The First Continental Congress
The First Continental CongressExtralegal committees of
correspondence from every colony except Georgia sent delegatesThe
bigwigs were there: Samuel and John Adams, John Jay, Patrick Henry,
Richard Henry Lee, George Washington56 delegates in allThey
endorsed a set of statements known as the Suffolk ResolvesSuffolk
ResolvesColonies owed no obedience to any of the Coercive ActsA
provisional government should collect all taxes until the former
Massachusetts charter is restoredDefensive measures should be taken
in the event of an attack by royal troops
The Cont. Congress also voted to boycott all British goodsCease
exporting all goods to Britain and its West Indian possessions
Bradleys Reluctant RebellionThe middle-colony contingent fears a
head-on confrontation with BritainThey support Galloways Grand
Council which proposed an American Legislature that would share the
authority to tax and govern the colonies with ParliamentThe
Continental Congress finally sent a petition to the KingIt
reaffirmed Parliaments power to regulate imperial commerce, BUT it
argued that all previous parliamentary efforts to impose taxes,
enforce laws through admiralty courts, suspend assemblies, and
revoke charters was unconstitutionalFrom Resistance to
RebellionResistance leaders began acting outcoercing loyalists
(Tories)Compelling merchants to burn their imports and make
apologiesBrowbeat clergymenPressured Americans to alter dietsBegan
organizing volunteer military companies and extralegal
legislatures
Colonists were beginning to collect armsApril, 1775, Mass. Gov.
Gage was ordered to quell the rude rabbleGage sends 700 British
soldiers to seize military supplies at ConcordRevere and DawesAt
Lexington about 70 minutemen confront the British8 minutemen dieBy
the days end the redcoats suffered 273 casualties compared to only
92 for the colonistsBy April 20, 20,000 New Englanders were
besieging the British garrison in BostonSecond Continental Congress
meets and agrees to send a loyal message to King George, The Olive
Branch Petition1. cease fire2. repeal the Coercive Acts3
negotiations to establish guarantees of American rights
However, while doing this the colonies also established a
Continental Army headed by George WashingtonIn June, the Battle of
Breeds and Bunker Hill: British lose 1,154 and the colonists lose
311By December, King George and Parliament had declared the
colonies to be in a state of rebellionCommon SenseMany elites like
Adams were concerned about the movement being taken over by the
common peopleWhat if they are armed?Any sentimental attachment to
the crown ended with Thomas Paines Common SenseMonarchy is rooted
in superstitionConspiracy against American liberty rooted in the
institutions of monarchy and empirePaine claimed that
AmericaEconomically did not need BritainShould break due to the
preceding six months eventsHad an awakening nationalism with a
sense of religious missionContained republican principles and was
unburdened by the oppressive beliefs and corrupt institutions of
the European pastDeclaring IndependenceMiddle colonies were still
concerned because of Philly and New YorkRichard Henry Lee proposes
independenceBy July 2 the resolution is adopted and then signed on
July 4The Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration o f
IndependencePursuit of Happiness replaces propertyLeft out blaming
George III for the slave tradeFollowed the English Bill of
RightsFocused on the King, not ParliamentListed 27 injuries and
usurpations, but discussed issues in a universal dimensionRight of
revolutionNatural entitlementLeft unanswered equalityThe struggle
for national independence had hastened, and become intertwined with
a quest for equality and personal independence that, for many
Americans, transcended boundaries of class, race, or gender.The
Revolution gave white northerners and southerners their first real
chance to learn what they had in commonOut of this war comes the
Articles of ConfederationDespite cooperation, many in America were
divided over basic political questions relating to the distribution
of powerLoyalists and Other British SympathizersAbout 20% of all
whites either refused the Confederation or opposed
rebellionHowever, this did not mean that they did oppose British
policiesThey just viewed separation as an illegal act certain to
ignite a unnecessary warNew York and New Jersey had the highest
numberThese two colonies furnished of the 21,000 who fought for the
BritishMany loyalists were recent immigrants, or soldiers that
stayed on in the colonies after the Seven Years WarLoyalist numbers
were also high in Georgia and the backcountry of N. and S.
