Build-Up to the American Revolution
Apr 01, 2015
Build-Up to the American Revolution
Pre-Conflict
» 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
French and Indian War
» 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.
Before The War
After 1763
Post-War
» 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
» 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
» 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
Articles of Confederation
» 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
» 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
Constitutional Convention
» 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
Comparison of Governments
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
Questions
» 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?
Debate over the Constitution
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
Constitution
» 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
» 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
Constitutional Powers