Origins of a New Nation

Origins of a New Nation

Describe the origins, purposes and limitations of government and include the contribution of key philosophers and documents.

King James I’s system worked well for the colonists. King rules by divine right; yet allowed

significant liberties:Self-government for example

Massachusetts Bay elected a General Court that governed.

Religious practicesEconomic organization

Being a Colony of Britain, the First 140 Years

Each state had their own constitutions (fundamental rules for each colony)

Land was abundant No feudalism – a tradition of rigid class

systems. And absolute authority of church and king.

No guild system: craftsmen following strict rules and not allowing for new innovations.

No Compulsory tithing – giving a fixed percent of income to church

After 140 years

There was an unwritten contract with the English Colonies.

TRADE AND TAXATION

Colonist would relinquish (give up) the authority to regulate trade

and conduct international affairs. Colonists retained the right to levy (charge) their own taxes.

The Crown and British Parliament

French and Indian War from 1756 – 1763 The Seven Years War

(took place on the “western frontier” of colonies in Canada initiate by the British)

Conflict involved: Austria, England, France, Great Britain, Prussia and Sweden

Took place in Europe, India and North AmericaIn Europe, Sweden , Austria, and France were allied to crush the rising

power of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. The English and the French battled for colonial domination in North America, the Caribbean, and in India (www.ushistory.org)

The English dominated after the Treaty of Paris 1763. English needed desperately to pay for their war debts, it almost ended them.

Fragile Agreement Put to the TEST

Sugar ActExports to the colonies were taxed: sugar,

wine, coffee and such. Stamp ActColonist have to purchase stamps for:

newspapers, magazines and commercial papers

Mutiny or Quartering Act Requiring colonist to house British troops.

Acts of 1764 and 1765

Colonies cried: “No taxation without representation”

Boycotted goods needing the stamps Threaten British tax collectors lives Burned a colonial governor’s home Outrage, violence and loud protests, riots

broke out(not the Boston Tea Party…yet)

Men organized forming the Sons of Liberty leading were Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry◦ STAMP ACT WAS MOST THREATING!

Colonists Reactions

Stamp Act of Congress - 1765 9 of 12 colonies sent representatives to NYCThere were conflicting views:

colonists thought Parliament had no authority to tax them without representation

Parliament believed direct representation was impractical and They represented the best interest for all of England

including the colonies Instead the representatives got a list of all their

violations to the Crown of England.

New York City

Stamp Act and revised the Sugar Act 1766◦ Mainly because the uproar made by British

merchants Why? (remember the boycotts)

◦ Do you think the colonists were quieted down?

◦ What do you think or remember happening next?

Parliament Repeals Acts

Parliament imposed these acts which imposed duties (fees) on all kinds of colonial imports, including TEA.

The Sons of Liberty respond immediately◦ Another boycott – almost everyone gave up tea◦ Tensions are high◦ Britain sends 4000 more troops◦ March 5, 1770 British troops open fire on a dock where

workers are upset because Britains were given their jobs and

◦ Sons of Liberty taunted the British solders in front of the Boston Customs House

1767 – Townshend Acts

March 5, 1770 is known as the Boston Massacre All duties were lifted except TEA!

Samuel Adams in Boston lead many other Massachusetts towns in setting up Committees of Correspondence.

TO KEEP COMMUNICATION AND IDEAS OPEN it also was powerful in molding public open about the British.

12 of the 13 colonies participated

Five Colonist Die

King George the East India Company permission to sell the 18 million pounds of tea in a surplus in English warehouses because of the colonies boycott.

Colonial merchants were selling tea from other countries.

The East India Company transports the tea to loyal Crown merchants and undercut the other colonial merchants.

The bottom line was to drive down the price of tea and hurt colonial merchants who were forced to buy tea at the higher prices from other merchants.

East India Company

Colonist respond by◦ Throwing a party, a “tea party”◦ More tea parties followed

King George flew into rage at the actions of his disloyal subjects he is quoted saying, “The die is now cast…The colonies must either submit or triumph”.

Boston Tea Party

Coercive Act 1774 ◦ Colonist called this the INTOLERABLE ACTS◦ The act called for a total blockade of the Boston

Harbor until restitution for the tea was made.◦ AND it add a provision that reinforced the

Quartering Act soldiers could be housed in private homes. Britain sent another 4000 troops.

King George and Parliament

Samuel Adams and the Committees of Correspondence spread the word◦ Food and money were sent to the people of

Boston Now colonists change their focus from taxes To how much authority does Britain have? They gather with the intention of ironing out

their differences with Great Britain.

Unexpected UNITY

◦ They wanted: rights of petition and assembly, trial by peers, freedom from a standing army and selection of representative to councils to levy taxes.

This was called a Declaration of Rights and Resolves

If the king did not agree they would meet again in May 1775

The First Continental Congress 1774

Fighting breaks out April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord

Massachusetts. Ralph Waldo Emerson called, “the shot

heard around the world” Eight colonist soldiers, “Minutemen” were

killed and 16,000 British troops besieged Boston

King George REFUSES

May 10 1775 Delegates are united in the hatred toward

Great Britain. There was no options but war

◦ George Washington of Virginia was selected as commander of the new Continental Army

◦ Envoy is sent to France to ask for support They tried one more time to avoid conflict!

◦ Wrote the Olive Branch Petition on July 5, 1775◦ King rejects and sends 20,000 more troops

The Second Continental Congress

January 1776 by Thomas Paine and encouraged by Benjamin Franklin◦ ‘Tis Time to Part’ from the corrupt Crown

This was an amazing feat, as over 120,000 copies were sold (18.75 million books today). And most people couldn’t read!

Common Sense

Spurred the call for independence “that these United Colonies are and of right

ought to be, free and independent States, ad that all connections to Great Britain ought to be dissolved”

See sheet on CONFEDERATION

Richard Henry Lee of Virginia

John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman were members. Adams wants a balance with the south so Thomas Jefferson is elected as the chair.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. July 2, 1776 12 of 13 colonies voted for independence (New York abstained).

Committees were formed

Social Contract Theory and Natural Law advocate.

He said people leave the state of nature and agree to set up a government for the protection of property.

Property included life, liberty and material possessions

Such a government exists for the good of its subjects NOT for the benefit of those governing.

Rebellion is the ultimate consequence against a government.

John Locke’s influence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all mean are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

See the connection between Jefferson's writings and John Lockes ideas?

Colonists debt to John Locke

Jefferson did not stop and it was stirring and read aloud July 9, 1776

All the wrongs (denial of personal rights and liberties) of Britain were listed it was signed and sent to King George. ◦ These wrongs were later guaranteed by the U.S.

Constitution through the Bill of Rights.

The revolutionary war was fought with more vengeance.

War Continues…