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Build-Up to the American Revolution

Build-Up to the American Revolution. For 150 years, there was very little English interference in the colonies Most colonies had their own government set up by English settlers Usually three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial)

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Build-Up to the American Revolution

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  1. Build-Up to the American Revolution

  2. For 150 years, there was very little English interference in the colonies • Most colonies had their own government set up by English settlers • Usually three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) • The English and the colonists were for the most part thriving under these circumstances Pre-Conflict

  3. North American Theater of the Seven Years War • Primarily a conflict between the British and the French • The conflict on our continent pitted the British and their Native American allies against the French and their Native American Allies • The British victory gained much new land for the British on the continent. French and Indian War

  4. Before The War

  5. After 1763

  6. Land gains were good for the economies of Britain and the Colonies • Britain had a large war debt that needed repaid • If the colonies were benefitting from the results of the war, should they not chip in to help pay the debt? • Should they not chip in to help pay the cost of defending the colonies as well? Post-War

  7. Sugar Act – 1764 • Tax on imported goods to the colonies • Tax on TRADE • English thought it was reasonable • Colonists felt singled out • Stamp Act – 1765 • Tax on printed materials in the colonies • DIRECT tax on colonists • Met with even more resistance • Townshend Acts – beginning in 1767 • Various additional acts meant to levy additional taxes on colonists • Extreme resistance and boycotting of British goods • Led to the Boston Massacre - 1770 • 5 dead, 6 injured • Anti-British propaganda and sentiment spread throughout the colonies Post-War

  8. Tea Act – 1773 • Effectively gave a monopoly to the East India Co. on tea shipments into the colonies • Colonial merchants suffered • Led to the Boston Tea Party - 1773 • Parliament responded in 1774 with the Coercive Acts, or Intolerable Acts, which, among other provisions, ended local self-government in Massachusetts • Colonists responded by convening the First Continental Congress • Escalation between the two sides eventually led to the Revolutionary War Post-War

  9. Second Continental Congress convened due to the need for some association between the States in order to defeat England • Because of what had happened with England, colonists feared creating a strong central government • Result – Articles of Confederation • Created a national legislature (Congress) where each state had one vote • No executive or judicial branches • Congress had power to: • Declare war • Borrow money • Make treaties with foreign nations • Work out trade agreements between States • All other powers belonged to the individual States, INCLUDING THE POWER TO TAX Articles of Confederation

  10. War for Independence had brought a lot of debt • Under the Articles, Congress could not tax, making it difficult to find money to pay off the debt • Additionally, the Articles provided no way of enforcing decisions that Congress made • The American Economy began to suffer, making people realize that a revision of the Articles • 1787 – Constitutional Convention Articles of Confederation

  11. Virginia Plan • Two house legislature • Representation based upon population in each state • Favored by states with LARGER populations • New Jersey Plan • One house legislature • Representation equal for all states regardless of population • Favored by states with SMALLER populations • Connecticut Plan • “The Great Compromise” • Two house legislature • House of Representatives based upon population • Senate representation equal for all states regardless of population - 2 senators for each state • Legislation must pass through both houses to become law Constitutional Convention

  12. Govt. Under Articles of Confederation Govt. Under Constitution Loose alliance of independent states 1 house legislature No executive or judicial branches No ability for federal govt. to tax States coin money separately No inter-state trade regulation Most power held by STATES National govt. representing all citizens 2 house legislature Executive and judicial branches included Congress has ability to tax the people Only federal govt. can coin money Federal govt. regulates inter-state trade Power is SHARED Comparison of Governments

  13. Anti-Federalists – What is the most important omission from this Constitution? • Rebuttal? • Federalists - Why is it better to more strongly tie together the states under this Constitution? • Rebuttal? • Anti-Federalists – What is your biggest fear about allowing a stronger national government? • Rebuttal? • Federalists – Why is the new plan for Congress better than the old plan under the Articles? • Rebuttal? Questions

  14. Anti-Federalists Federalists Too much power transferred from states to national government States should be free to pass legislation specific to their situations No Bill of Rights “Necessary and proper” clause could allow congress to take more power Executive branch is too powerful, we don’t want too much power in the hands of one person Power is needed in a national government to protect all of the states National government prevents states from creating factions Guaranteeing certain rights could exclude certain other rights Congress is representative of the people and will follow their will Checks and balances prevent abuse of power Debate over the Constitution

  15. Preamble • Clearly sets the purpose of the new government • Article 1 • Sets up the structure, powers, and processes of the Legislative Branch (Congress) • Bicameral legislature • Power to declare war, ratify treaties, coin money, etc… • “Necessary and Proper” clause • Also denies certain powers • Article 2 • Sets up the structure, powers, and processes of the Executive Branch (President) • President executes the laws, does not make them • Many limits placed on Presidential power to prevent abuse • No precedent for this position • Article 3 • Sets up the structure, powers, and processes of the Judicial Branch (Court system) • Supreme Court interprets laws and actions based upon the Constitutionality Constitution

  16. Article 4 • Sets up standards of relationships between States • States must honor acts and records of other States • More strongly unites the States under one nation • Article 5 • Sets up method for amending the Constitution • Allows the Constitution to be a “living document” better able to adapt to the future • Article 6 • Sets up the supremacy of federal law over State laws • Labels the Constitution as the supreme law of the land above all others • Article 7 • Requires 9 of 13 States to ratify in order to replace the Articles of Confederation Constitution

  17. Constitutional Powers

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