Birth of the United States

1. Birth of the United States Chapters 4 & 5

2. Road to Independence Chapter 4

3. The French and Indian War • Causes of War • Rivalry Between Britain and France • French had more land • British along coast, French Inland • B = farm, F = trapping • French better with NAs

4. Albany Plan of Union • June 1754 – delegates to Albany • To strengthen ties with NAs • Unify war effort • Ben Franklin wanted a permanent union • Plan was a grand council of elected delegates from each colony run by a president • Similar to Iroquois League • Approved but colonies rejected • Didn’t want a central government

5. Early British Defeats • British lost at beginning • 1735 – 900 F and NA attacked • Militia – armed citizens who served as soldiers • British – open areas and straight lines • F and NA – hiding and spread out

6. The Tide of War Turns • 1756 – Britain declares war on France • William Pitt = British Prime Minister • Raised taxes and borrowed money to fight • British now better prepared • Won several major battles • French retreated

7. Treaty of Paris • 1763 – Great Britain, France, Spain met in Paris • Ended French and Indian War and Seven Years’ War (Europe) • French lost everything • English got Canada, all land west of Mississippi • Spain got Cuba for Florida

8. Weakened Loyalty to the British • Thought colonies didn’t help enough • Colonists would have fought under other colonists rather than British officers • Considered treasonous • Loss of respect for British military • Colonists not getting enough respect • Thought they should be on their own

9. Issues Behind the Revolution • Changing British Policy • Proclamation of 1763 • NA worried about British farmers • destroyed land • Unlike French British hated NAs • Stopped dealing with them

10. Proclamation of 1763 • King George closed area west of colonies • 1764-1766 Peace treaties with tribes • Colonists continued to settle

11. Sugar Act of 1764 • Cut duty on foreign molasses in half • Raised the tax • Hoped people would buy foreign molasses and pay tax rather than smuggleEnforcement • Ships could be seized if though smuggling • Judges got 5% commission if ship found guilty

12. Quartering Act of 1765 • Colonies had to provide shelter and food for British soldiers • Colonists very angry but went along

13. The Stamp Act Crisis • What is the Stamp Act? • Stamp Act – tax on anything on paper • Royal stamp to prove tax paid

14. Stamp Act Congress • Outrage was widespread and extreme • Affected everyone • October 1765 • Delegates from 9 colonies met in New York • Leader – James Otis, lawyer from Massachusetts • Taxation without representation • Sent petitions to the king about rights

15. Sons of Liberty • Boycott of British goods • Boycott – refusal to buy certain products as act of protest • Groups known as Sons and Daughters of Liberty • Founder – Samuel Adams • Went to stamp distributers homes – resign or house burned • Eventually no one left to sell stamps • 1766 – Act was repealed

16. The Townshend Acts • 1767 –Put duty on things like glass and tea • New finance minister Charles Townshend • Raised duties rather than taxes = safer • Colonists still upset about taxes with no rep. • Boycott again

18. The Boston Massacre • British troops sent to deal with violence in Boston • March 5, 1770 • Small crowd threw snowballs at troops • Troops killed 5 • Crispus Attucks – 1st African American to die in Rev. • Next day, 9 British charged with murder • John Adams defended them • 7 found not guilty, 2 guilty of lesser crimes • Punishment – Branded thumbs • Parliament cancelled Townshend Act but kept tea tax

19. The Boston Tea Party • May 1773 – Tea Act to help British East India Company • BEIC didn’t have to pay taxes • Made it cheaper than smuggled tea • Some harbors wouldn’t let ships in • December 16, 1773 • Colonists disguised as Indians boarded three ships • Broke open every crate and threw in the water

20. The Intolerable Acts • Spring 1774 – punishment for Tea Party • Harsh laws that were ridiculous • Limited town meetings to once a year • Colonies called for group of people to fight back • First Continental Congress formed

21. The First Continental Congress • September 5, 1774 • 56 delegates in Philadelphia • Founder Fathers • Renewed boycotts and create militias • Direct appeal to King • Left October 26, met again in spring if issues not resolved

22. Fighting at Lexington and Concord • Groups of fighters called Patriots • Massachusetts Militia created stockpile of weapons in Concord • April 18, 1775, British marched to get supply • Patriots found out and Paul Revere and two other rode to tell • THE BRITISH ARE COMING

23. In Lexington, fighting took minutes, 18 Americans dead or wounded • Destroyed some of supply in Concord, left for Boston • 4000 Patriots stood in their way • Shot at them from behind walls and buildings • 240 British killed/wounded • Became first battle of Revolutionary War

24. Declaration of Independence • The Delegates • Second Continental Congress met in May 1776 • Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock • Divided between solution and independence • Olive Branch Petition • Wanted Peaceful solution • End fighting and stay loyal to Britain • Denied • June 1776 – wrote Declaration of Independence • Thomas Jefferson wrote most the document • List of reasons for leaving and why

25. Drafting a Declaration • Jefferson influenced by the Enlightenment of 1700s • Science and Reason were keys to improved society • Used John Locke’s ideas for government

