1. Governing America
USH 1.2

2. I. Early Government
Early English colonists brought the concepts of British gov’t with them
Magna Carta recognized the rights of Englishmen
English Bill of Rights said king should be limited
People have religious freedoms
Political tradition said that everyone had rules and everyone had to follow them

3. II. Here in America…
By the start of the American Revolution all 13 colonies had a representative assembly
House of Burgesses was the 1st in America
The Virginia Co. allowed the colonists to create this body to run things and attract new settlers
Only men with property could vote
King sent a royal governor by the 1620s

4. II. Here in America… Mayflower Compact
Written by the Pilgrims before they got off the Mayflower
Said that the people will get to decide what happens
1st time this was written down
Democracy spreads as Puritans spread in New England
Leads to town meetings with representatives having to go to General Court in Boston
Only Puritans could vote at 1st but then all men gained suffrage

5. III. Back in England… English Civil War
Lots of fighting with lots of dead kings and no king for a while
Ends with the Glorious Revolution and William & Mary taking over from James II
They agree to follow the English Bill of Rights and be limited monarchs
Parliament is the legislative body that is supreme
Colonies are left alone

6. III. Back in England… Salutary neglect
Colonies were left alone to run themselves
Parliament was too far away
Parliament didn’t care too much
Colonies could tax themselves

7. IV. The problem starts The French and Indian War is expen$ive!
Fought between GB and Fr. over land in America
GB wins!
GB has the colonists help pay for their protection
Sugar Act = indirect tax on sugar and stops smuggling with admiralty courts
Courts w/o a jury of peers which is in the Magna Carta

8. IV. The problem starts
Stamp Act = direct tax on paper and paper products
“No taxation without representation!”
Colonial boycott of British goods
Sons and Daughters of Liberty
Stamp Act Congress
It is finally repealed

9. IV. The problem starts
British troops stationed in Boston “start” the Boston Massacre
British troops fire on a crowd, killing 5
Townshend Acts = more direct taxes
Household items like glass, paint, and TEA!
Met with another boycott
Removed all taxes EXCEPT tea

10. IV. The problem starts
Tea Act = gave British East India Company exclusive rights to sell tea in the colonies
Colonists protest by boycotting tea
Boston Tea Party
3 ships hauling tea dock
Colonists prevent them from being unloaded
A mob dresses up like Indians and dump 46 tons of tea in the harbor

11. IV. The problem starts Intolerable Acts
Laws and taxes meant to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party
Closed Boston’s port
All gov’t officials in Mass. would be appointed by the king
Trials of king’s employees would be in England not America
Troops would be housed in empty buildings

12. V. Continental Congress
Each colony sent representatives to Philadelphia to coordinate a protest
1st Congress met in 1774
Sent Olive Branch Petition to King George III
Got no response
2nd Congress met in 1775
Signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776

13. VI. “The shot heard ‘round the world”
British troops march out of Boston to capture arms and John Hancock & Sam Adams
Meet with militia at Lexington Green and exchange fire on April 19, 1775
No one knows who fired first
Move on to Concord and fight some more
March back to Boston getting harassed all the way
American Revolution had begun

14. VI. “The shot heard ‘round the world”
Revolution spreads to all 13 colonies
Fighting from 1775 – 1781
Many losses for the Americans
France joins on the US side
They don’t like democracy, but they HATE England
GB surrenders at Yorktown, VA in Oct. 1781
Treaty of Paris is signed in 1783 and the war is over!!!