CarolinaCanadians supported the crown due to the Quebec ActBridgets
IndependenceMany recent settlers in the Ohio Valley felt an
independent America might trample their rightsMany slaves had taken
refuge on British shipsThey considered their own liberation more
important than AmericasNative Americans feared expansion by an new
AmericaThe Opposing SidesBritish Advantages11 million to 2.5
million (1/3 of whom were slave or loyalist)Largest navy and one of
the best professional armiesAbility to hire 30,000 Hessians21,000
loyalists
American sideDid mobilize 220,000 troopsMilitary contributions
of the French and SpanishBritish decline in sea power due to budget
cutsSupply line problems for the BritsTough maintaining British
peoples support through higher taxes
Guerrilla warfare would be tough to secure loansNo trained
officers or disciplined soldiersThe Revolution and Social
ChangeSocial tensions were magnified and complicated after the war
by two factorsPrinciples of the Declaration of
IndependenceDislocations caused by the war itself
What would be the relationship between political elites and the
commoner?How would the young nation deal with slavery?What about
Native Americans?Egalitarianism Among White MalesBy the 1760s
elites began looking like commoners for the rebellion effortThe
Declaration speaks of equalityThe War democratizes Americans
political assumptionsHowever, the natural aristocracy rises out of
a reciprocal understandingNew emphasis on equality obviously did
not include propertyless males, women, or nonwhitesOverall
distribution of wealth in America went unchanged
A Revolution for Black AmericansAbout 20% (500,00,) black
persons in the colonies in 1776All but 25,000 were slavesFree
blacks, however, were almost always subject to curfews, etc.About
25,000 blacks join the British ranks; 5,000 serve the coloniesThis
grew out of the armys need, not equal justiceMany states between
1777-84 began phasing out slaveryVermont, Penn., Mass., RI,
Conn.
Northern states began repealing or ignoring curfews and granted
blacks equal treatment in court hearingsAll states except SC and GA
ended slave importsThe Revolutionary generation did take some steps
to weaken slavery (state laws creating gradual emancipation
children born of a slave women after a certain date [July 4])But
there was general fear of Southern secession or national
bankruptcySlavery was a necessary evilNative Americans and the
RevolutionRevolutionary ideology made no provision for Indian
nationsThe revolutionary spirit actually sought to expand
westwardNative Americans were vulnerablePopulation east of the
Miss. River had been depleted by from 1754-1783Many sought to
incorporate the most useful aspects of European cultureForging New
GovernmentsElites welcomed hierarchical ruleWorking and the poor
welcomed worried that the wealthy would profit at their
expenseRural colonists emphasized decentralized power and
authorityFrom Colonies to StatesNew state constitutions retained
the precedents of favoring the wealthiest elites11 of the 13
maintained bicameral legislatures (Georgia and Penn. Unicameral)Few
questioned property requirements for voters or elected officials
(it had to do with the potential for the poor in selling their
votes)Most elected officials were expected to lead the people, not
necessarily carry out popular willThey were elected for personal
qualities and fitness for officeOnly Pennsylvania ensured that
election districts were equal in population (others had equal
representation no matter the size)State constitutions did require
popular ratification and could only change if voters chose to amend
themRevolutionary constitutions spelled out citizens fundamental
rightsBy 1784 all included explicit bills of rightsRevolutionary
statesmen proclaimed the need to strengthen legislatures at the
expense of governorsStates scheduled annual electionsTransferred
the power of appointment to the legislaturesDenied them the power
to veto lawsSubjected them to impeachmentNowhere could the governor
appoint the upper houseGovernors became figureheadsRevolutionary
leaders were republicans, not democratsDemocracy would have
concentrated power in the hands of the uneducated
multitudeGradually, the wealthier desired a more centralized
authorityThe end of state-established churchesThe end of entails
and primogenitorEntails legal constraints on divided
propertyPrimogenitor transferring of property to the oldest son in
the absence of a willFormalizing a ConfederacyEach state was
reserved its sovereignty, freedom and independenceAmericans were
citizens of their state first, the nation secondThe national
government had a single chamber, elected by the state legislature
and each state had one voteCongress could request funds, but states
did not have to provide itCongress could not regulate interstate
commerce or overseas tradeNo executive or judicial systemFinance,
Trade, and the Economy, 1781-1786The new nation was on shaking
economic ground$160 million price tag for the warThe government had
borrowed money and printed ContinentalsInflation hit hard after the
warRequest of a 5% import due that failed to passNewburgh
ConspiracyStates would not provide funds to the GovernmentDecline
in trade severely hurt the new nationIt hit New England the most;
