Unit 2: Founding
of Our Nation
The Road to
Revolution
1. How did the end of the French
and Indian War lead the American
colonists on the road to revolution?
2. Describe the significance of
the following taxes by the British
Parliament.
I. Growing Discontent
•
Britain made no serious effort to
control the colonies for 70 years
–
•
Britain taxed colonists to pay for
French & Indian war debt; strained
relations between colonists & British
Stamp Act taxed documents such as
wills, licenses and newspapers
•
–
–
•
Colonies were left to go their separate
ways  Salutary Neglect!
Significance: First tax to impact most
people and colonists openly protested
Tax would pay for more British soldiers in
the colonies
Sugar Act taxed molasses (for rum)
“No Taxation without Representation”
• Traced back to Magna Carta
• Britain had no right to tax
•
•
•
w/out colonial voice in
Parliament
No elected officials to
represent colonists
Colonists were outraged &
violence erupted
Boycotts were organized, so
British repealed Stamp Act
Colonial
Responses
• Virginia Resolves
• Stamp Act Congress
• Sons of Liberty
• Riots
• Burned stamps
• Tarred & feathered
tax collectors
• BOYCOTTS!!!!
Albany Plan of Union
•
•
Influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy
Plan proposed by Ben Franklin - make laws, levy
taxes, and establish defense
–
–
•
Called for Grand Council w/ representatives from each
colony
Rejected by colonial assemblies
Significance: It was the first attempt to
unite the colonies
Townshend Acts
•
•
Taxed imported glass, lead,
paper, silk and tea
Customs officials sent to
ports to stop smugglers
i. Writs of assistance were
legal document for search
ii. Colonists protested
claiming searches were illegal
Nonimportation Agreement
•
•
•
•
Colonists response to Townshend
Acts
Stopped importing British goods
to hurt British merchants wallets
Colonists organized effort through
newspapers
Sons of Liberty devised plan to
protest British policies and
protect colonial liberties
–
•
Stop using taxed goods and quit
drinking British tea
Daughters of Liberty vowed to
wear only homespun cloth
Colonial Leaders
• Samuel Adams (MA) wrote
•
•
•
pamphlets and newspaper
articles
John Adams (MA) had
extensive knowledge of
British law
George Washington (VA)
was a riveting speaker &
leader in battle
Mercy Otis Warren’s plays
made fun of British officials
3. Provide details about these
events and describe the colonial
reaction to the following British
policies.
VI. The Boston Massacre
• Angry colonists gathered
•
outside Boston customs
house
Unknown person fired a
shot - British opened fire
on crowd
–
Five people were killed
including Crispus Attucks
(Sons of Liberty member)
• Paul Revere’s, The Bloody
Massacre stirred-up antiBritish sentiment
Results
• John Adams
•
•
represented soldiers in
court – soldiers
received light
sentences
Parliament repealed
Townshend taxes,
except tea
Committees of
Correspondence united
colonists
– formed by Sam Adams,
most effective radical in
the colonies
Trouble over Tea
•
British East India Tea Co. was
in financial trouble
Tea Act (1773) passed, so
BEIT Co. could sell directly to
consumers
•
–
–
Meant to lower the price of tea
Colonists were outraged,
boycott the “accursed stuff”
Boston Tea Party
• Colonists reaction to the Tea
•
•
•
Act
Gov. Hutchinson (MA)
demanded tea be unloaded
from ships
Colonists dressed as Natives
and boarded the ship
Threw 342 chests of tea into
Boston Harbor
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
• King George III response to
the BTP
• Shut down the port of Boston
• Town meetings only held once a
•
•
•
year
British officials were to be tried
in England, not Massachusetts
Quartering Act passed – citizens
must house soldiers
People of Boston must be
punished!
•
First Continental
Congress formed in
response to Intolerable
Acts
–
–
–
–
12 colonies attended,
not GA
Called for boycott of
British goods & stop
exporting to England
Urged colonies to form
militias
Agreed to re-convene
the following Spring
4. Describe the significance of
the following major events in
the Revolutionary War.
•
•
•
•
“The British are Coming”
Gen. Gage’s scouts reported
Concord, MA had an arsenal
On 4/18/1775, Gage sent 700
troops to seize arms
William Dawes and Paul
Revere warned the colonists
in advance
Battle at Lexington – “The
Shot Heard Around the World”
–
Capt. Parker led 70 minutemen,
but British advanced
“The British are Coming” (cont.)
