1. Revolutionary Roots of the Constitution

2. FREEDOM IN COLONIAL AMERICA
Though British subjects, the colonists enjoyed more freedom than those living in Europe
Traditions, feudalism, religious intolerance
Colonists enjoyed near complete freedom of speech, press and assembly
By 1763, Britain & the colonies had a reached a compromise between royal rule and self government
King & Parliament controlled foreign affairs; domestic issues left to colonies

3. ROAD TO REVOLUTION
British government needed to pay for the French & Indian War.
Led to taxes on the colonies
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
A series of taxes were imposed and this led to a boycott of British goods in the colonies

4. ROAD TO REVOLUTION Boston Tea Party (1773)
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774)
Closed Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for
Gave royal governors the power to quarter soldiers in private homes
Battle became British demand for order vs. American demand for liberty

5. REVOLUTIONARY ACTION
First Continental Congress (Sept. 1774) met to restore harmony between Britain & the colonies
Second Continental Congress convened after a military skirmish between British and colonial troops in Massachusetts
Remained in session to serve as the government for the colony-states

6. WHAT WAS AT STAKE?? Should the colonists prepare for war?
Should they try to reconcile with Britain?
Declaring their independence meant treason.
Failure to win independence would mean death by hanging, drawing and quartering

7. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Written by Thomas Jefferson, echoed many of the words spoken by John Adams in the Continental Congress
Underlying principles derived from John Locke
Consent of the governed
Social contract theory – people agree to establish rulers for certain purposes, but they have the right to resist or remove rulers who violate those purposes

8. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Jefferson found inspiration in the Virginia Declaration of Rights
He listed the grievances the colonists had against the King
Slavery was in the original draft, but later omitted when South Carolina & Georgia objected
Signed by 55 delegates of the Second Continental Congress

9. DEMOCRACY IS BAD, M’KAY The Framers feared a pure participatory system
Democracy = mob rule and instability
The revolutionaries were more concerned with limiting government power
To ensure they had a government with strictly defined powers, they put everything in writing

10. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Established a weak central government that could only coordinate, not control, the actions of the sovereign (independent) states
Articles reflected the delegates’ fear that a strong government would resemble British rule

11. FEATURES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Each state had one vote in the Congress, regardless of size
Voting on important issues required the consent of 9 of 13 states
No executive branch or court system

12. FAILURES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
National government did not have the power to tax
Congress had to beg states for money
No leader to direct the government
President simply presided over the powerless Congress
To the delegates, president = monarch
National government could not regulate foreign or interstate commerce (trade)
Amending the articles required consent of all states
States could veto any proposed changes