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Lecture 1: The American Revolution as a Constitutional Struggle

Lecture 1: The American Revolution as a Constitutional Struggle. French & Indian War (1755-1763). Background Expansion of British colonies King George’s War The Albany Conference. French & Indian War (1755-1763). Treaty of Paris, 1763 France depleted Spain British gains

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Lecture 1: The American Revolution as a Constitutional Struggle

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  1. Lecture 1:The American Revolutionas a Constitutional Struggle

  2. French & Indian War (1755-1763) • Background • Expansion of British colonies • King George’s War • The Albany Conference

  3. French & Indian War (1755-1763) • Treaty of Paris, 1763 • France depleted • Spain • British gains • Proclamation Line of 1763

  4. French & Indian War (1755-1763) • Results: • The colonies after the war • Depression • Proclamation line • Wartime experience • Unity among the colonies

  5. The Road to War • British policy changes • Standing army • Soldiers • Jobs • Colonies to pay • George Grenville’s acts • Sugar Act 1763 • Currency Act 1764 • Stamp Act, 1765 • Reaction: riots • Sons of Liberty • Repealed

  6. The Road to War • Heightened tension • Declaratory Act • Charles Townshend • Townshend Acts • 1769, Virginia Resolutions • Boston Massacre, 1770 • Committee of Correspondence

  7. The Road to War • Heightened tension • Boston Tea Party, 1773 • Coercive Acts • Continental Congress(es), 1774 & 1775 • Lexington & Concord, Apr. 14, 1775 • Thomas Paine, Common Sense • Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1776

  8. The Declaration of Independence When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

  9. The Declaration of Independence 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…

  10. The War for Independence

  11. The Revolution for the Nation • “13 clocks striking in unison” • Divisions between the states • Localism vs. Nationalism • States vs. national govt. • Large states vs. small • Landed states vs. landless • North vs. South

  12. Ties that unite the nation? Language? Noah Webster Territory? Communications? Religion? Traditions? Currency? “What then is the American?” American mythology Ideal of equality Ideal of self-made man Ideal of “melting pot” “Rugged individualism” We are united by great and frightening challenges The Revolution for the Nation

  13. The Articles of Confederation • Powers it lacked: • Raise troops • Levy taxes • Powers of Congress: • Wage war • Foreign affairs • Boundary disputes • Indian affairs • Post office

  14. The Articles of Confederation • Article 1: • “The United States of America” • Article 5: • Freedom of speech • Article 4: • National citizenship • Article 9: • Unity of the colonies • Article 2: • States’ rights

  15. The Articles of Confederation • Weaknesses: • Single house in the legislature • No separate judicial branch • Could not impose taxes • Changes require unanimous support • Article 8: paying for war

  16. The Articles of Confederation • The situation becomes desperate: • We are bankrupt • Taxation • Money disputes

  17. The Articles of Confederation • The situation becomes desperate: • Shay’s Rebellion

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