chronic overpopulation did not helpConfederation and the West,
1785-1787One of the main challenges to the new government was
postwar settlement and the administration of western landsOrdinance
of 1785Townships of six square miles; subdivided into 36 sections
of 640 acres each; one a source of income for schoolsOrdinance of
1787Defined the steps for new statesCongress would appoint the
governor and judgesWhen 5,000 adult males arrived voters could
approve a temporary constitutionWhen the population reached 60,000
voters could ratify a state constitutionForbade slavery
Served as a model for further expansion westWas an opportunity
for people to earn landEased the fear of a mass of poor laborers
and the unpropertied
Shayss Rebellion, 1786-87"Rebellion against a king may be
pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel
against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death. Samuel
Adams"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a
medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid
that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. -
TJPhiladelphia Convention, 178755 delegates; most wealthy and in
their thirties; 39 had sat in Congress; 19 slave ownersNo official
journal keptSecrecy to ensure open debate without fear of
criticismTwo basic issuesWhether or not to tinker with the Articles
of Confederation or replace itConflicting interests of the small
and large statesVirginia Plan (James Madison)Strong central
governmentCongress gets unrestricted rights to tax and legislate,
the power to veto state law and use military force against the
estatesBicameral legislature with fixed representation based on the
states populationVoters elect the lower house; lower house chooses
the upper house from nominations submitted by the state
legislaturesNew Jersey Plan (William Patterson)Recommended a single
chamber congress with each state having equal vote Congressional
laws the supreme law of the landCourts could force reluctant states
to accept these measures
Connecticut CompromiseEqual vote for each state in the
upperProportional voting for the lowerThe new document accomplished
the following:Reconciled conflicting interests between the large
and small statesThe Senate and HouseEstablished national
authorityLay and collect taxesRegulate interstate commerceConduct
diplomacyState officials must swear an oath to uphold the
ConstitutionUse of military force against any stateThis is an
abandonment of the Articles of Confederation
But there was restraint (or at least their should be if
Americans understand this document and dont allow any or all
branches to get too powerful)Three distinct branchesChecks and
balancesFederalism
43
U.S. HistoryHow many different men have been President of the
United States?Who was the best President? Why?Who was the worst
President?
Why?Worsthttp://www.usnews.com/listings/worst-presidents/zachary-taylor
Besthttp://www.gallup.com/poll/146183/americans-say-reagan-greatest-president.aspx
Sexiest
(?)http://www.nerve.com/content/the-top-43-sexiest-us-presidentsLegislative:
HouseRequirements for officeApportionment of the
seatshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2010-race-maps/house/GerrymanderingTerm
of OfficePresiding officerPowersImpeachment$
Speaker of the House
John BoehnerFrom OhioBeen in Congress since
1990RepublicanMajority LeaderEric CantorFrom VirginiaBeen in office
since 1991Republican
Minority LeaderNancy PelosiFrom CaliforniaBeen in office since
1985Democratic
Legislative: SenateRequirement for OfficeMembershipTerm of
OfficePresiding OfficerPowers 2/3 consentJury roleForeign
AffairsFilibusterCloture (2/3 present)
Vice President (and President of the SenateJoe BidenFrom
DelawareBeen in office since 1972 (Senator for 36 years prior to
VP)Democrat
President Pro-TemporeDaniel InouyeFrom HawaiiBeen in office
since 1962 (but for territorial Hawaii since 1954)Democrat
Senate Minority LeaderMitch McConnellFrom KentuckyBeen in office
since 1984Republican
Senate Majority LeaderHarry ReidFrom NevadaBeen in office since
1986Democrat
Congressional PowersArticle I, Section 8
Executivehttp://www.gallup.com/poll/28693/which-characteristics-most-desirable-next-president.aspx
ExecutiveRequirements for officeConstitutional vs. societalTerm
(22nd Amendment)Electoral CollegeHow is it calculated?What if no
majority?Who has power in this system?
ExecutivePowers of the PresidentCommander in ChiefHead of
CabinetGrant pardonsNegotiate TreatiesNominate Supreme Court
JusticesFill vacancies during Senate recessesThe Cabinet includes
the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departmentsState
(1789)TreasuryDefenseJusticeInterior (1849)Agriculture
(1862)Commerce (1913)Labor (1913)Health and Human Service
(1953)Housing and Urban Development (1965)Transportation
(1966)Energy (1977)Education (1979)Veterans Affairs (1988)Homeland
Security (2002)Judicial
Harty Har HarChief Justice John Roberts (56); 6 yearsAntonin
Scalia (75); 25Anthony Kennedy (75); 23Clarence Thomas (63); 20Ruth
Bader Ginsburg (78); 18Stephen Breyer (73); 17Sam Alito (61);
5Sonia Sotomayor (57); 2Elena Kagen (51); 1
Article IV Relations among the statesArticle V Amending
processArticle VI Supremacy ClauseArticle VII - Ratification