1. The New Nation is Established
Pg 44-52

2. Kings Response to First Continental Congress
Harsher policies
Soldiers were sent to destroy supply of weapons and arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams
Led to the Battle of Lexington and Concord
American Revolution had begun

3. Second Continental Congress
All 13 colonies attended
John Hancock elected president
Each colony had one vote
Took on powers of government and organized the colonies’ defense
Established an army with George Washington as commander
Borrowed and issued money, negotiated treaties, created a navy.
Wanted to find a way to keep ties with Britain

4. Decision for Independence
Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution that the colonies should be free
Committee was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson did the actual writing
Declaration was approved on July 4, 1776

5. Purpose of Declaration
1. Explained the ideas and philosophy that justified America’s break with Great Britain
2. It rallied world sentiment in favor of the American colonists
3. Helped unify American public opinion.

6. Declaration of Independence Part 1
Listed many of the basic principles of American democracy-limited gov’t, representative gov’t, individual liberty, and rule by law.
Also echoed John Locke’s ideas about peoples’ natural rights- to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

7. Declaration of Independence Part 2
Detailed list of charges against King George
Intended to show exactly how the British gov’t had violated basic rights of the colonists
quartering troops in homes, imposed taxes without consent of the people, denied the right to trial by jury, abolished elected legislatures

8. Declaration of Independence Part 3
Explains the colonists’ efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement
The British government’s stubbornness
The Americans’ resolve to be free
Document was approved and John Hancock signed first
56 men signed the Declaration, this action made them traitors to Britain

9. Organizing New State Governments
Even before the Declaration was signed most colonies had begun to organize as states
All of the colonies adopted written constitutions
3 separate branches of government.-legislative, executive, and judicial.
Legislatures in most states were bicameral-two houses
Executive branches were generally weak
Seven states had a bill of rights

10. Articles of Confederation
Central government needed a plan
Committee was appointed to draw up a form of confederation for the colonies
Approved Articles in 1777
All states had to ratify it for it to take effect
Became America’s first national constitution
States had joined a loose union for a common goal

11. Weak Central Government
Unicameral Congress was the only official government body
Congressional committees tried to carry out executive duties
Judicial functions were left to the states
All powers of central gov’t belonged to Congress
Almost impossible to carry out functions of gov’t since it took the votes of 7 states to pass laws and all 13 states had to agree to changes in the Articles

12. Weakness of Confederation
Congress was powerless to levy or collect taxes
Congress was unable to maintain an army or navy
Congress had no control over foreign or interstate trade
Congress was unable to establish a sound economy
Congress lacked authority to enforce its own laws
Congress could not settle disputes between states

13. Successes of Confederation
Managed to keep the states together
won the American Revolution
Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain
Established a diplomatic corps
Set up permanent congressional committees to handle administrative duties
Northwest Ordinance

14. Northwest Ordinance
Workable plan for the settling of the vast lands to the West
Guaranteed religious freedom
Prohibited slavery
Set up method to create 3 to 5 states from the territory
States would enter the Union on same standing as existing states.

15. Economic Troubles
States issued their own paper money, inflation soon made it worthless
Postwar depression hurt small businesses and lowered prices farmers received
Shay’s Rebellion- made leaders realize that changes must be made soon
Farmers and laborers banded together, marched on courthouses, and freed imprisoned debtors from jail. Stopped by militia.

16. Annapolis Convention Convention for making changes to the nation
Led by supporters of a stronger central gov’t
Only 5 states attended
They strongly urged a meeting of all states to consider the problems facing the nation
Congress officially called a meeting of the states to revise the Articles of Confederation