Revolution and Independence: America's Journey to Freedom

1. Chapter 2 Revolution and the Early Republic

2. Colonial Resistance/Rebellion • Salutary Neglect-describes relationship between Britain and colonies until 1763 • King George III faced with huge debts after French and Indian War • George Grenville appointed financial expert • Believed colonists were smuggling instead of paying taxes on many items

4. Britain’s Fundraisers • Sugar Act-1764 • Stamp Act-1765-tax placed on many items such as wills, playing cards, newspapers, etc. • Colonists cried “No taxation, without representation”

5. Continued • Colonists began to boycott British goods • Led by the Sons and Daughters of Liberty • Samuel Adams and Paul Revere • Britain repealed Stamp Act, but levied other taxes in exchange

6. Boston Massacre • March, 1770 • Tensions high in Boston • British soldiers fired on a mob and killed several colonists • Paul Revere is given credit for the depiction of what occurred • All but one tax was removed after tensions cooled a bit

7. Paul Revere’s inaccurate engraving Ca. 1868

8. Version showing Crispus Attucks, a Black sailor killed during riot

9. Boston Tea Party 1773 Tea Act had not been repealed by Britain Britain gave British-owned East India Tea Company a monopoly on right to trade tea Tea was actually cheaper but colonists were upset over the principle A group of colonists dressed as Indians dumped 15,000 pounds of tea into the harbor

11. Continued • In response to the Tea Party, Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts in 1774 • Closed Boston Harbor • Led to First Continental Congress • Issued a declaration of colonial rights • Mentioned retaliation against Britain the colonists were attacked

12. Road to Revolution • Some New England towns began to stockpile weapons • Minutemen stored guns and ammunition • April of 1775, British soldiers sent to seize weapons • Led to the battles of Lexington and Concord-colonists defeated the British • See “Shot Heard Round the World”

14. Second Continental Congress Colonial leaders met in Philadelphia Discussion of independence; many hesitant Continental Army formed; George Washington named as commander

15. Olive Branch Petition Sent to King George III Offered peace Rejected by the king and he stated that the colonies were in rebellion

16. Attitudes Shift • More colonists began to oppose British rule • Influenced by Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense • Discussed practical reasons for colonies seceding from Britain • Most valid point was that it made no sense for an island to control the size of the American colonies

18. Declaration of Independence John Locke’s ideas of rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for each individual were the basis of the document Social contract formed between people and the government; if government takes away rights, people can overthrow government July 4, 1776, Second Continental Congress adopted Declaration of Independence Primary author-Thomas Jefferson

19. Continued Written as a justification for the world as much as it was written for King George III Stated that government gets its power from the people, and people can remove a government that threatens rights Provided a list of grievances against the British monarchy

21. Revolutionary War • Key Battles • Battle of Bunker Hill-June, 1775 • British seize New York City in 1776 • Christmas night, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River and took Trenton, New Jersey • Saratoga-1777 • Turning point • Colonial victory • French support

22. Continued • Valley Forge, Pennsylvania-1777-1778 • Washington and his men suffered from bitter cold, hunger and disease • 1778-Colonists began receiving supplies and more intense training from France • British moved forces and efforts South • Both sides scored victories in the South • October, 1781-Battle of Yorktown (VA)-British General Cornwallis surrendered

24. War’s Effect on People Inflation-money printed that had no value; price of goods rose Women stayed behind to tend to homes while men served About 5,000 African Americans served in the Continental Army Loyalists-Colonists that did not want to secede from Britain-mostly older colonists Patriots-Colonists that wanted to be independent from the British crown

26. Treaty of Paris • 1783 • Loyalists were not to be punished • Each side paid necessary war debts • All prisoners would be released • Britain recognized United States as a nation • Borders from Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River

27. Articles of Confederation • First government of the United States • 1781-1788 • No way to collect taxes as a nation • No national court system • Each state=one vote, regardless of population • No executive branch-president=king in their eyes • Congress was national government • Lack of unity-each state operated like a separate nation

