Cambridge IGCSE
American History (US)
Kofa High School
2012-13
Bellwork
List 5 things that your parents do or could
do that make you want to move and live
on your own.
If you decided to leave how would this
change the relationship between you and
your parents.
Colonists Response to British Rule
1754-76
Colonies were part of England
Until the mid-1700s, colonies allowed
freedom.
In 1760, King George III imposed new
taxes and laws on the colonists.
Question
Why would the King put taxes on the
Colonies?
Stamp Act
Required colonists to purchase special
stamped paper for every legal document,
license, newspaper, pamphlet, and
almanac, and imposed special “stamp
duties” on packages of playing cards and
dice.
Sugar Act
Sugar Act
– Halved the duty on foreign made molasses
– Placed duties on certain imports
– Strengthened the enforcement of the law
allowing prosecutors to try smuggling cases in
a vice admiralty court rather than in a more
sympathetic colonial court.
Townshend Acts
Duties levied on imported materials-glass,
lead, paint, and paper as they came into
the colonies from Britain
Imposed a three-penny tax on tea.
Lead to people speaking out on “Taxation
without representation”
Intolerable Acts
Shut down Boston Harbor.
Allowed British to house soldiers in vacant
private homes and other buildings.
Boston placed under Martial Law or under
military rule.
Sons of Liberty
Secret resistance group made of
shopkeepers, artisans, and laborers
Created after the Stamp Act.
Sons protested the Acts and harassed
customs officials so badly many resigned
Source A: There is a violent spirit of opposition raised
on the continent against the execution of the Stamp Act,
the mob in Boston have carried it very high against the
Secretary [Andrew Oliver]...for his acceptance of an
office in consequence of that Act. They have even
proceeded to sow violence, and burnt him in effigy. They
threaten to pull down & burn the stamp office row
building; and that they will hold every man as infamous
that shall presume to carry the Stamp Act into execution,
so it is thought Mr. Oliver will resign.
- Archibald Hinschelwood (1765)
Source B: In every colony, from Georgia to New
Hampshire inclusively," he observed, "the stamp
distributors and inspectors have been compelled by the
unconquerable rage of the people to renounce their
offices. Such and so universal has been the resentment
of the people, that every man who has dared to speak in
the favor of the stamps, or to soften the detestation in
which they are held, how great soever his abilities and
virtues had been esteemed before, whatever his fortune,
connections, and influence had been, has been seen to
sink into universal contempt and ignominy.
-John Adams (December 1765)
Source C: You are already too well acquainted with the
melancholy and very alarming Circumstances to which
this Province, as well as America in general, is now
reduced. Taxes equally detrimental to the commercial
interests of the Parent country and the colonies are
imposed upon the People, without their consent; Taxes
designed for the Support of the Civil Government in the
Colonies, in a Manner clearly unconstitutional, and
contrary to that, in which 'till of late, Government has
been supported…
-John Hancock (1768)
Assignment
Step 1
– Summarize each source in one sentence.
Step 2
– Supply two pieces of evidence from each
source that supports your summary.
Key Events
Boston Massacre
– Laborers met at courthouse to protest lack of
jobs.
– Mob threw rocks at soldiers
– Soldiers fired on mob.
– Propaganda made it look like the soldiers
started the fight.
Key Events
Boston Tea Party
– East India Company was not taxed for tea.
American citizens were taxed.
EIC was able to sale tea cheaply
Many Americans lost their business
– People dressed as Native Americans and
boarded the ships and began to throw tea into
the harbor.
The Destruction of Tea
at Boston Harbor. 1773.
Copy of lithograph by
Sarony & Major, 1846
Question
How informative was the illustration?
What was its purpose? Explain.
Lexington and Concord
Militia groups formed in New England
British learned about these groups
Marched to stop this practice.
Paul Revere and others quickly spread the word
that British were coming
Troops reached Lexington and shot on militia
As they marched back to Boston 4,000 minute
men assembled in Lexington and began to kill
British soldiers by the dozen.
Congress
Representatives from each state meet.
Debates are held to discuss fight for
independence or to reconcile with England
Olive Branch Petition
John Adams
Adams represents Massachusetts
Fighting is in his back yard (Literally)
Believes there is no way for peace.
Urges colonies to go to war at
conventions.
Thomas Paine
Wrote “Common Sense”
Published it as an anonymous pamphlet.
King George was attacked in it.
Common Sense urged America to claim
Independence.
Some 500,000 copies were sold
Thomas Paine Quote
No man was a warmer wisher for a
reconciliation than myself, before the fatal
nineteenth of April, 1775, but the moment
the event of that day was made known, I
rejected the hardened, sullen-tempered
Pharaoh of England forever… the wretch,
that with the pretended title of Father of
His People can unfeelingly hear of their
slaughter, and composedly sleep with their
blood upon his soul.
