1. The Coming of Independence
Chapter 2
Section 2

2. Britain’s Colonial Policies
Administrative Power – King
Colonial Legislature – Power of the Purse
Power
Britain’s Responsibilities
Defense, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Common Currency
Colonial Responsibilities
Basically Self Rule
King George III (1760)
New taxes
Support Colonial Troops
Restricted Trade

3. Colonial Attempts to Unite
League of Friendship (1643)
Mass Bay, Plymouth, New Haven, Conn
Defense against Native Americans
Dissolves 1684
Natives no longer a threat
Disagreements between settlements
Penn Plan (1696)
Trade, Defense, Criminal issues
Quickly dissolves

4. The Albany Plan (1754) Called by British Board of Trade
7 Northern Colonies
Wanted to stop Native attacks on trade items
Benjamin Franklin
Annual Congress with reps from 13 colonies
Raise military and Navy
Wage war and make peace with Natives
Regulate Trade with Natives
Tax and collect duties
Those attendees agreed but King and colonies refute

5. The Stamp Act Congress 9 colonies send delegates to meet at NY
Drafted Declaration of Rights and Grievances
Marks 1st time colonies oppose King
Parliament repeals Stamp Act
Passes other policies that anger colonists
Colonists boycott English goods
Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770 – kills 5
Boston Tea Party – Dec. 16, 1773

6. First Continental Congress
1774 Parliament passes policies to punish colonists for Boston
Colonists called Intolerable Acts
12 Colonies meet in Philadelphia Sept 5, 1774
All but Georgia
Sends Declaration of Rights to King
Protest Britain’s colonial policies
Colonies urged to refuse trade with England
All 13 colonies would respect
Meeting adjourns on Oct 26, 1774
Second Congress to meet in May

7. Second Continental Congress
May 10, 1775 – Revolution had begun
The Delegates
All 13 colonies represented
John Hancock named president of Congress
Continental Army created – George Washington
Became first National Government
Opposed by Britain – “Den of Traitors”
Last for 5 years
War, taxes, borrowed, made treaties, currency
Each state had one vote on legislative issues

8. The Declaration of Independence
Richard Henry Lee (Virginia)
Proposes Colonies should be free and sovereign
Committee named to write a proclamation of independence
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson
Delegates agree on July 2, 1776
“The Second Day of July Will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival With Pomp and Parade, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and illuminations . . .”
John Adams
Adopt the Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776

9. First State Constitutions
New Hampshire adopts state constitution
Jan 1776
Replaces royal charter
Congress urges all other to do same
May 10, 1776
Massachusetts
Convention of delegates (elected by people)
Draft constitution then send to voters for ratification
Still oldest, modern-day constitution in world today

10. Common Features of State Constitutions
Popular Sovereignty
Government only exists at consent of governed
Limited Government
Power granted by people.
Could not get more power than given
Civil Rights and Liberties
People are given certain rights and government MUST respect their rights
7 would include a Bill of Rights
Separation of Powers
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches formed
Each branch given specific powers
Checks and Balances
Powers given keep branches from getting too powerful