 Chapter 2 Origins of American Government Sections 2 & 3 American Independence and Articles of Confederation

American Indepence  Inspiration from French and Indian War  1775 Second Continental Congress – Declaration of Independence  Rebellion for New Policies

Road to Independence Early Attempts  1643:New England Confederation  Fights threats from Indians  French and Indian War  Inspiration  1754-Iroquios Confederation  Plan of action  Albany Plan of Union-Ben Franklin  Control trade, raise armies, build settlements, equip fleets Growing Tensions  1700’s  Colonies wanted less interference from the crown  1760  King George Tightens Control  Most were loyal  Parliament feared independence  Parliament places financial burdens on Colonies

Events Leading to the American Revolution French Indian War 1754  British  Fight French for Ohio River Valley  Tax Colonies to Pay Debts from War  Colonists  Unites Colonies  Start War Effort The Stamp Act 1765  British  Tax on Paper Goods  Colonists  Boycott British Goods  Stamp Act Congress

Colonist Protests  1766: Stamp Act  Colonies Protested and Act Was Repealed, Organized Resistance  1773: Boston Tea Party  Protest American tea trade given to one British company  1774: Intolerable Acts  Ended all Forms of Self Rule in Massachusetts

The Continental Congress First Continental Congress  1754: Demanded repeal of Intolerable Acts  1775: Lexington and Concord-Clash between British and Colonist troops Common Sense of Democracy  1776:Argued Case for Break ron England  Thomas Paine: Only Option Compromise  Hoped for compromises  VA and MA call for meeting of colonies in Philadelphia Second Continental Congress  1775: Organized Army  Commander Washington  Revolutionary War Begins

The Declaration of Independence  Months after fighting started  June 7, 1776: Second Continental Congress proposed declaration  Approved July 2, 1776  Thomas Jefferson- Main Author  “All men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights”-Virginia Declaration of Rights  “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”-John Locke  July 4, 1776-Declaration of Independce Adopted by all Colonies

State Constitutions Limited Government  No unlimited power  Annual elections, term limits, separation of powers  Limited terms of Governors Individual Rights  Protect rights protect from govt.  1780:MA wrote Bill of Rights  Trial by Jury  Freedom of Assembly  Free Speech Self-Government  All established republican governments  Voting rights varied  Male taxpayers  Property Qualifications Separation of Powers  Legislative, Executive, Judicial  States had power to govern  Most legislatures had two houses  Some elected governors and judges

Articles of Confederation  1777: Second Continental Congress  Official plan for national government  Post-Revolutionary War  Conflicts led to problems between states

First National Government A Delay in Ratification  Dispute over Western Land  Small States Fear Big States  Changes Made  Ratified in 1781 State Powers  States Took All Specific Powers not Granted to Congress  Collect Taxes  Enforce Laws Articles of Confederation  June 1776: Friendship among states  June 12, 1777: Articles of Confederation Adopted  Had to be Ratified Powers of the National Government  Created Weak, no Court System  One-house Congress  New States  Disputes  Coin Money

Congress Under the Articles of Confederation The Powers of Congress  Coin and borrow money  Admit new states  Request money from states  Raise army  Appoint military officers  Declare war  Foreign Affairs The Limits on Congress  No president or executive branch  No national court system  No power to tax or raise national funds  No power to regulate trade or currency  No power to prohibit states from conducting foreign affairs  Needed 9 states to pass laws

Pressures for Stronger Government Northwest Ordinance  Planned to settle NW Territory  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin  Created system for admitting new states, banned slavery, included Bill of Rights Dangers and Unrest  War Debts!!!!!!!  1783: Congress couldn’t approve tax on imports  Postwar depression  States pursue own interests

Pressures for Stronger Government Shay’s Rebellion  MA Farmers protesting against losing land  Captain Daniel Shay led attacks  2,5000 people  Showed weaknesses of Congress Calls to Revise the Articles  March 1785: VA and MD representatives go to Washington  Regulating commerce between states  February 1787: Madison persuades Congress to endorse meeting for revisions  May 1787: Meet in PA

Vocabulary New England ConfederationConfederation of colonies to defend against Native Americans and nearby Dutch Colonies Iroquois ConfederationPowerful alliance of six Native American nations Albany Plan of UnionPlan, by Ben Franklin, that called for a council of representatives appointed by the colonial assemblies and a president general appointed by the king Stamp ActFirst attempt by British to tax Americans on all paper goods First Continental CongressFirst general meeting of colonies that sent King George III Declaration of Resolves Second Continental CongressSecond general meeting of colonies that took strong measures against the crown Virginia Declaration of RightsDeclared equally free, independent, and inherent rights

Vocabulary Articles of ConfederationThe first constitution of the US RatifiedFormally approve Northwest Ordinance1787 legislation that established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory Shay’s RebellionA rebellion of MA farmers who were angry at the prospect of losing their land