26. The Declaration was Adopted • July 4, 1776 • Delegates approved Declaration

27. Fighting for Independence • The Siege of Boston • Patriots surrounded Boston for protection • Others attacked British forts to get supplies • General Thomas Gage in charge of British forces

28. Battle of Bunker Hill • June 17, 1775 – Gage wants hills for lookouts • Attacked in tight blocks, easy target for muskets • Retreated and attacked again, retreated, attacked a 3rd time • Able to take Breed’s Hill b/c Patriots ran out of ammo • Forced Patriots off Bunker Hill as well • Half of British 2400 died, only 400 Patriots

29. The British Leave Boston • July 1775 – George Washington put in charge of newly named Continental Army • January 1776 – Gen Knox brought cannons to south of Boston • Fired on British and their ships in the harbor • British flee with 1000 loyalists (people still devout to England)

30. Strengths and Weaknesses • The British • Well equipped, disciplined and trained • Supported by best navy in the world • Loyalists and some NAs helped fight • Hired 30000 mercenaries to fight • Mercenary – paid foreign soldiers • Called Hessians (German) • Problem – war not popular in England • Citizens resented the taxes • Troops had to fight in hostile territory

31. The Americans • Fighting on their own territory • Officers familiar with successful fighting tactics • Lacked equipment and stable fighting force

32. Fighting in the North – New York • British won many battles • Washington wanted a spy • Nathan Hale crossed lines and got information • Caught before he could give information • Hung – Famous Last words “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”

33. Retreat from New York • British took NY, pushed Patriots to Penn. • Troops deserted and Washington thought army was falling apart • Thomas Paine wrote “The Crisis” to get people back on board

34. Trenton and Princeton • Washington had to be creative due to lack of everything • Fought during winter • Battle of Trenton – crossed Delaware River and captured entire Hessian force • Did same thing at Princeton • British Gen. Cornwallis saw troops coming but were pushed back • Patriot morale went up due to wins

35. Financing the War • Had no money and couldn’t require taxes since their was not yet a government • Asked for help from colonies • Issued paper money to buy supplies • Nothing to back it up, if lost – money was worthless

36. Victories • Fighting in the West • Col. George Rogers Clark fought and won in IN/IL • Claimed the Ohio River for Patriots • Fighting in the South • Worst fighting happened in South • Loyalist vs. Patriots • Several battles lead by British Gen Cornwallis • Retreated to Yorktown on a peninsula • Patriots blocked way out

37. Victory at Yorktown • French and Continental Army combined • Bombarded Yorktown with ammunition • Escape was impossible • Cornwallis surrenders on October 19, 1781

38. Treaty of Paris • England, France, Spain, US • 1783 • US becomes independent • Canadian boarder set • Mississippi sets boarder between colonies and Spanish territory • Florida given back to Spain • England removes all troops • Pledged to not harm any Loyalists (did anyway!)

39. The Constitution Chapter 5

40. Early Governments • People believed they were citizens of states – not a country • Did not want a central government

41. Articles of Confederation • 1777 – Continental Congress adopted the articles • Approved in 1781 • Established a limited national government • Most power lay with the states • One branch – legislative (Congress) • Congress did job of all three branches (Executive/Judicial) • States maintained own courts • As many delegates as state wanted but only one vote • Laws required 9 of 13 to pass

42. Opposing the Articles • Economic Problems • Wealthy worried too much power for people • 1786 – National Debt $50 million • Printed more money with no backing • Each state had own money • States taxed each other

43. Concerns About Weak Government • 1780s = Nationalist immerged • wanted to strengthen national government • Washington, Madison, Hamilton • Needed strong government and courts • People didn’t agree • Thought articles were doing their job

44. Learning from History • Men were well educated • Knew European countries had tried and failed • Annapolis Convention • 1786 – Nationalist Convention • Plan to regulate interstate and foreign trade • Did not address AOC weaknesses • 12 men from five states • Set up 1787 convention in Philadelphia

45. Shay’s Rebellion • People who gave money for war wanted it back • Mass. – heavies direct tax had to be paid in specie • Specie – gold or sliver coin • Farmers couldn’t afford it and complained • State refused to repeal • Daniel Shay, war vet and farmer • 1786- lead rebellion to tax • Drove off collectors, protested, riots • State had no money to fight them until 1787 • Rebels left for Vermont or NY • Shay and others were caught, but freed eventually

46. Shay’s Rebellion - Effects • People determination against authority • Need to strengthen national government to avoid civil unrest

47. Constitutional Convention • Convention Assembles • Constitutional Convention – meeting of May 1787 • In Philadelphia • 55 delegates from all but Rhode Island • Ages 27-81, rich to middle class

48. Fathers of the Constitution • James Madison (36) • Attended every meeting and took notes • Spent year before learning history, law, government • Drew on Enlightenment thinkers • Believed a Constitution was best • Division at the Convention • 1st act – George Washington elected president of convention • Unanimous vote • Divided – amend AOC or new document

49. Virginia Plan • Bicameral – two houses • Representation – by population or financial support • Representatives • Lower house – popular vote • Upper House – nominated • Popular among larger state

50. New Jersey Plan • One house • Representation – equal for each state • Representatives – elected by state legislature • Popular among little states