28. Land Ordinance of 1785 • Set up system to survey land

29. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Organized new land west of the Appalachian Mountains • Areas would be treated as territories • Set requirements for admission of new states formed from territories

30. Shays’s Rebellion • January 1787 • Massachusetts • Farmers upset over increase in state taxes • Mob of 1200 farmers, led by Daniel Shays, headed to an arsenal at Springfield, Mass. • State militia sent out to head off farmers; 4 rebels killed • Caused panic and dismay across the nation • Need for stronger central government began to be discussed

31. Creating a New Government • May 1787 • Philadelphia • 55 delegates met to discuss revision of the A of C • James Madison, delegate from Virginia, became known as the “Father of the Constitution”

32. Key Points • Virginia Plan-proposed by James Madison • Bicameral legislature (2 houses) • Membership based on population of state • Supported by large states

33. New Jersey Plan • Proposed by William Patterson • Single house legislature • Each state=one vote • Supported by small states

34. 3/5’s Compromise • Helped the South • Considered slaves 3/5’s a person in regards to population • Issue of slavery would be put on hold until the Civil War

35. Great Compromise • Proposed by Roger Sherman • Two-house Congress • Each state equal representation in Senate (2) • State legislatures chose members of Senate • Size of state would determine representation in House of Representatives • Voters chose members of the House

36. U.S. Government • 3 branches-Legislative, Executive, and Judicial • Congress-makes laws • President-carries out laws • Courts-hear cases

37. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Federalists Anti-Federalists • Supported new constitution • Mostly from New England • Merchants, bankers, etc. • Older generation • Supported strong centralized government • Ex: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, John Adams • Feared the new constitution • Wanted to keep the A of C • Farmers and working class • Younger generation • Feared strong centralized government • Wanted a Bill of Rights • Ex: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee

38. Ratification • James Madison-”Father of the Constitution” • Required nine states ratified in 1789 • Many wanted a guarantee of individual rights • Bill of Rights added in 1791 • There have been only 27 amendments to the Constitution

40. George Washington • 1789-1797 • First president-took office in April, 1789 (NYC) • Served 2 terms • No political party ties • Worked with Congress to establish new government • Warned America about remaining neutral

41. See Washington Video

42. Washington’s Cabinet • Secretary of State-Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of the Treasury-Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of War-Henry Knox

43. Judiciary Act of 1789 • Set up a new national court system • Supreme Court • Established lower federal and district courts • Guaranteed that federal laws would be “supreme law of the land” • Created 6 justice positions

44. Whiskey Rebellion • 1794 • Effected many states (Ky) • Upset about tax on whiskey and lack of representation in state legislatures • Washington sent troops to put down rebellion

45. Alexander Hamilton • Conflict with Thomas Jefferson • Led to formation of political parties

46. Federalist Led by Hamilton Economy based on trade Wanted a national bank Assumption Plan Strong central government Democratic/Republican Led by Thomas Jefferson Strong state governments Economy based on farming Opposed assumption plan States’ rights First Political Parties

47. John Adams • 1797-1801 • Federalist • Many scandals; not very effective • Very defensive when questioned about policies • Showed loyalty to Britain, at times • Thomas Jefferson-VP

48. See Adams video

49. Undeclared war with France • France and Britain raided U.S. ships, but Adams refused to enter war against them • Both France and Britain tried to draw the U.S. into their war • XYZ Affair • France tried to bribe the American agents called X, Y and Z that had traveled to France to negotiate peace • Issue finally smoothed over

50. Alien and Sedition Acts • Adams pushed for harsh laws that punished people that criticized the government • Foreign ideas and those suspected of treason (disloyalty to America) were punished • Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • Created in response to ASA • Stated that Executive Branch was upsetting system of checks and balances • Said states could nullify laws that were unconstitutional