• Battle at Concord
–
–
British returned to find 300 men
waiting at bridge
British retreated – 73 dead, 200
wounded
• THE FIGHT FOR
INDEPENDENCE BEGINS!!!
The American
Revolution
Green Mountain Boys
•
Led by Ethan Allen
(Vermont)
Surprise attack on Fort
Ticonderoga resulted in
victory
•
–
Controlled key route to
Canada
5. Describe the significance of
the following individuals in the
Revolutionary War.
Last Effort for Peace
•
Olive Branch Petition sent
to King George III
(England) declaring loyalty
–
•
Asked king to repeal
Intolerable Acts
Continental Army formed
and George Washington
was appointed leader
British Military
•
•
Strengths - experienced
troops, powerful navy,
ships could move soldiers
Weaknesses - 3,000 miles
from home, risked attacks
in countryside because
they didn’t know the land
Continental Army
•
•
Strengths - defending
homeland, many owned
rifles and were good shots &
brilliant leader, GW
Weaknesses – untrained
troops, few cannons and
little gunpowder & no navy
Bunker Hill
•
•
•
•
First major battle
Patriots led by William
Prescott, William Howe led
British attack
British victorious, but
costly (1,000 men dead or
wounded)
Proved Americans could
fight bravely
Don’t shoot until you see the
whites of their eyes!
Advance to Canada
•
Montgomery seized Montreal
(Nov. 1775)
Benedict Arnold led troops to
Quebec
•
–
–
•
Planned to join forces with
Montgomery during horrible winter
French Canadians refused to support
Americans
Quebec was attacked Montgomery killed and Arnold
wounded
–
Americans withdrew > British
controlled Canada
Common Sense
•
•
•
•
Pamphlet written by Thomas
Paine in Jan. 1776
United colonists – stated
America should be independent
& free from the control of the
British
Structured it like a sermon &
used Biblical references to
make his case to the people
Sold more than 500,000 copies
in the first year
Declaration of Independence
•
Stated that citizens should abolish the govt. if it
abuses power & form a new one
–
–
•
Jefferson actually wrote it
–
•
Influenced by John Locke – right to life, liberty & property
John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert
Livingston, & Roger Sherman
July 4, 1776 delegates accepted the document
Three main parts - Basic Rights / British Wrongs /
An Independent Nation
The Declaration of Independence
The Committee
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Robert Livingston
Roger Sherman
*Jefferson actually
put his pen on the
parchment
Competition Within
•
Patriots - colonists who
supported independence
Loyalists - colonists who
remained loyal to Britain
•
–
–
Wealthy merchants & former
govt. officials
Difficult life > some were
tarred and feathered
Campaign in New York
•
British were led by Gen.
Howe - 1,400 American
causalities
Howe pursued Gen.
Washington across the
Hudson and Delaware Rivers
Nathan Hale slipped behind
British lines & returned w/
detailed battle plans
•
•
–
Caught and hanged as a
traitor and spy
Battle of Trenton
•
GW led a surprise attack
–
–
•
Crossed Delaware River on
Christmas night 1776
Continental Army launched
successful surprise attack
Caught the Hessians
recovering from heavy
night of partying
–
Americans then took
Princeton > NEW HOPE!!!!!
Battle of Saratoga
•
•
The Turning Point of the war
SIGNIFICANCE: Convinced
France to openly support the
American cause
–
–
–
–
•
King Louis XVI declared France an
ally to America
French Navy supported America in
war effort > HUGE!!!
Provided military aid from France
Ended British threat to New
England
Boosted American spirits
The Battle of Saratoga
October 7, 1777
Turning Point of the War
British General John Burgoyne surrendered to American General
Horatio Gates at Saratoga, New York
France
decided to
help the
Americans
and
provide
naval
support
Valley Forge
•
Continental Army struggled
for survival – brutal winter
–
•
•
Smallpox outbreak avoided
by inoculating the troops
Women offered much
needed assistance
GW skillfully avoided
mutiny by the troops
Winter 1777-1778
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Location was close enough to apply
pressure, but far enough away to avoid a
sneak attack
2,000 huts built, miles of trenches dug
Fortifications built
2,000 soldiers die
2/3 from disease:
influenza, smallpox
typhus, typhoid, and
dysentery
Help from Abroad
•
•
•
Lafayette – Frenchman
brought 6,000 trained
troops to America
Galvez – Spaniard secretly
supplied gunpowder,
medicine &muskets
Von Steuben – Prussian
trained soldiers to march
and use bayonets
Baron Friedrich von Steuben trained the
troops
War in the South
•
•
•
•
•
Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge
(NC)
King’s Mountain (SC) was
captured & boosted Patriots
morale
Francis Marion, “Swamp Fox,”
led attacks that kept the British
off guard in SC
Daniel Morgan led Virginia
Riflemen to victory at Cowpens
(SC)
Nathaniel Greene used “hitand-run” tactics that wore
down the British
An American Traitor
•
Benedict Arnold was a
respected leader & close
friend of GW
Commanded fort at West
Point
•
–
•
•
Offered West Point to British
Message was intercepted &
West Point was saved
Arnold escaped and joined
British
Victory at Last!!!
