THE UNITED STATES – THE BEGINNING
American Government
Unit 1
THE PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
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The people of England thought the colonists were crazy for leaving England
to travel so far away to live in the wilderness!
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Due to these two factors, the colonists got used to basically running their
own lives.
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This was their first trial run at the concept of federalism
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England was the central government and the colonies were the local governments
All of this changed with the French and Indian War
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The war was expensive
The British realized that the colonies were a huge profit-making opportunity AND that
they should have to pay for the cost of the war
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
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The British began taxing the colonies and they rebelled!
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Stamp Act 1765
Stamp Act Congress
• Stamp Act Repealed
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Tea Act 1773
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First Continental Congress 1774
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Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts 1773
Declaration of Rights – epic fail!
Lexington & Concord 1775
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Second Continental Congress 1775…
SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
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Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms
July 6 1775
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Written by Thomas Jefferson
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“By one statute [passed by Parliament] it is declared, that parliament can "of right
make laws to bind us in all cases whatsoever." What is to defend us against so
enormous, so unlimited a power? Not a single man of those who assume it, is chosen
by us; or is subject to our controul or influence…”
(Taxation without representation)
“Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if
necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtably attainable.”
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(a threat, but not a declaration of separation from England just yet…)
Signed by John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress
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Neither Parliament nor King George, however, were
interested in negotiations to prevent all-out war.
In August 1775, King George charged that the Americans "had
proceeded to open and avowed rebellion."
• A few months later, Parliament passed a significant act that
placed the American colonies outside the king's protection.
Allowing
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the seizing of American ships
burning of colonial towns
sending war ships and troops, including foreign mercenaries, to put
down the rebellion.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
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On June 8, 1776, the Continental Congress voted to write a declaration of
independence
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They appointed a committee to draft a formal document
The job of actually writing the draft fell to Thomas Jefferson
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Because John Adams and other committee members were busy trying to manage the rapidly
escalating war with England.
Jefferson didn’t have to look very far to find the base ideas for the
Declaration…
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Natural Rights Philosophy & the Nature of Government
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John Locke
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EVERYONE is born with equality of certain rights. Since these rights
come from nature or from God, natural rights cannot be justly taken
away without consent
The government is morally obliged to serve people by
protecting
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life
liberty
Property
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Second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence proves Locke’s
influence:
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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the
Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
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http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/educatorresources/americapedia/americapedia-constitution/natural-rights/
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http://fee.org/freeman/detail/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-andproperty
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http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1751-1775/second-continentalcongress-declaration-of-the-causes-and-necessity-of-taking-up-arms-july6-1775.php
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http://www.crf-usa.org/foundations-of-our-constitution/naturalrights.html