American Revolution & Founding American Revolution & Founding DocumentsDocuments

Powerpoint created by Robert Martinez

When England sought to impose new When England sought to impose new taxes on the colonists without their taxes on the colonists without their

consent in the 1760s and 1770s. This consent in the 1760s and 1770s. This set off a chain of events that ended set off a chain of events that ended

with American Independence.with American Independence.

Americans struggled in organizing a Americans struggled in organizing a new national government under the new national government under the

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation (1 (1stst constitution), which they later constitution), which they later

replaced with the US Constitution.replaced with the US Constitution.

The colonists enjoyed several democratic The colonists enjoyed several democratic institutions based on English political institutions based on English political

tradition. In the tradition. In the Magna CartaMagna Carta of 1215, the of 1215, the English king promised not to take away English king promised not to take away property or to imprison freemen except property or to imprison freemen except

according to the laws of the land and after according to the laws of the land and after a trial by jury. In addition, the king agreed a trial by jury. In addition, the king agreed not to impose new taxes without consent not to impose new taxes without consent

by a council of his nobles.by a council of his nobles.

Representative GovernmentRepresentative GovernmentLater, the English developed a Later, the English developed a

representative legislature known as representative legislature known as ParliamentParliament (U.S. has the Senate (U.S. has the Senate and House of Representatives.) and House of Representatives.)

Colonial GovernmentColonial Government Other democratic traditions Other democratic traditions

developed among the colonists developed among the colonists themselves. Virginia established its themselves. Virginia established its own own House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses, elected , elected representatives who helped govern representatives who helped govern the colony. the colony.

Reasons for Colonial AssembliesReasons for Colonial Assemblies

1. Distance from England.1. Distance from England.2. Tradition of Participating in Government.2. Tradition of Participating in Government.3. Stronger Parliament. Colonial assemblies 3. Stronger Parliament. Colonial assemblies

shared power with Royal Governor shared power with Royal Governor maintaining power to tax.maintaining power to tax.

French and Indian War French and Indian War (1754)(1754) In 1754, Britain and France became In 1754, Britain and France became

engaged in the engaged in the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War. . By 1763, the British had defeated the By 1763, the British had defeated the

French and gained control of Canada, but French and gained control of Canada, but had incurred a large debt in the course of had incurred a large debt in the course of

the struggle.the struggle.

War DebtsWar Debts The British Parliament quickly The British Parliament quickly

imposed new taxes on the colonies imposed new taxes on the colonies to help pay off the war debt. to help pay off the war debt.

Taxation without RepresentationTaxation without RepresentationThe Stamp ActThe Stamp Act (1765) required colonial (1765) required colonial

newspapers, books, and documents to newspapers, books, and documents to carry an official government stamp. carry an official government stamp.

Colonists objected to the tax since they Colonists objected to the tax since they were not represented in Parliament. After were not represented in Parliament. After a wave of protests, Parliament repealed a wave of protests, Parliament repealed the stamp tax, but replaced it with new the stamp tax, but replaced it with new

taxes on paper, glass, and tea. taxes on paper, glass, and tea.

Quartering of TroopsQuartering of TroopsThe British also sent troops to the colonies, The British also sent troops to the colonies,

some of which were quartered in colonist’s some of which were quartered in colonist’s homes. The colonists again protested . The homes. The colonists again protested . The British finally repealed all the new taxes British finally repealed all the new taxes except the tax on tea.except the tax on tea.

In 1773, a group of protesters threw tea off In 1773, a group of protesters threw tea off British ships in Boston Harbor. As a result of British ships in Boston Harbor. As a result of

the “the “Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party,” the British ,” the British government closed Boston Harbor and government closed Boston Harbor and

banned public meetings until the tea was banned public meetings until the tea was paid for. Angered, representatives of the paid for. Angered, representatives of the

colonies met in Philadelphia as a Continental colonies met in Philadelphia as a Continental Congress.Congress.

Lexington & ConcordLexington & ConcordIn 1775, British soldiers exchanged gunfire In 1775, British soldiers exchanged gunfire

with colonial volunteers at Lexington and with colonial volunteers at Lexington and Concord, marking the start of the Concord, marking the start of the

American Revolution. Colonial assemblies American Revolution. Colonial assemblies throughout the colonies quickly voted to throughout the colonies quickly voted to

join the struggle.join the struggle.

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of IndependenceBy mid-1776, members of the Continental By mid-1776, members of the Continental

Congress agreed on seeking Congress agreed on seeking independence. A committee was formed to independence. A committee was formed to draft the draft the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence. .

A young Virginian, A young Virginian, Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson, , became its main author.became its main author.

John LockeJohn Locke The Declaration of Independence, not only The Declaration of Independence, not only

declared the colonies independent, but declared the colonies independent, but also proclaimed a theory of government also proclaimed a theory of government based on 18based on 18thth century beliefs of century beliefs of John Locke John Locke && hishis Social Contract Social Contract. According to this . According to this theory, people have certain “theory, people have certain “unalienable unalienable rightsrights.”.”

Enlightened PhilosopherJohn Locke and his Social Contract.