•
Yorktown was the final battle
–
–
–
•
•
British, led by Cornwallis, camped
near Chesapeake Bay
GW knew area well and realized
British could be trapped
French support
Naval fleet led by de Grasse
Troops led by Rochambeau
–
–
GW led troops south from NY
Supplies to British were cut off >
forced Gen. Cornwallis to
surrender.
Yorktown: The Final Battle
Victory at Last Cont.
• Treaty of Paris (1783)
– U.S. recognized as independent
nation
– Borders: Atlantic Ocean to
Mississippi River
– Congress ratified April 15, 1783
• UNITED STATES BECAME
AN INDEPENDENT
NATION!
Reasons for Declaring
Independence
Citizens wanted to limit the
power of government
• Lack of representation – “No
taxation without
representation”
• Protect personal freedoms
• Desired to be represented
fairly and equally in the
lawmaking process
Ideation
•
Magna Carta
•
•
English laws traced to Magna
Carta, or “Great Charter”
– Limit power of ruler
– Representative govt. w/
Parliament in control
– Greater rights for citizens
Enlightenment influences
English Bill of Rights protected
rights
– T. Paine – “the mind once
enlightened…”
– J. Locke – right to life, liberty,
and property
– Montesquieu – separate powers
of govt. (3 branches)
6. Describe the impact of the
following on the creation of the
new national government.
American Models
•
League of the Iroquois
(Iroquois Confederacy)
–
•
•
•
Influenced Preamble to
Constitution and the idea of
unity
New England town meetings
VA House of Burgesses –
legislative govt.
Mayflower Compact
State Constitutions
•
Republic put people in
power  elected
governors
–
•
•
Limit govt. control &
separation of powers
Bill of Rights – George
Mason (VA)
Suffrage – white males
that paid taxes & were
property owners
7. How effective was the
Articles of Confederation in
ruling the new nation?
•
Articles of Confederation
Our first Constitution –
November 15, 1777
Created a central govt. w/
limited powers
•
–
–
–
–
–
“Loose alliance” of states
Congress – make and pass
laws
13 States – 1 vote per state
States – enforce laws
No President – weary of too
much power
Articles of Confederation Cont.
• Ratification required formal
approval of all 13 states
–
–
–
–
Conflicts over western lands
VA, NY – largest land claims
MD – refused until they got
their share
NY ratified in 1780 & VA
approved in 1781
• Finally ratified in March 178
Weaknesses of Articles of
Confederation
•
•
•
•
Congress couldn’t impose
taxes was the greatest
weakness
All states had to agree to
pass laws
No executive branch to
enforce the laws passed by
Congress
Labeled as “feeble and
ineffectual”
Western Lands
•
•
Land of Ordinance of 1785
raised revenue by selling land
– Sold in large plots –
companies not farmers
– System settled the NW
Territory
NW Ordinance established
govt. for NW – no slaves
– Finest achievement under
Articles of Confederation
– Five states formed – OH, IN,
IL, MI, and WI
The Northwest Ordinance
Shay’s Rebellion
•
Economic depression led to
uprising of farmers
–
Farmers: high taxes + debt
led to many foreclosures
Revolt shut down the courts in
Massachusetts
–
•
•
No courts = no foreclosures
2,000 rebels participated the militia was sent in and
squashed the rebellion
Shay’s Rebellion Cont.
• Impact ~ Articles of
Confederation was too
weak – not working
• Congress couldn’t raise taxes
• No branch to enforce laws
• All states had to agree to pass
•
laws
Couldn’t regulate trade
• Push for Change
–
–
Revisions to A of C –
national conference held
No NE states or NC, SC, GA
~ Only 5 states attended
8. Describe the plans and
compromises of the
Constitutional Convention.