Thomas Jefferson
Representative from Virginia
Jefferson was selected to write the
Declaration of Independence on behalf of
the Congress.
Used John Locke’s ideas for basis of
declaration.
If the Government becomes tyrannical,
people have the right and the duty to resist
it.
Creation of the Constitution and Bill
of Rights 1781-90
Articles of Confederation/Problems
Shay’s Rebellion
Constitutional Convention
Great Compromise
3/5 Comrpromise
Articles of Confederation
Two levels of government shared
fundamental powers.
State gov’t were supreme in some matters
while the national gov’t was supreme in
others.
The Articles of Confederation
“a firm league of friendship” among the
States.
Powers
Obligations
• Declare war
• Obey Congress
• Deal with national finance
issues
• Respect the laws of the
other States.
•Settle disputes among the
States.
Articles of Confederation
National Gov’t
– Declare War
– Make Peace
– Sign Treaties
– Borrow Money
– Set standards for coins
– Establish Postal Service
– Deal with Native Americans
Article Problems
Lack of Unity and ability to repay loans
caused foreign problems
Inability to pay debt led to England
refusing to remove military from Great
Lakes.
Shay’s Rebellion
Farmers Rebellions
Daniel Shay felt he was the victim of to
much taxation.
Shay’s demanded courts to be closed
Shay led farmers to the courts in order to
close them.
1,200 farmers rebelled which made people
realize something must be wrong.
Constitution Convention
Shay’s Rebellion made Gov’t to address
problems
Taxes on trade between states became
big issue.
Delegates agreed on a stronger national
gov’t
Big States vs. Small States
Conflicting Plans
Virginia Plan
3 branches
2 houses of congress
– bicameral
Number of reps
determined by
population
New Jersey Plan
3 branches
1 house of congress
Equal number of reps
for all states
Great Compromise
Two house system
Each state would have equal
representation Senate (Upper House)
Size of state (Population) would determine
representation in House of Representation
(Lower House)
Slave Issue
Three-Fifths Compromise
– Reps based on populations became issue
– South had many slaves
– Three-fifths Compromise
– 3/5 slaves counted as part of population
Creation of the Constitution and Bill
of Rights 1781-90
Constitution drafted Sept 17th, 1787
Disagreement immediately on whether or
not it should be approved and ratified.
Two Rival Groups form
– Federalist
– Anti-Federalist
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists
Federalists
Supported constitution
strong federal gov’t
Would create a strong
stable nation
Anti-Federalists
opposed constitution
Power in the states
Federal gov’t would abuse
power
Gov’t should be close to
home
Bill of Rights
Only way states
would agree
12 Amendments
sent around to
states for
ratification
10 were approved
What are they?
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofri
ghts/
Political Beginnings
1st President – G. Washington
Did not like Political Parties
– Many believed he was a federalist
Bank of the United States
Creation of Washington D.C.
– Designed the city
Washington Accomplishments
America felt an obligation to help French
Revolution
– Washington chose neutrality – not choosing
sides
Washington
Nobody knew the role of President
– Washington left after two terms
– Created the Cabinet
People who assisted President in making
decisions
Warned us of future issues in “Farewell Address”
The Rise of Parties
With the rise of
political parties in
1796, flaws began
to be seen in the
system.
Adams beat
Jefferson by 3
votes
Jefferson became
his VP (rival party)
John Adams Accomplishments
XYZ Affair
Alien and Sedition Act
Appoints people on his way out of office to
sabotage Jefferson
– Leads to case of Marbury v. Madison
Creates Judicial Review
Election of 1800
Tie went to the
House of Reps
Took 36
ballots to
select
Jefferson
Led to a
Constitutional
change-12th
Amendment
Presidency of Thomas Jefferson
Elected in 1800
Average guy – simplified presidency
Louisiana Purchase – from France
– $18 per square mile
Lewis and Clark
– Explore the west, find a northwest passage
Presidents and Parties before 1850
James Monroe-Monroe Doctrine
Andrew Jackson suffers defeat in 1824.
– Calls it a “Corrupt Bargain”
– Why? What happened?
Andrew Jackson elected in 1828 as 1st
Democrat
Andrew Jackson
Shuts down the National bank
Indian Removal Act
– Ignores the Supreme Court
Fights for Federal power
– Nullification issue
Spoils System – cleaning house
– “to the victor goes the spoils”
– Appoints best friends
New Political Parties
Republican – opposed slavery
Democrat – states rights, divided on slavery
Whig – pro business, divided on slavery
Know Nothing – Anti-immigration
Free-Soil – anti-expansion of slavery
Death of a President
William Henry Harrison, Whig, dies after
being president for 32 days.
Vice President John Tyler takes over office
How does this impact the presidency?