Unalienable RightsUnalienable Rights Basic human rights that cannot be Basic human rights that cannot be

taken away from them. The job of taken away from them. The job of government is to protect its citizen’s government is to protect its citizen’s unalienable rights. unalienable rights.

The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence announced that “all men are created announced that “all men are created equal,” and that they enjoy certain equal,” and that they enjoy certain unalienable rights – “life, liberty, and unalienable rights – “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”the pursuit of happiness.”

The Declaration went on to state that if The Declaration went on to state that if a government failed to protect the a government failed to protect the

very rights it was created to protect, very rights it was created to protect, then its citizens had the right to then its citizens had the right to change their government – by change their government – by

revolution if necessary.revolution if necessary.

Grievances (Complaints)Grievances (Complaints) The Declaration followed with a list of The Declaration followed with a list of

specific grievances the colonists felt had specific grievances the colonists felt had been committed by the King against them. been committed by the King against them. For example, the King had imposed taxes For example, the King had imposed taxes on the colonists without their consent.on the colonists without their consent.

Military Struggle Military Struggle (1777-1783)(1777-1783)

The Continental Congress appointed The Continental Congress appointed George WashingtonGeorge Washington to command the to command the

Continental Army. At first, the Continental Army. At first, the colonial army suffered several colonial army suffered several

defeats.defeats.

Battle of SaratogaBattle of Saratoga However, the British surrender at However, the British surrender at

Saratoga in 1777 marked a Saratoga in 1777 marked a turning turning pointpoint in the war. It showed the British in the war. It showed the British could be defeated and could be defeated and convinced convinced France to help the Americans.France to help the Americans.

Battle of YorktownBattle of YorktownWith French help, Washington was able to With French help, Washington was able to

defeat the British several years later at defeat the British several years later at Yorktown, Virginia (final battle). Under the Yorktown, Virginia (final battle). Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783) ending terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783) ending the war, the British recognized American the war, the British recognized American independence and gave the new U.S. all independence and gave the new U.S. all

the lands stretching west to the Mississippi the lands stretching west to the Mississippi River.River.

RepublicRepublicWith independence, each former colony With independence, each former colony became an independent state. Each state became an independent state. Each state

chose to establish a chose to establish a republic republic – government – government by popularly elected representatives. In by popularly elected representatives. In

this system of government, ultimate power this system of government, ultimate power rests in the hands of the people.rests in the hands of the people.

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation,, (1781)(1781)

Americans soon recognized the need Americans soon recognized the need for some kind of central government for some kind of central government

uniting all thirteen states. An uniting all thirteen states. An agreement known as the Articles of agreement known as the Articles of

Confederation went into effect in Confederation went into effect in 1781. The agreement created a weak 1781. The agreement created a weak

federal government.federal government.

The The Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation had a had a number of shortcomings. Under the number of shortcomings. Under the

Articles, each state had one vote in the Articles, each state had one vote in the new Confederation Congress. Support of new Confederation Congress. Support of

all 13 states was needed to pass an all 13 states was needed to pass an amendment. amendment.

There was There was no national executive or national no national executive or national court systemcourt system. The Confederation Congress . The Confederation Congress could could not levy taxesnot levy taxes or enforce its laws or or enforce its laws or

decisions. Each state government decisions. Each state government remained more powerful than the new remained more powerful than the new

national government.national government.

Constitutional ConventionConstitutional ConventionMany Americans felt that the new central Many Americans felt that the new central government had too little power to do its government had too little power to do its

job. Delegates were sent to Philadelphia in job. Delegates were sent to Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of 1787 to revise the Articles of

Confederation. They quickly decided to Confederation. They quickly decided to abandon the Articles and drafted a new abandon the Articles and drafted a new

Constitution.Constitution.

Constitution DebatesConstitution Debates

Before the Constitution could go into Before the Constitution could go into effect, the delegates decided nine of effect, the delegates decided nine of the 13 states should ratify (approve) the 13 states should ratify (approve)

it. A great debate followed on it. A great debate followed on whether the new plan of government whether the new plan of government

should replace the Articles of should replace the Articles of Confederation.Confederation.

Federalist PapersFederalist Papers Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and

John Jay wrote a series of essays in favor John Jay wrote a series of essays in favor of the new Constitution, which became of the new Constitution, which became known as known as The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers. These . These essays persuaded people to support the essays persuaded people to support the new Constitution by explaining its new Constitution by explaining its principles.principles.

FederalistsFederalists Supporters of the new Constitution Supporters of the new Constitution

and a strong national government. In and a strong national government. In the end, they compromised with the the end, they compromised with the Anti-federalists in adding the Anti-federalists in adding the Bill of Bill of RightsRights..

Alexander Hamilton

Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists Supported the addition of the Supported the addition of the Bill of Bill of

RightsRights to the Constitution. They were to the Constitution. They were fearful that the federal government fearful that the federal government would be too powerful. would be too powerful.

Patrick Henry

Constitution RatifiedConstitution Ratified (1789)(1789)

By the end of 1788, twelve states had By the end of 1788, twelve states had voted to ratify the Constitution. The voted to ratify the Constitution. The new Constitution went into effect in new Constitution went into effect in

1789.1789.