Constitutional Convention
•
Purpose was to revise the Articles of
Confederation
Philadelphia in 1787 – Independence
Hall
Preserve the Union!!!
12 states sent 55 delegates - RI refused
to attend
•
•
•
•
–
College educated w/ political experience
James Madison - “Father of the
Constitution”
Best prepared delegate – wanted to
preserve states rights w/ a strong Union
Kept detailed records in his daily diary
•
•
–
Absent – J. Adams, Jefferson, S. Adams,
P. Henry
•Varied experience
30 fought in revolution
- 15 saw serious action
39 members of Continental Congress
8 served on state Const. Conventions
3 State Governors – 4 past Governors
8 Signers of the Declaration of Ind.
8 Judges
More than half were lawyers
¼ owned large commercial farms or plantations
31 college graduates
2 college presidents
3 college professors
2 future US Presidents
1 future Vice President
17 future Senators
11 future Representatives
All were known in their states and at least ¼ had national reputations
Virginia Plan – Madison
•
Strong national govt. w/ 3
branches
–
–
–
•
Legislative – passes laws
Executive – carries out laws
Judicial – interprets laws
Two-House legislature –
based on population
–
Favored large states, so
small states opposed
New Jersey Plan – William
Paterson
•
•
•
•
Small states response to VA
Plan
Three branches
One-house legislature: one
state = one vote
Federal govt. powers: taxes
& regulate commerce
The Great Compromise – Roger Sherman
•
•
•
•
•
–
Major disagreement between VA/NJ
Plans centered on representation of
the people in govt.
Upper house – Senate gets two
reps per state (NJ plan)
Lower house – House of Reps. –
based on population (VA)
Created a bicameral Congress
based on population and equal
representation
Three-Fifths Compromise Southerners wanted slaves counted
Slaves were counted as 3/5 for purpose
of representation in Congress
10. Compare the ideas held by
the Federalist and the AntiFederalists.
Opposing Views
•
•
–
Federalism – divide power
between fed/state govt.
Checks and Balances - limit
the power of govt.
•
•
•
•
–
Each branch checks the other
two branches
Congress passes laws but Pres.
can veto
Judicial Branch determines if
laws passed by Congress are
Constitutional
Federalists – supported the
Constitution
Anti-federalists opposed
Constitution because it
lacked a Bill of Rights
Claimed that it didn’t protect
our rights!
11. What were the Federalist
papers?
The Federalists Papers
•
•
•
Purpose was to rally
support for ratification of
the Constitution
Written by Alexander
Hamilton, James Madison
and John Jay
States wouldn’t be
overpowered by fed. govt.
Ratification of the Constitution
•
9 of 13 states needed to
ratify
June 1788 – NH was 9th
state to approve
•
–
•
NY, VA, NC, and RI ratify
later
Bill of Rights – the first 10
Amendments to the
Constitution
Ratification of the Constitution
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Amendments – 2/3 vote propose, ¾ vote ratify
1. Speech, religion & press
2. Bear Arms
3. Lodging Troops
4. Search and seizure
5. Rights of accused
6. Trial by jury
7. Jury in civil case
8. Bail & punishment
9. Power of people
10. Power of states
Constitution has three parts: Preamble, Articles 1-7
and Amendments 1-27
> Greatest living document in history!
Forging the New Republic
Washington Becomes President
•
A. Unanimous choice:
Moved to NY – temporary
capital
B. Felt the responsibility of
the nation was on his
shoulders
•
–
•
i. “…feelings of a culprit who
is going to execution”
C. Established precedents
for future Presidents to
follow
12. Describe the precedents
(examples) set by George
Washington.
Washington’s Cabinet
•
•
•
•
•
Precedent established –
surrounded himself w/ trusted
advisors (Executive Cabinet)
Secretary of State – Thomas
Jefferson
Secretary of War – Henry
Knox
Secretary of Treasury –
Alexander Hamilton
Attorney General – Edmund
Randolph
13. Compare the two political
parties of the first party system.
First Political Parties in the U.S.
Federalists
Led by Alexander Hamilton
Strong national govt.
Supported manufacturing/industry
Loose construction
Favored national bank
vs.
