First Continental Congress

1. Colonists React • First Continental Congress • Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies called for meeting of colonies in Philadelphia. • 1774: FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS PASSED DECLARATION AND RESOLVES DEMANDING REPEAL OF INTOLERABLE ACTS. • 1775: British rejected demands; British troops clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord—the first armed resistance by colonists.

2. The Continental Congress • Second Continental Congress • 1775: SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ORGANIZED CONTINENTAL ARMY, • NAMED GEORGE WASHINGTON COMMANDER • Revolutionary War began as colonists sought independence from Britain

3. The Declaration of Independence • Armed conflict continued months before independence officially declared • June 7, 1776: resolution proposed to Second Continental Congress to officially declare independence from Great Britain; resolution passed July 2 • Committee appointed to write formal statement justifying resolution • JULY 4, 1776: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS ADOPTED. • BRITAIN’S 13 COLONIES CEASED TO EXIST: A NEW NATION EMERGED.

4. Self-Government SEPARATION OF POWERS • State constitutions established republican governments • STRONG LEGISLATURES WITH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. • Voting rights varied from state to state. • THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT: LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, JUDICIAL • States had real power to govern. • Powers included conducting foreign affairs, declaring war • . The STATE Constitutions By 1780, each of the 13 newly independent states had adopted its own written constitution. Each tested ideas about how to design a republican government that protected individual rights.

5. The State Constitutions (cont’d.) • Limited Government • Strong legislative bodies reflected general mistrust of monarchy. • Colonists did not grant unlimited power to legislatures. • Annual elections, term limits, separation of powers established as checks • Kept powers of governors deliberately weak, limited term • Individual Rights • Protecting people’s rights seen as way to protect from excesses of government • 1780: Massachusetts constitution included bill of rights to protect individual liberties. • Liberties included trial by jury, freedom of assembly, and speech.

6. Section 3 at a Glance • Articles of Confederation • 1777 SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS PASSED FIRST OFFICIAL PLAN FOR NATIONAL GOV:: ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. • After the Revolutionary War, weaknesses in the Articles led to conflicts among the states, sparking calls for a stronger national government.

7. First National Government • Articles of Confederation • June 1776: new model of government crafted to build “firm league of friendship” among states, retaining “sovereignty, freedom and independence” • June 12, 1777: Articles of Confederation adopted • Had to be ratified before going into force • A Delay in Ratification • Disputes over control of western lands delayed the ratification process. • Small states feared large states with claims to western lands would overpower them. • Articles were changed to allow Confederation control over western lands. • Articles finally ratified in 1781

8. First National Government (cont’d.) • Powers of the National Government • Created weak national government; did not provide for national court system • One-house Congress: power to act on matters of common interest; admit new states; settle disputes; coin money; raise army; declare war; conduct foreign policy • State Powers • States retained all powers not specifically given to Congress • Powers included: ability to collect taxes, enforce national laws • States required to contribute funds to national government as they saw fit

10. Summarizing How did national and state powers differ under the Articles? Answer(s):National powers were limited and specifically cited in the Articles of Confederation. State powers were all the other powers that were not specifically cited.

11. Weaknesses of the Articles • Articles gave Congress key responsibilities, but placed limits that kept it from effectively enforcing laws and policies • NO EXECUTIVE BRANCH LACKED MEANS TO CARRY OUT CONGRESS’S LAWS • NO NATIONAL COURT SYSTEM, Congress had to rely on state courts to apply national laws • MOSTLY IMPORTANTLY, NO POWER FOR CONGRESSTO TAX • Difficult to raise funds to repay money borrowed during Revolution • Lacked authority to regulate trade • Congress required to have 9 of 13 states to ratify laws, while only one state could raise objections to block changes in Articles— • WEAKENED CONGRESS’S ABILITY TO ACT SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY

12. Summarizing What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? Answer(s):It had no executive or judicial branch; the Confederation could not levy taxes, enforce its laws, or regulate commerce between states; all states had to agree before the Articles could be changed.

13. Northwest Ordinance Dangers and Unrest • 1787: Northwest Ordinance planned for settling Northwest Territory • Included areas now in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin—disputed western lands that had delayed ratification of the Articles • Created system for admitting new states, banned slavery, included bill of rights • Most pressing problem: war debts • 1783: Congress tried to approve tax on imports but act never ratified and government went broke • Postwar depression struck • States pursued own interests, flouting national laws; like “13 sovereignties pulling against each other” Pressures for Stronger Government Its independence secured with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the United States faced a range of challenges that the national government was ill-equipped to meet. The shortcomings of the government created by the Articles of Confederation would lead to calls for a new plan of government.

14. Pressures for Stronger Government (cont’d.) • Shay’s Rebellion • -- CAUSED BY BAD ECONONMY AND WEAK GOVERNMENT • September 1786: rebellion of Massachusetts farmers facing prospect of losing land • Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays led attacks on courthouses to prevent judges from foreclosing on farms. • Shay’s Rebellion swelled to nearly 2,500 by 1787. • Massachusetts legislature asked Congress for help; Congress had no money or forces • Shay’s Rebellion showed how feeble the Confederation Congress was and hastened moves to revise the Articles.

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