version of the United States government First version of the United States government Confederation chosen b/c people feared a central gov’t that would become too powerful Confederation chosen b/c people feared a central gov’t that would become too powerful Created national legislature only, no executive or judicial branches Created national legislature only, no executive or judicial branches Result was a weak national government that failed to provide unity and order Result was a weak national government that failed to provide unity and order Shay’s Rebellion Shay’s Rebellion

Americans Create a Republic A New Constitution A New Constitution Leaders call Constitutional Convention in 1787 to revise articles; instead created a new organization of gov’t under the U.S. Constitution Leaders call Constitutional Convention in 1787 to revise articles; instead created a new organization of gov’t under the U.S. Constitution Major issues debated: Major issues debated: Strength of central gov’t Strength of central gov’t # of state rep.s # of state rep.s Slaves (citizens? property?) Slaves (citizens? property?) Constitution contains many political ideas Constitution contains many political ideas of the Enlightenment

Enlightenment Ideas and the Constitution

Constitutional Plans/Proposals The Federal System The Federal System Constitution creates three branches of government that share power – checks & balances Constitution creates three branches of government that share power – checks & balances Power divided between national and state gov’ts Power divided between national and state gov’ts Issue: Issue: How many rep.s will each state get in the national legislature? Will slaves count as part of state pop.? How many rep.s will each state get in the national legislature? Will slaves count as part of state pop.? VA Plan (Madison) VA Plan (Madison) Bicameral Congress, # of rep.s in both based on state pop. Bicameral Congress, # of rep.s in both based on state pop. NJ Plan (Paterson) NJ Plan (Paterson) Unicameral Congress, # of rep.s equal for every state Unicameral Congress, # of rep.s equal for every state

Settling on a Legislature Great Compromise (Sherman) Great Compromise (Sherman) Senate w/ equal rep. for each state; House of Rep.s w/ # of rep.s based on state pop. Senate w/ equal rep. for each state; House of Rep.s w/ # of rep.s based on state pop. 3/5 Compromise 3/5 Compromise Southern states wanted slaves to count as pop., not property BECAUSE … Southern states wanted slaves to count as pop., not property BECAUSE … Part of pop. = more rep.s for the state in Congress Part of pop. = more rep.s for the state in Congress Not property = not taxable Not property = not taxable North wanted the opposite North wanted the opposite Compromise: 3/5 of a state’s slaves ??? Compromise: 3/5 of a state’s slaves ??? will count towards pop.

Ratification Federalists Federalists Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay Supported the Constitution Supported the Constitution Feared chaos of a weak national gov’t Feared chaos of a weak national gov’t Antifederalists Antifederalists Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, George Mason Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, George Mason Opposed the Constitution Opposed the Constitution Demanded a Bill of Rights to guarantee Demanded a Bill of Rights to guarantee gov’t protection of people’s rights Public mandate for BOR; Federalists Public mandate for BOR; Federalists Agreed to add one & the Constitution was Ratified in 1788

The Constitution: A Living Document Elastic Clause Elastic Clause Article I, Section 8 Article I, Section 8 Congress can pass new laws that are “Necessary & Proper” Congress can pass new laws that are “Necessary & Proper” Amendments Amendments Constitution could be changed, but through a long process that ensured support of the public Constitution could be changed, but through a long process that ensured support of the public Judicial branch Judicial branch Continues to interpret Constitution & evaluate new laws Continues to interpret Constitution & evaluate new laws