Chapter 2 Beginnings of America. Stamp Act- (1765) Issued by Britain, required colonists to pay for an official government stamp on certain paper.

Chapter 2

Beginnings of America

• Stamp Act- (1765) Issued by Britain, required colonists to pay for an official government stamp on certain paper items: first time parliament taxed colonies directly. Eventually repealed after American protests.

• Boston Massacre- (March 1770) 5 colonists died when British Soldiers fired into an angry crowd outside customs house. The colonists felt it was a deliberate attack on innocents.

• Battle of Lexington- (April 18, 1775) After British orders to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock and confiscate their gunpowder and weapons, 700 British troops set out for Concord Mass. 70 minutemen along with Samuel Adams and John Hancock, waited for British troops after warning from Colonial alarm rider Paul Revere. Marked beginning of war. 8 colonists killed

Key Terms and People• Thomas Jefferson-

Member of Second Continental Congress, wrote 1st draft of the Declaration of Independence.

• George Washington- Chosen as leader of Continental Army. Able to retake Boston in March 1776, forced British troops to evacuate city. 1st president of US.

Important Revolutionary Documents

• Common Sense- Thomas Paine pamphlet, condemned Monarchy and King George III, called for a declaration of independence.

• Declaration of Independence- Formally announced colonies break from Britain. 3 main ideas: inalienable rights, unfair laws/taxes, George violated social contract. Introduced on July 2, 1776 signed July 4.

Important Battles• Battle of Saratoga-

Colonists attacked Gen. Burgoyne at Fort Ticonderoga in Upstate NY. Gen. Howe was to come to his aid but turned towards Philadelphia instead. Oct. 17,1777 surrendered his 600 men to 1700 Continental Army troops. A major turning point in the Revolutionary war.

• Battle of Yorktown- July 1781, Britain tried to escape but Washington blockaded bay and attacked Gen. Cornwallis from land and sea. Oct. 19, 1781 surrendered. Last battle of Revolutionary war.

Treaty of Paris• September 3, 1783. Britain

recognized independence of the

United States and granted the U.S. significant western territory. The 1783 Treaty was one of a series of treaties signed at Paris in 1783 that also established peace between Great Britain and the allied nations of France, Spain, and

the Netherlands. • (QUESTIONS)

• Articles of confederation- Nov. 1777, America’s 1st national constitution, lacked powerful congress, difficult to put laws into effect, no executive or judicial branches.

• James Madison- delegate at constitutional convention, kept diary of convention. Often called “father of constitution” due to role in document.

Drafting the Constitution• Constitutional Convention- May 1787, Congress

called all the states to meet in Philadelphia. Key delegates included: Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and George Washington. Tried to find a balance between large and small states, between southern and northern interests and between strong national government versus states rights.

Great Compromise• Virginia Plan (large

state)- Gave more power in national government to large states, Bicameral legislature (2 houses), Number of state reps based on population

• New Jersey Plan (small state)- Equal power in national government for all states, Unicameral legislature (1 house), each state have equal number of reps

Bicameral Legislature: lower house- reps determined by Population, upper house- reps equal

Three Branches of Government• Checks and Balances- Set up

between 3 branches so each branch could delay or stop an action of another branch. No branch could be too powerful.

• Legislative Branch- Makes laws, Congress

• Executive Branch- President and departments, carry out laws

• Judicial Branch- Supreme Court and lower courts, interprets laws as they relate to constitution

Opposition to Constitution

• Federalists- Supporters of the Constitution, sharing of power between a national government and sub-divisions (states). Saw a more urban country with a centralized government and involved in world affairs.

• Anti-Federalists-Opposed constitution. Feared a strong central government would lead to tyranny and abuse both states rights and individual freedoms.

Bill of Rights• Document of basic

rights to protect individual liberties. Anti-federalists wanted it added to constitution before ratification (accepting). Bill can be added to as times change.

• (questions)

• Alexander Hamilton- Secretary of Treasury under Washington, Federalist. Financial Plan: national debt, tariffs to raise revenue, national bank/mint (not in the Constitution – but not prohibited)

• Democratic-Republicans- Led by Jefferson and Madison, saw a more rural country with power residing with the people and state governments.

• Judiciary Act of 1789- Congress organized Judicial branch- 6 person Supreme Court. John Jay 1st Supreme Court Chief Justice

Differing Views

• Strict Constructionist- The people who believed government only had the powers specifically granted in the Constitution.

• Loose Constructionist- People who believed the Constitution also allows actions that are not mentioned as long as they are not prohibited and they are necessary and proper.

What problems arise if we only follow the powersspecifically stated in the Constitution written 200 years ago?

National Government Reacts• Whiskey Rebellion-

1794, 1st major challenge: farmers in Pennsylvania objected excise tax on whiskey, attacked collectors. Washington suppressed rebellion without bloodshed. He wanted to make clear that armed rebellion against the national government would not be tolerated.

• John Adams- Washington’s Vice President, Lawyer, 2nd president of the US. Wanted to improve relationship with France.

• Marbury v. Madison- established Judicial Review- can declare that a law violates the constitution.

Louisiana Purchase• Jefferson purchased Louisiana

territory from France. The price was 60 million francs, about $15 million; $11,250,000 was to be paid directly, with the balance to be covered by the assumption by the United States of French debts to

American citizens. France was facing renewed war with Great Britain, and could not spare troops to defend the territory but they needed funds to support French military in Europe. Accordingly, in April 1803 they offered to sell

Louisiana to the United States.

War of 1812• United States caught in the middle between Great

Britain and France. Great Britain began policy of impressment, or seizing and drafting United States sailors into their navy. US also discovered that Great Britain was helping the Native Americans fight the settlers in northwest territory. Led to the call for war by the Americans, led by the War Hawks

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