Ch 2-2: The Coming of Independence
I. Britain’s Colonial Policies:
The 13 colonies were mainly controlled by the king of England.
Parliament had small role in colonial control.
The colonies became accustomed to self-gov’t.
--Colonial legislatures had a lot of power—power of the purse was very effective:
--Legislatures could manipulate the royal governors by not voting for the money to
pay his salaries until he agreed to the legislature’s demands.
Relationship between Britain and its colonies became more federal.
--Central government in London was responsible for colonial foreign affairs and
defense.
In 1760, George III came to power, and Britain began to deal more firmly with the
colonies.
--New trade restrictions imposed.
--New tax laws passed to support British troops in North America.
--Colonists opposed taxes imposed on them by Parliament in London.
--“No taxation without representation.”
--The colonists claimed their allegiance was to the Crown and not to
Parliament
II. Growing Colonial Unity:
In 1643 Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Haven, and Connecticut settlements
unified and formed the New England Confederation.
--A confederation is a joining of several groups for a common purpose.
In 1754 the British Board of Trade called for a meeting of seven northern colonies
at Albany, New York to discuss colonial trade and the dangers of attacks by the
French and their Native American allies.
This became known as the Albany Plan of Union- (1754)- plan proposed by
Benjamin Franklin aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, etc- Plan was
turned down by colonies and the Crown (NEVER passed)
--He called for creation of annual congress of delegates- representatives
Congress was to have power to:
--make war
--declare peace
--regulate trade
--collect customs duties
To raise money after the French & Indian War, Parliament passed a series of taxes
on goods used in the colonies.
The first was the Stamp Act of 1765.
--All legal documents, business agreement, newspapers, etc had to be stamped.
--Colonists were angry—claimed Parliament could not tax them, because they were
not represented in Parliament.
Parliament repealed (withdrawn/cancelled) the Stamp Act.
New laws were passed that bound the colonists closer to London.
Colonists protest and boycott (refusal to buy or sell) English goods.
--British fired on jeering colonists 1770 in Boston—Boston Massacre.
--Colonists protest the Tea Act by dressing up as Mohawk Indians and dumping tea
into Boston Harbor in the sea.
III. The First Continental Congress:
In 1774 Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts.
--aimed to punish colonists for the Boston Tea Party.
This led to the assembling of the First Continental Congress 1774 in Philadelphia.
A Declaration of Rights was sent by the First Continental Congress to King George
III demanding England repeal its harsh tax laws, and all colonies were urged not to
trade with England until its harsh policies were repealed.
IV. The Second Continental Congress:
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1775 after the revolution
had begun.
All 13 colonies sent delegates.
This was the first national government of the United States.
--It had no constitution.
--It was condemned by the British.
--It was the first government for five years during which time it:
a. fought a war
b. raised army and a navy
c. borrowed money
d. raised money
e. entered into treaties with foreign countries
V. The Declaration of Independence:
* July 4, 1776- Declaration of Independence was signed by the 13
colonies, proclaiming the existence of a new nation.
* Was signed during the American Revolutionary War
VI. The First State Constitutions:
Congress urged all the states to draft constitutions.
They set out in writing the fundamental laws, principles, and structures
of state government.
Most common features included popular sovereignty (gov’t can exist only with the
consent of the governed), limited government, civil rights and liberties, and checks
and balances/separation of powers:
Popular
Sovereignty
Limited
Government
Government can Government can
only exist with
only have certain
the consent of
powers
the governed
Civil Rights
and Liberties
People have
certain rights
that the
government
must respect at
all times and
cannot take
away
Separation of
Powers and
Checks and
Balances
Power was
divided between
the executive,
legislative, and
judicial branches.
Each branch had
powers to restrict
the actions of the
other two
branches.