Chapter 2 Section 2 Mr. Gordon

American Independence  After the French and Indian War, the colonists rebelled against British attempts to assert control over the colonies and against new British taxes.  In 1775 the Second Continental Congress called for the writing of a formal Declaration of Independence.  Main Idea: The British imposed new policies on their American colonies, sparking rebellion and, in time, the American Revolution.

American Independence  The road that led the American colonies to unite with one another and break with Great Britain was long and fraught with conflict.

American Independence Early Attempts at Unity  1643: New England Confederation formed to defend against threats from Native Americans and Dutch colonies  : French and Indian War spurred new drive toward unity  1754: Great Britain urged signing of treaty with Iroquois Confederation  Ben Franklin proposed Albany Plan of Union to control trade, raise armies, build settlements, equip fleets

American Independence Growing Tensions  Mid-1700s: colonists used to handling affairs without interference from British  1760: King George III began to tighten control over colonies  Most colonists viewed selves as loyal subjects of British Crown  Parliament began to think colonies had become too independent  Following French and Indian War, Parliament placed new financial burdens on colonists

American Independence Changes in British Policies British victorious in French and Indian War, but incurred massive debts Parliament looked to colonies to offset cost of war, defense of colonies Enforced trade restrictions benefiting Britain, including series of taxes Colonists resented being taxed without their consent.

American Independence The Stamp Act Congress  1765: Stamp Act: Parliament’s first attempt to tax colonists directly  Required tax stamp on paper goods such as legal documents and newspapers  Angry colonists responded with protests; in 1765, delegates from 9 colonies sent strong protest to king declaring power to tax should remain with colonial assemblies.

American Independence Colonial Protests 1766: Stamp Act repealed; colonies protested, organized resistance; Boston Massacre 1773: Boston Tea Party protested American tea trade given to one British company. 1774: New harsh laws, Intolerable Acts, ended all forms of self-rule in Massachusetts.

American Independence Summarizing What forms of protest did the colonists use to oppose British policies? Boycotts, Rallies, Pamphlets & Letter Writing Campaigns

American Independence Compromise Most colonists held out hope for compromise to roll back taxes. Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies called for meeting of colonies in Philadelphia.

American Independence First Continental Congress 1774: First Continental Congress passed Declaration and Resolves demanding repeal of Intolerable Acts. 1775: British rejected demands; British troops clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord—the first armed resistance by colonists.

American Independence Second Continental Congress 1775: Second Continental Congress organized Continental Army, named George Washington as commander Revolutionary War began as colonists sought independence from Britain

American Independence Common Sense of Democracy 1776: The Common Sense pamphlet argued case for break with England. Thomas Paine: independence was the only “common sense” for colonists Saw history of world hanging on outcome of colonies’ rebellion

American Independence Making Inferences According to Paine, why was independence “common sense”? It was “Common Sense” to break away from English Rule

American Independence Declaration of Independence Armed conflict continued for months before independence officially declared June 7, 1776: resolution proposed to Second Continental Congress to officially declare independence from Great Britain; resolution passed July 2 Committee appointed to write formal statement justifying resolution

American Independence Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote most of document, drawing on Virginia Declaration of Rights adopted by Virginia House of Burgesses one month earlier Virginia declaration declared “all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights” that cannot be denied.

American Independence Declaration of Independence Echoed philosophy of John Locke that people have rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” Also echoed idea of government as social contract based on consent of the people July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence was adopted. Britain’s thirteen colonies ceased to exist as new nation emerged.

American Independence Summarizing How did John Locke’s ideas inspire the Declaration of Independence? Locke’s beliefs in natural rights and that a government must have the consent of the people

American Independence  By 1780, each of the 13 newly independent states had adopted its own written constitution. Each tested ideas about how to design a republican government that protected individual rights.

American Independence Self-Government  All new state constitutions established republican governments with strong legislatures with elected representatives.  Voting rights varied from state to state.  Some states granted the right to vote to adult male taxpayers, others had property qualifications; only New Jersey allowed women to vote.

American Independence Separation of Powers  Three branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial  States had real power to govern.  Powers included conducting foreign affairs, declaring war  Most legislatures had two houses.  Some elected governors and judges.

American Independence Limited Government Strong legislative bodies reflected general mistrust of monarchy. Colonists did not grant unlimited power to legislatures. Annual elections, term limits, separation of powers established as checks Kept powers of governors deliberately weak, limited term

American Independence Individual Rights Protecting people’s rights seen as way to protect from excesses of government 1780: Massachusetts constitution included bill of rights to protect individual liberties. Liberties included trial by jury, freedom of assembly, and speech.

American Independence Summarizing What ideas about government did state constitutions experiment with?  Self-government, limiting the power of the executive branch, separation of powers, and individual rights