American Revolution: The Birth of a Republic

1. American Revolution:The Birth of a Republic Chapter 22 Section 4 p. 563-567

2. Britain and Its American Colonies • The colonies thrived on trade with the nations of Europe • Colonists were British subjects but began to feel a sense of identity as Americans • The colonies had their own governments and were used to a large degree of independence

3. The Navigation Acts • Laws that prevented the colonists from selling their most valuable products to any country but Britain • Imposed high taxes on French and Dutch goods • Led to smuggling in order to avoid taxes

4. America Wins Independence • When George III becomes king in 1760, most Americans were happy to be loyal citizens of Britain • The king uses taxes on the colonies to help pay for the expenses of the French and Indian War

5. George III

6. The Stamp Act 1765 • An official stamp was required on wills, deeds, newspapers, and other printed material • The colonists had no representatives in the British Parliament • This was taxation without representation, and illegal under British law.

8. Boycott • A refusal to buy based on political reasons. • The Stamp Act motivated colonists to boycott British goods. • The British repealed the Stamp Act in 1766.

9. Growing Hostility Leads to War • The British react harshly to colonial protests • Resentment towards British policies grows among the colonists

10. Samuel Adams • Organized the Boston Tea Party to protest a tax on tea. • The British navy closes the port of Boston • British troops occupy the city

11. First Continental Congress • Representatives from every colony but Georgia gather in Philadelphia in 1774 • They protested the treatment of Boston • King George paid little attention

12. Second Continental Congress • Formed to debate the colonist’s next move • On April 19, 1775 British soldiers and American militiamen exchanged gunfire at Lexington, Massachusetts • The battle spread to the nearby town of Concord • These are the first two battles of the American Revolution • The Congress names George Washington leader of the Continental army

14. Enlightenment Ideas Influence American Colonists • Many colonists want to remain loyal to Britain • A growing number favor independence • They use Enlightenment ideas to justify independence • They said the king had broken the social contract

15. July 4, 1776 • The Second Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence • Written by Thomas Jefferson • Based on ideas of John Locke

17. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

19. A Break With the Crown • John Locke had said that people had a right to rebel against an unjust ruler • The Declaration included a long list of complaints and abuses by king George III

21. Success for the Colonists • Odds against the colonists were strong • Great Britain was the most powerful country in the world and had the world’s best army and navy • Colonists were highly motivated to fight for their homeland • A war 3000 miles from home was difficult and expensive for the British. Their generals made key errors.

22. An Alliance With France • King Louis XVI of France wanted to weaken British control in North America • He sent money and troops to help the Americans fight

23. Yorktown • In 1781, combined American and French forces trapped the British army commanded by Lord Cornwallis near Yorktown, Virginia • Cornwallis was forced to surrender • Americans had won the war

26. Americans Create a Republic • After the victory, the colonies set up a new government • They wanted a republic but were worried about making the national government too powerful • They wanted states to keep most decision-making authority

27. The Articles Create a Weak National Government • The new government was a loose alliance of states, a confederacy • They deliberately made the national government weak and the states strong

30. The Articles of Confederation • No national executive • No judicial branch • Only a Congress • No power to collect taxes • No power to raise a national army • No power to regulate trade • Each state gets one vote - regardless of size • 9 out of 13 states were needed to pass laws

31. Limits Create Problems • National government has no power to tax the states • Some states imposed tariffs on goods from other states • Many people are upset with poor economic conditions

32. Shay’s Rebellion • Daniel Shays led a revolt of angry farmers in Massachusetts • They were protesting taxes and wanted the state to issue paper money so they could repay their debts • The rebellion brought attention to the need for a stronger national army

34. A New Constitution • In 1787, Congress created the Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles of Confederation • The convention argued for months over important basic issues

36. How should a new government look? • Who should be represented? • How many votes should each state have? • Should larger states get more votes than smaller ones? • Should slaves be counted for the purpose of representation?

37. The Federal System • Delegates distrusted a strong central government • They created a system with three separate branches • This allowed for a system of checks and balances

40. Checks and Balances • Each branch of the government has some way to limit the power of the other two branches • The President can veto Congress • The Congress can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote • The Supreme court can declare laws and actions of the President unconstitutional

41. Federalism • The Constitution does not eliminate the powers of state governments • Federalism is the existence of a strong national with state governments at the same time • In our federal system, the national government is supreme to the governments of states

42. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists • Federalists -wanted a strong national government • Anti-Federalists – feared that the Constitution gave the national government too much power.

44. Ratification • The Federalists promised that a Bill of Rights would be added to the Constitution to protect against abuses by the national government • Anti-Federalists would not have voted to ratify the Constitution without this promise • The Constitution was ratified between 1787 and 1778

45. The Bill of Rights • Many states did not want to ratify the Constitution • They wanted the document to contain some guarantees of personal liberties • They insisted that a Bill of Right be added to the Constitution

47. 1 Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. • 2 Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia. • 3 No quartering of soldiers. • 4 Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. • 5 Right to due process of law, freedom from self- incrimination, double jeopardy. • 6 Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial. • 7 Right of trial by jury in civil cases. • 8 Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments. • 9 Other rights of the people. • 10 Powers reserved to the states.