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Colonial America and the War for Independence

Colonial America and the War for Independence. Causes of the War…. 1. British tighten control of colonies…. Stamp Act (1765) Colonists required to buy “special” paper for legal documents (those who did not comply with these face vice-admiralty courts, courts with out jury or lawyers

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Colonial America and the War for Independence

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  1. Colonial America and the War for Independence

  2. Causes of the War…

  3. 1. British tighten control of colonies… • Stamp Act (1765) • Colonists required to buy “special” paper for legal documents (those who did not comply with these face vice-admiralty courts, courts with out jury or lawyers • Townshend Acts (1767) • Indirect taxes on things like paper, lead and glass.

  4. British Tightens control continued... • Boston massacre (1770) • Fighting over jobs between colonists and soldiers erupts • British soldiers kill 5 men (among the Crispus Attucks) • Intolerable Acts (1774) • Aka Coercive Acts • Reaction from the Boston Tea party • Closed the Boston Port • Enacted the Quartering Act-housed soldiers in private homes • Martial Law established - British military forces set and enforce rules.

  5. 2. Colonies protest British Policies… • The Sons of Liberty • Led by James Otis then Samuel Adams • Led boycotts of goods and protests • Stamp Act Congress (1765) • issued declaration that Parliament could not tax because the colonies did not report to Parliament but to the king • No “taxation without representation” • No colonists held seats in parliament

  6. Colonies protest continued… • Boston Tea Party (1773) • Colonists boycotted British East India Company tea because of Tea Act tax • Britain allowed BEIC to sell directly to colonies so that tea could be sold cheaper • Hoped that colonists would stop buying smuggled tea • Even though it was cheaper, tea was still taxed • Resulted in 15,000 pounds of tea being dumped in the Boston Harbor

  7. Colonies protest continued… • Committees of Correspondence (1774) • Colonies set up committees to communicate with each other about threats to American liberties. • 1st Continental Congress (1774) • Colonies got together in Philadelphia to draw up a declaration of colonial rights • Ignored by King George and parliament • Decided that they would meet up again

  8. Second Continental Congress • Authorized printing of paper money to pay troops. • Organized a committee to deal with foreign relations • Olive Branch Petition • July 8,1775 • Effort to restore former relations with England • Urged colonies to form their own governments

  9. 3. Colonies create the militia • Civilian “soldiers” to protect the interests of the colonists. • Second Continental Congress turns militia into the Continental Army • Named George Washington commander

  10. 4. Declaration of Independence… • Written by Thomas Jefferson • Adopted on July 4th 1776 by 56 delegates from the colonies • Inspired by John Locke • Englishman from the Enlightenment

  11. Declaration continued… • Declared our independence to the world • People should have natural rights to life, liberty, and property • Idea of a social contract where people obey their government as long as it protects their natural rights • “all men are created equal” • did not mean women, natives, slaves

  12. Patriots vs. Loyalists • Many colonists were divided on the issue of independence • Loyalists-those who opposed independence and remained loyal to the crown • Patriots-supporters of independence • Some Africans fought with Patriots others sided with British

  13. Common Sense (1776) • Propaganda pamphlet • Written anonymously by Thomas Paine • Tried to persuade colonists to support Independence

  14. The Revolutionary War • 1775-1783 • France sided with the colonists • Native Americans sided with the British • First American Flag adopted 13 stars 13 stripes

  15. Continental Army • Strengths • Familiar with terrain • Strong leadership(Washington and others) • Inspired cause-INDEPENDENCE • Weaknesses • Untrained soldiers • Shortage of funding, food and ammo • Inferior navy • No central government to enforce wartime policies

  16. Great Britain’s military • Strengths • Strong, well trained army and navy (professionals) • Strong central government with $$ • Support of colonial loyalists and natives • Weaknesses • Large distance between battlefields and Britain (communication) • Not familiar with terrain • Weak military leaders

  17. Significant Battles

  18. Battles at Lexington and Concord (April 1775) -British find out that militia has weapons stockpiled at Concord -they go to retrieve them -minutemen/militia are waiting -small skirmish on the way at Lexington and then again at Concord “the shot heard round the world” -no weapons found -British return to Boston

  19. Battle of Bunker Hill (MA)June 1775 • Colonists stay and fight until third attack • After running low on ammunition, colonists retreat • Bloodiest battle of the war • British lose 1,000 • Colonists lose 311 • Important because colonists fought “European style”

