Uniting for Independence

1. Uniting for Independence From 1607-1760 the American colonies were self managed. The policy of the British govt. was called salutory neglect. “let sleeping dogs lie.” • Two events changed the relationship between Britain and the American colonies: 1. Seven Years War (French & Indian War) 2. King George III • Stamp Act of 1765: first direct tax on colonies • By 1772 colonial opposition to the taxes caused their repeal • 1773: Boston Tea Party 1. Parliament retaliated by passing the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) Colonial Unity • Before 1770s most American colonials were loyal to Britain. • Albany Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 rejected • 1765-1773 saw the disparate American colonies begin to unite.

2. Uniting for Independence contd. • 1773: Committees of Correspondence formed • 1774: 1st Continental Congress: placed an embargo on British goods • “The New England governments are in a state of rebellion, blows must decide whether they are to be subject to this country or independent.”---King George III • April 19th, 1775: Battle of Lexington & Concord“shot heard ‘round the world. • Second Continental Congress meets immediately afterward and forms a Continental Army with George Washington in command. Independence • Continental Congress debated what action to take, public opinion began to slowly shift from fighting for the rights of Englishmen to a call for outright independence.

3. Uniting for Independence contd. • Thomas Paine’s Common Sense • July 2, 1776 Congress approved Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for a call for complete independence. July 4, 1776, Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was ratified. • Key Parts of the Declaration of Independence 1. Statement of Purpose 2. 27 paragraphs of charges against George III 3. Formal statement of independence

4. Articles of Confederation • After declaring independence, the Continental Congress wanted to create a “league of friendship” among 13 independent states. The first American govt. was a confederation formally called the Articles of Confederation Government Under the Articles • unicameral legislature, each state had one representative • no executive branch or national court system • Congress only had 9 powers: Weaknesses of the Articles • each state would not give up sovereignty to a national govt. • could not levy taxes • could not regulate trade • could not force states to obey national laws, only advise • amending the articles required a unanimous vote • no executive branch to enforce laws or act a commander-in-chief • no national court system

5. Mazzarella Educational Media. "Understanding the Constitution: Creating the Federal Government.“ Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/