Democratic Republicans
Led by Thomas Jefferson
Small national govt. (power
w/ states)
Supported agriculture
Strict construction
Opposed national bank
*Political parties formed due to disagreements over the
role of govt.*
14. Describe the economic
policies of Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton’s Economic Plan
•
•
•
•
A. An effective govt.
needed an “enlightened
ruling class”
B. Govt. should assume all
existing public debt from the
war
C. The country needed a
national bank
D. The nation’s economy
should be based on industry
and manufacturing
Hamilton’s Economic Plan Cont.
•
E. Needed to create govt.
revenue – Taxes!
–
–
•
i. Tariff – tax on imported
goods
ii. Excise “sin” tax – liquor,
tobacco and luxuries
Compromise reached –
moved the capital to
Philadelphia, then DC
–
Southerners then agreed to
state debt bill
National Bank Issue
•
A. Most controversial
part of Hamilton’s
plan
B. Loose
construction – loose
interpretation of
Constitution
•
–
–
i. Hamilton –
“necessary and proper
clause”
ii. Supported national
bank
•C. Strict construction –
strict interpretation of
Constitution
Jefferson – “limit the
power of govt.”
ii. Opposed national bank
•i.
•D. President Washington
signed the Bank Bill in
1791
Whiskey Rebellion
•
•
•
•
•
. A. Farmers objected violently
to excise tax
B. Tax affected their
pocketbooks - attacked tax
collectors
D. 2,000 rebels threatened
Pittsburgh
E. GW and Hamilton led
13,000 troops to squash
rebellion
F. Farmers scattered “without
spilling a drop of blood”
Remaining Neutral
•
A. Washington issued Neutrality
Proclamation in 1793
–
–
•
•
i. U.S. would be friendly and
impartial w/ France and Great Britain
ii. GW opted to stay out of
French Revolution
B. Edmund Genet, French
ambassador, openly defied
Neutrality Proclamation
C. Washington demanded
France replace Genet
Remaining Neutral
•
Diplomatic challenges
–
–
–
•
Jay’s Treaty (1794) - Chief
Justice John Jay negotiated w/
British
–
–
•
Jefferson resigned as Sec. Of State
British seized American ships &
sailors imprisoned
Britain stirred up trouble in NW
Territory w/ natives
Brits paid for damages to ships &
left forts in NW Territory
No more impressments of sailors
Pinckney’s Treaty- settled border
and trade disputes w/ Spain
Conflicts in the NW Territory (1790’s)
•
•
•
•
A. Violence over land w/
Native Americans - Ohio and
Indiana
B. Little Turtle led forces
to victory - greatest Native
American victory over white
man
C. Battle of Fallen Timbers
- Miami’s were defeated
D. Treaty of Greenville
(1795) gained OH, IN, IL
and MI
Farewell Address by Washington
•
A. Precedent established for
our future leaders
–
–
–
–
•
i. Warned of dangers of political
parties (divided country)
ii. Avoid foreign entanglements –
supported his policy of neutrality
iii. Two-term limit for the President
iv. Executive Cabinet
B. Religious principle would
guide national morality
President Adams
•
A. Election of 1796: Adams (F)
defeated Jefferson (D-R) 71 to 68
B. Flaw in the ConstitutionJefferson was VP, (Adams rival)
C. XYZ Affair
•
•
–
–
–
–
–
–
Jay’s Treaty didn’t sit well w/ France
US diplomats were disrespected and
French wanted bribes
Adams went to Congress and named
French agents X,Y and Z
Americans wanted war
Congress responded - cut-off trade w/
France, cancelled wartime treaties,
built warships
and captured
French vessels
US skillfully avoided costly war w/
France
Alien and Sedition Acts
•
•
•
•
•
•
Response to XYZ and
resentment of foreigners
Foreigners must register w/
govt.
Allowed president to jail or
deport “dangerous” foreigners
Prohibited criticism of public
officials (FREEDOM OF
SPEECH?)
Jefferson and Madison argued
that acts were unconstitutional
Created deeper divide in
Congress and the country
15. Explain the contributions of
John Marshall in the establishment
of the Judicial Branch as an equal
branch of government.
Marbury vs. Madison
•
A. Supreme Court defined its
power of judicial review by
declaring an act of Congress
unconstitutional
B. John Marshall ~ “Father of
the Supreme Court”
•
–
–
•
Chief Justice from 1801 -1835
Established Supreme Court as coequal third branch of govt.
C. Helped establish power of
judicial branch w/ judicial
review
–
Judicial review provides checks
and balances w/ other two
branches of govt.