  20. Battle of Saratoga (NY)October 1777 • British attempting to “cut off” New England from the rest of the colonies • British troops surrounded and surrendered • Turning point in the Revolution • American hope restored as British can be beat • Increases French support to the Americans

  21. Battle of Yorktown (VA)October 1781 • French fight with Americans • Blocked the Chesapeake Bay and surrounded the British • British surrender

  22. The Americans “Win” • The Treaty of Paris-1783 • Signed by Americans, Spain, France, Great Britain • Confirmed US independence • US borders from Atlantic ocean to the Mississippi river, from Canada to the Florida border

  23. United States in 1781 • 13 States • United States establishes its own government and creates the Articles of Confederation • Faces economic problems because of the war • States begin to create their own separate constitutions

  24. Republic vs. Confederation

  25. Republic government in which citizens rule through elected capable government officials (white property owners) Confederation -alliance between the states where powers are“shared”. State governments were supreme in some matters and the national government was supreme in others. States would have majority of power over themselves. Which type of government should the United States have? • American thought democracy left power in the hands of the uneducated masses

  26. Creates government of U.S.National Government(Congress) Gave powers to the two forms of government National Power to declare war, make peace and sign treaties Could establish postal service and “deal” wit the natives Could borrow money, set standards for coins weights and measures State Power to do all else Articles of Confederation(1781)

  27. Flaws/problems with the Articles of Confederation • Didn’t create executive branch to enforce acts of congress • No court system to decide meanings/interpret the laws • Congress could not tax • Congress could not regulate trade in the states or abroad Each state has 1 vote regardless of population • Needed 9 out of 13 states to agree for law to be passed • Articles could only change if all 13 states agreed • Lack of unity

  28. Who gets western lands and how should they be governed? Land ordinance of 1785 created a plan for surveying and dividing land (present day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan) Created townships of 36 miles square miles Each square mile could be sold to individuals 1 square mile in every township would be for school buildings Conflict over Western Lands

  29. Western lands continued… • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Congress passed procedure for dividing land • Set requirements for admission as a state • Congress to appoint a territorial governor and judges • When territory = 5,000 voting residents, could write temporary constitution and elect government • When total population = 60,000 then settlers would write state constitution • had to be approved by congress before granted state hood

  30. Shay’s Rebellion (1786) • Massachusetts farmers (former soldiers in the revolution) lead revolt due to debt • Forced courts to close so that they could not foreclose on farms • Governor can’t get national government to help • Restriction of the Articles of Confederation *cause for worry…new government is not strong enough or adequate!

  31. Causes Articles of confederation prove ineffective Strain of economic problems disrupts the nation The Constitutional Convention • 55 delegates from colonies meet in Philadelphia • George Washington Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin • lawyers, merchants andmore

  32. James Madison is considered the “father of the constitution”

  33. 1. Central government vs. strong states Central government should be stronger States should be stronger to prevent abuse of power *Compromise = new stronger federal government established with 3 branches that will “check and balance” each other to prevent abuse of power Legislative (make the law = congress) Judicial (interpret the law = courts) Executive (enforce the law = president, VP, executive offices) 3 major conflicts at the Convention

  34. 3 Major Conflicts Continued... • 2. Large states vs. small states • Large states wanted more delegates due to larger population • Small states wanted to keep 1 vote for each • *Compromise = creation of bicameral (2 house) legislature • Senate - each get 2 votes • House of Representatives - votes determined by state population

  35. Major conflicts continued… • 3. North vs. South • North did not want slaves counted as population to determine # of representatives but wanted them to count for levy of taxes • South wanted slaves counted representation purposes but not levy taxes • *The 3/5ths compromise- allowed for 3/5ths of the state’s slaves to be counted as population for both representation and taxation • Constitution did not allow congress to interfere with the slave trade for at least 20 years

  36. Ratification of the Constitution • Constitution had to be ratified by each state’s voters • Date each state ratified the is considered their of statehood • 9 of 13 had to ratify • eventually all states ratified • due to the promise of the addition of the Bill of Rights and because it could be amended (changed) • New government starts in 1789

  37. Federalists vs. Ant federalists • Federalists-in support of Constitution • Federalist Papers-written by Federalist leaders they were essays defending and supporting the Constitution • Anti-federalists-not in support of the Constitution • Opposed strong central government • Constitution didn’t have a Bill of Rights (formal summary of citizen's rights and freedoms)

  38. Effects of Constitutional Convention • The national government strengthened • Confidence increases in national government • George Washington elected as the first president • *The flexibility of our constitution makes it a model for governments around the world.

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