Government and Trade
England thought Parliament represented all citizens
Colonists thought they were represented by their legislators
Colonies could only trade with England Colonists still loyal English citizens Helped England defeat France in 1763
No Taxation Without Representation Facing war debt England taxed the colonists Colonists thought they should not be taxed
without representation To make colonies pay taxes more power
given to government
Steps Toward Independence
Some colonists organized committees of correspondence
Colonies realized they had to unite 1774 12 colonies met in Philadelphia
First Continental Congress Tried to get England to respect colonists
rights.
Colonists pledge to cut off trade with England 1 year later 2nd Continental Congress meets Massachusetts already fighting English
soldiers Many colonists feared independence
Declaration of Independence
Popular support for separation from England 2nd Continental Congress called for
independence Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John
Adams on committee Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of
Independence
Colonists belief about natural rights “We hold these truths to be self evident, that
all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Unalienable rights- means that no government has the power to take them away.
People gave power to the government to protect their rights
Jefferson said England had ignored their demands
Declaration of independence signed July 4, 1776
Publicly read on July 8, 1776
Organizing a new Government Compact- a written agreement to make and
obey laws for the welfare of the group Now that the States were free they had to
organize a government People used the idea of a written plan of
government.
State Constitutions
Each state created one States clearly spelled out limits of
government power Some states included citizens rights To prevent tyranny stats limited years
Governor could hold office
Montesquieu idea of three branches Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Legislative had the most power be cause they drew their power directly from the people
Articles of Confederation
13 separate governments Conflicts with England made colonists fearful
of giving power to central government States disagreed on number of
representatives
Virginia a large state wanted the number of legislatures based on population
Rhode Island who was small was fearful of large states
New Jersey wanted equal representation
Drew up loose confederation of states No Executive or Judicial Branch National legislature (Congress) Gave power to
declare war make treaties with foreign government Make trade agreements
No power to tax or enforce laws that it made Power would remain with the states Needed ratification from all 13 states Took 4 years for the states to agree
Limping Governent
After the Revolution Government had problems
Congress and states borrowed a lot of money Could not pay huge debts Did not have enough silver and gold
Congress had no power to regulate trade with England
America bought a lot from England England did not allow colonies to trade with
British West indies
Shays Rebellion
Farmers had debt Farmers in Massachusetts had to pay high
taxes on land Many farmers lost their farms 1786 Hundreds of angry farmers led by
Daniel Shay stoned a courthouse Massachusetts had to use militia to crush the
rebellion
Newspapers spread the story Mad Americans want a stronger government Needed one to keep order George Washing thought Articles of
Confederation were weak Congress needed to raise taxes 13 independent states learned they need a
stronger government
Why do you think Thomas Paine called his pamphlet Common Sense?
To suggest that it is obvious that the colonies should break away from England
Why were states reluctant to give power to central government? Each state was afraid that a central
government would not represent their interests well enough. The states did not trust central government
How did conflict between England and the colonies develop? England decided to raise money by taxing the
colonists. The colonists protested because they had not agreed to pay new taxes
Why did Parliament refuse to listen to the colonists protests? Parliament believed that it had absolute
authority over the colonists because they were British citizens.
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? To announce the independence of the
colonies and the lists of the reasons for the move
What were the most important ideas? “all men are created equal” and they have
“certain unalienable rights”
List the powers reserved for the central government in the Articles of Confederation?
Declare war, make treaties, and colonists could trade with any of the 13 states
Why did the colonists want state governments to have more power than the central government? Colonists were loyal to their colonies then to
a nation
What challenges did the new government face at the end of the Revolution?
National debt Protests over high taxes on farmers Lack of Congress to pass laws
How might colonies meet the challenges? Congress would have to rewrite Articles of
Confederation Give National Government more power