Ch 2 :Focus (Secs 3-4-5)
1. What was the
“real revolution” of the
American Revolution?
2. British Colonies to a Federal
Republic- How did that
happen?
Revolution
• From Latin revolvere = “to revolve”
• A sudden, radical , or complete change.
• Forcible overthrow of a government or
social order for a new system.
• A fundamental change in way of
thinking about or visualizing something.
What was the
“Real Revolution”?
“The Revolution was effected before the
War commenced. The Revolution was in
the minds and hearts of the peoples,
opinions, sentiments, and affections of the
people, was the real American Revolution.”
–John Adams, 1818
What caused the evolution from
British colonies to United States?
Charter / Proprietary / Royal
British Colonies
Declaration of Independence
Independent States
Articles of Confederation
Confederation
Constitution
U.S. Federal Republic
3 types of Colonies
• 1. Charter-Founded by groups seeking escape from Religious
persecution.
-Self- governing, created first representative
legislatures.
-Allowed a wide scope of freedom from Britain.
-Little communication & coordination with British
Parliament.
2. Proprietary Colonies
• Organized by a proprietor, to whom the King had made
a grant of land. (Like a landlord)
• Land could be settled and governed as the proprietor
chose.
• Governor was appointed by the proprietor, the
legislatures were representative in form, but appeals of
decisions went to the king.
• Proprietor was extremely loyal to the King!
• Ex: William Penn (Pennsylvania)
Lord Baltimore (Maryland – haven for Catholics)
3. Royal Colonies
• Subject to the direct control of the crown/ parliament.
• By 1776 all but Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, &
Connecticut were royal colonies.
• Charter colonies had their charters revoked when the
King was unhappy with their government actions.
• King replaced their governors and suspended their
legislative bodies.
• Often martial law was imposed.
(British troops sent in to maintain order)
Discussion Question #1
A. Where did the Revolution
begin?Charter colonies? Proprietary
colonies? Royal colonies?
Why????
B. Which type of colony was more
likely to remain loyal to the King?
Why?
The Declaration of Independence
Adopted by the 1st Continental Congress; Committee of 5
(Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson)
• Written by Thomas Jefferson.
• Jefferson included a reference to slavery in
original declaration; it was omitted before the
declaration was adopted.
• Written like a lawyer’s brief:
1. The law
3. evidence / arguments
2. The question
4. conclusion / position
An indictment lists the formal charges
or “crimes”
• According to the Declaration of Independence,
what crimes did the King commit?
• Discussion Question #2:
• List 3 “crimes” committed by the King.
• Why did Jefferson blame the King and not
Parliament?
Declaration of Independence
Question
1.
Natural/Unalienable rights
What are they?
Who / where do they come
from?
2. Why are governments
formed?
What is the purpose of
govt.?
3. When do people have
the right to change or do
away with the govt?
Jefferson
Dec. of Independence
Locke
2nd Treatise of Govt.
pg 784
Major Themes of the
Declaration of
Independence
1. Self evident truths
2. Human Equality
3. Natural Rights
4. Purpose of Gov’t
5. Measure of Justice
6. Right of Revolution
7. Limits to the right of
revolution
1. “We hold these truths to be selfevident.”
2. “All men are create equal”
3. “…endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights
Life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness”
4. “To secure rights”
5. “Consent of the governed”
6. Whenever any form of gov’t is
destructive of the security of natural
rights.
7. Prudence: Long-established gov’t
shouldn’t be overthrown for “light &
transient causes”
Experience: Men are more disposed to
suffer while evils are sufferable than to
right themselves
Locke’s Ideas
1. Natural law / rights=
-State of perfect freedom, governed by the laws of
nature.
-“free, equal & independent”
2. Why Govt?
-the preservation of their property.
-form communities to be safe and protect property.
-ruled by the majority
3. Trade-off?
-Freedom from living in fear for preservation of their
“lives, liberties and estates (property).
Discussion Question #3
Find 3 examples- andCompare what Jefferson says with what
Locke says For ex- Jefferson says, “All men are created
equal” & Locke says…….
“….By nature, all men are free, equal and
independent.”
Jefferson’s changes to Locke’s ideas
1. Natural law = individual rights come from state of equality
(from God or nature), not through an agreement with the
King. (Magna Carta)
2. Inalienable rights =
life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness,
not, life, liberty & (estates)property.
3. Consent of the governed= right of revolution
4. Revolution is a right and an obligation!
The “Critical Period”
• From Dec of Ind to Constitution.
• First national government= The 2nd continental
congress.
1. established the first official national
government,
2. instructed the states to abolish charters and
write constitutions.
3. conducted the war for independence.
4. Established the “Articles of Confederation”
Why were the Articles of
Confederation “bad”?
• Video clip: By Crash Course US History
The Constitution, the Articles and Federalism
Stop at 4:30
The Articles of Confederation
Video Notes
The 1st United States government was_____.
Problem with the Articles= not a framework for govt. but a
____________.
Problems with the Articles:
3. Structure:
4. Making decisions:
5. Powers:
6. Passing amendments:
1.
2.
7. Why were the articles “deliberately weak”?
8. Why was the govt under the Articles a “complete disaster”?
9. What was the significance of Shay’s rebellion?
The Articles of Confederation
•
•
•
•
“Firm league of Friendship”
1 house legislature- no executive or judicial branch
Each state had equal representation.
Congress had power to declare war & establish foreign
policy BUT…..
• Congress could not- regulate trade or commerce or
could not levy taxes (only borrow or ask states for money)
***************************
To pass laws required 9/13 states to approve
= “super majority”
To amend the Articles required unanimous consent.
What was the real revolution?
•The change in beliefs
regarding
the role & purpose of
government.
So how did the Constitution solve
these problems?
• Constitution Scavenger Hunt - #2