1. Chapter 2 Part 1 Revolution & Colonial Government
To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions
American Government: Roots and Reform, 10th edition
Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato
 Pearson Education, 2009

2. The Roots of a New Nation
Distance from England meant a need for local governing
House of Burgesses established in Jamestown in 1619
General Court of Massachusetts Bay colony in 1629
Worked well for 140 years
Colonists were starting to be less English, more American

3. The Roots of a New Nation
Tensions begin to build in 1760s.
Mercantilism was the dominant economic system in Europe, and governed their colonial actions
American colonies left on their own until French and Indian War in 1760s (Seven Years’ War in Europe)
England decided colonies needed to pay for this war and could not move further west

4. Rally Robin
Explain why, as time went on, it became more and more difficult for the England to rule over the colonies

5. Figure 2.1- British Land Claims, 1763
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6. British Taxation Sugar Act of 1764 was first tax on colonists
Stamp Act and Quartering Act passed in 1765
Stamp Act Congress in 1765 is first colonial expression of anger
Discussed the need for representation in Parliament in exchange for being taxed

7. Think-Pair-Share
Explain the reasoning behind England’s desire to tax the colonists
Explain what is meant by the phrase “no taxation without representation”

8. British Taxation Parliament revised Stamp and Sugar Act in 1766
Declaratory Act of 1766 asserted that Parliament had the absolute power to make laws and changes to colonies
Townshend Acts pass in 1767, met with boycotts
Lead, Glass, Cotton, but Tea was a major component of this
Led to Boston Massacre in 1770

9. Boston Tea Party In 1772, Committees of Correspondence form.
Local Colonial Governments that spread American sentiment
Tea Act passed in 1773, lowers tax, but hurts American merchants
Result is Boston Tea Party

10. Think-Pair-Share Explain the economic impacts of the Tea Act of 1773
What does England pass in response to the Boston Tea Party?

11. First Continental Congress
Colonists call these taxes the Intolerable Acts
England Blockades Boston Harbor
Stronger Quartering Act & Sent more soldiers
British officials were exempt from trial in MA
Held in Philadelphia in September 1774.
Colonists want to iron out differences with king.
Adopt Declaration of Rights and Resolves.
Would meet again in 1775 if demands not met

12. RoundRobin
Explain the economic impacts of the Intolerable Acts

13. Second Continental Congress
King George instead attacks the colonists
Battle of Lexington & Concord on April 19, 1775
Held in Philadelphia beginning in May 1775.
Adopt Olive Branch Petition; it is rejected by the king.
Thomas Paine issues pamphlet Common Sense.
Delegates call for independence in June 1776.
Write and adopt Declaration of Independence.
Document draws heavily on the ideas of John Locke.

14. Declaration of Independence
5 Chosen for committee to write it
John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman and Benjamin Franklin from North
Lone Southern representative was Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson was chosen to write
Heavily influenced by Locke’s Second Treatise on Government
References Social Contract and how King George violated it
Declaration of Independence

15. Rally Robin
Analyze how John Locke influenced Thomas Jefferson when he was writing the Declaration of Independence

16. The Articles of Confederation
None of the states wanted a strong central government.
In a confederation, states are most powerful.
Articles are first attempt at independent government.
Created a loose “league of friendship”.
Congress has limited power, states are strong.
No executive or judicial branches, no power to tax.
Got us through war, but not helpful in peacetime.

17. Problems with The Articles of Confederation
One vote per state, 9 states required to pass federal laws
Could not tax or raise money to pay debts
Could not regulate any trade
No executive or judicial branches
States did not abide by laws or the Treaty of Paris
States passed high taxes on own citizens
Shays Rebellion showed the danger of this in MA
Call was made to revise the articles in May 1787

18. Think-Write-RoundRobin
Of the many problems with the Articles, which one do you think was the worst?

19. Think-Write-RoundRobin
Why were the Articles set up with such a weak central government?

20. Shay’s Rebellion
Massachusetts had to adopt high property taxes to pay war debts
1786 new law requires all debts to be paid in cash
Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays is about to lose his farm, leads 1500 farmers to Springfield
Plan is to take the arsenal
No states will pay for a new militia
Private army is finally raised
Other states begin to worry

21. Think-Pair-Share
How did Shay’s Rebellion galvanize the nation’s leaders into creating the Constitution?

22. The Constitutional Convention
Held in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles.
Fifty-five delegates from across the colonies attend.
Refer to delegates as “Founding Fathers” or Framers.
Two competing plans of government are proposed, the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan

23. Virginia Plan Plan favored by the large states.
Three-branch government.
Two-house legislature, both based on population.
One house chosen by people, one by state legislatures.
Legislature can choose executive and judiciary.

24. Rally Robin
Identify 4 problems with the Virginia Plan

25. New Jersey Plan Sought to strengthen Articles, not replace them.
Plan favored by the small states.
Sought to strengthen Articles, not replace them.
One house legislature with one vote for each state.
Representatives chosen by state legislatures.
Congress can raise revenues from duties on imports.
Supreme Court with life terms appointed by executive.

26. Rally Robin
Identify 4 problems with the New Jersey Plan

28. Great Compromise 3 Branches Two-house legislature: House and Senate.
House based on population, two per state in Senate.
Revenue bills originate in the House.
Chief executive appoints Supreme Court Justices.
Divided powers between federal and state governments, but federal government is supreme.
Appeases both large and small states.

29. Other Compromises Three-Fifths Compromise regarding slavery.
Slave Trade Compromise does not deal with slave trade for 20 years, and allows federal government to control interstate commerce, but not tax exports
Committee on Unfinished Portions handles executive.
President with four-year term, Electoral College.
President can be removed from office by Congress.
Impeachment: House Impeaches; Senate votes (2/3 needed)

30. Table 2.1- Articles and the Constitution
Pg 49
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31. Timeline 