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First Documents Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

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Presentation on theme: "First Documents Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation."— Presentation transcript:

1 First Documents Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation

2 Leading to Independence First Continental Congress –colonies decided to boycott British goods British declared colonies to be in a state of rebellion Second Continental Congress –elected a President and formed a military to fight the British, acted as government throughout Revolutionary War SCC decided that the United Colonies should be free and independent states, wrote Declaration of Independence

3 Declaration of Independence Agreed to write a document that would declare independence from Great Britain Thomas Jefferson wrote it in 3 parts: Beginning: Statement of purpose and basic human rights Middle: Specific complaints against King George III End: Efforts to reach a peaceful solution didn ’ t work, needed to break with Great Britain

4 Ideas of independence were spread by Thomas Paine ’ s Common Sense But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain...let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING. Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776 Explain: _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ ___

5 Thomas Paine As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that this government is not sufficiently lasting to ensure any thing which we may bequeath to posterity: And by a plain method of argument, as we are running the next generation into debt, we ought to do the work of it, otherwise we use them meanly and pitifully. In order to discover the line of our duty rightly, we should take our children in our hand, and fix our station a few years farther into life; that eminence will present a prospect, which a few present fears and prejudices conceal from our sight. Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776 Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part. Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776 The Sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

6 Explain: Quote 1 Quote 2:

7 A New Government - Articles of Confederation Continued the structure and operation of government that the SCC established States wanted confederation rather than national government Why? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

8 Make Up of the AoC Unicameral Congress from which executive positions were chosen Committee of States – one delegate from each state managed the govt when Congress wasn ’ t assembled Every state had 1 vote No federal courts

9 Congress under the AoC Had only the powers appointed, all others were left to the states Powers: War Foreign policies Military Indians Mail Handle disputes between states What’s missing??

10 Weaknesses No power over taxes Had to borrow and ask for money from states No power to regulate trade Problems making business arrangements with other countries Disputes between states Laws needed approval of 9 out of 13 states laws were rarely passed or amended No executive branch No way to coordinate the policies that different committees were making No national court system States enforced and interpreted on their own laws

11 Achievements Peace treaty with Great Britain Recognized American independence Set up departments of Foreign Affairs, War, Marine, and Treasury Each had own Secretary Set precedent (Precedent is the first time something is done; it is setting the example for the future)

12 Shays ’ Rebellion States were fighting over borders and tariffs Government was in serious debt as were individual states Daniel Shays led farmers to shut down Mass. State supreme court to stop them from taking their farms When no new laws were passed, he led 1200 men to attack a federal arsenal As a result, state delegates called for a convention to revise the Articles.

13 Assignment What factors would have influenced citizens of the newly independent American country to choose a Confederate system of government?? Use FER!!


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