Pre-Revolutionary America

The Colonists Are Isolated• For most of the 18th

century the colonists live in relative isolation (little enforcement of English laws)

–This English policy is called “salutary neglect”

Government in the Colonies• In the beginning, Britain's

hand was lightly felt in the government of the colonies– Each colony had a legislature

that passed laws and taxed its citizens as it saw fit– The separate colonies rarely

cooperated with each other

Anti-England Myth!• It is commonly believed that the American colonists

hated the British from the start– That is NOT true!– An overwhelming majority of colonists remained loyal to

the king and recognized Parliament as the ultimate governmental authority

• The British and the colonists depended on each other – Colonies need the British for trade – British need colonies for protection from other nations

with interests in North America and raw goods

French and Indian War• Britain vs. France• Who won?– The British

• Why did the British win?–Coalition of British, colonists, and Indians

• What did Britain get from France?–Almost all of the French land in North

America!

Consequences of the French and Indian War

• This is the start of the steady decline in colonial and British relations

• Faced with HUGE war debts, the British began to squeeze more tax money out of the colonists– This is where the rallying cries of “No

taxation without representation !” and “no legislation without representation!” come from

Colonists begin to Cooperate • Colonists began to grow frustrated

with Parliamentary rule and begin to organize – Sons of Liberty• Coordinated anti-parliament

demonstrations and organized militias – Stamp Act Congress • First colonial meeting of political

leaders

British Response to Colonial Cooperation

• Fearing the loss of one of its most profitable colonies, British react in various ways– Writs of Assistance– Sugar Act– Stamp Act– Proclamation of 1763– Quartering Act– Townshend Duties– Intolerable Acts– Boston Tea Party– Boston Massacre– Declaration of Independence

Causes of the Revolution Timeline• Puzzle Piece Requirements:–Name of Cause–Date of Cause– Explanation as to what the Cause is– Significance of the Cause to the study of the

Revolution• Why is this event important to American history?

Causes of the Revolution Timeline• Each team member has a role:– Reader/Quality Control

• Read the article to the group• Make sure the final draft of the puzzle piece is PERFECT!

– Mock Up• Create a rough draft of the puzzle piece on printer paper• This draft needs to resemble what the final draft will look like

– Scribe• Create the PERFECT final draft of the puzzle

– Surgeon/Flair Technician • Cut out the puzzle piece while the reader is reading the article• Add topic relevant color to the puzzle, you want it to stand out in a good

way!

Timeline Project…• Read the article—answer Cougar Summary ?s• Underline SEVEN essential facts you HAVE to

know to understand your topic• Create a rough draft of your puzzle piece• Check with the teacher!!• Then, write with a pencil the essential facts,

then color and draw symbols.• Finally, cut out your puzzle piece.

Complaint Letter to King George III• You will adopt the persona of a colonist • Create a formal letter to the King listing your top

5 complaints of the treatment of the colonists• You are hand writing this, so it needs to be

legible• Keep your tone professional, this is practice for

later in life!• See the sample letter at your table for guidance

While watching the film, write down significant historical events on the papers provided (think cougar summary info.).

Be prepared to create a cartoon storyboard after viewing the film.

The Story of Us…

In pairs, you will create a six cell plot storyboard on the film.

Your storyboard must include:SIX defining moments from the film Word bubbles or explanations of the event Color

Detailed illustrations

Storyboard Activity

First Continental Congress• Spring 1774• Met in response to the Intolerable Acts• Delegates crafted a Declaration of Rights and sent it

to King George• Delegates went back to their original legislatures to

drum up support for independence from the Crown

Second Continental Congress• 1774-81• Met in Philadelphia, the war had begin with

Lexington and Concord• John Hancock was chosen as president of the

Congress• This is the nation’s first national government• This Congress formed a committee of 5 members to

draft a proclamation of independence

Declaration of Independence• Penned mostly by Thomas Jefferson

in 5 days• Document was re-printed on

poster-sized paper and distributed through out the colonies to persuade colonists fight a revolution

• Historians believe Jefferson intended the DOI to be preformed/read aloud to crowds

Declaration of Independence• Even through it lists “all men are

created equal,” the DOI has no mentions of slavery or women, and mentions Native Americans in a negative way

• This document will inspire the French Revolution, the quest for suffrage, the Civil Rights Movement, and a rebellion against communist China in Tiananmen Square

What does the DOI say?

Click the document to hear the DOI read

by some of Hollywood’s biggest

stars!

Articles of ConfederationFirst National Government Many weaknesses:

Congress could not impose or force states to pay taxes

Congress could not settle disputes between the states

Needed approval of all 13 states to change the government

No chief executive

No national court system

powerless to raise an army

• New country was afraid of:– having too strong of a leader…like a king– their government force them to pay TAXES– government abuse its power and take away

citizens rights

Why was a weak government created?

Meeting to FIX the Articles of Confederation

• When? May 25, 1787• Where? Philadelphia-State house (now Independence

Hall)• Why? discuss trade issues & strengthening the

Articles of Confederation• Who? 12 of the 13 Colonies

» The delegates were called FRAMERS» James Madison (“Father of the Constitution”), Alexander Hamilton, John Adams,

and 52 other delegates

• How? Majority carried the vote/conducted business• George Washington was the president of the convention

VIRGINIA VS. NEW JERSEY PLANS

• Virginia Plan: Bicameral Legislation based on state population

• New Jersey Plan: Unicameral Legislation based on one state = one vote

Proposals at the Philadelphia Convention

Versus…

The Connecticut Compromise (A.K.A. The Great Compromise)

• After a deadlocked that dragged on & on, Roger Sherman finally suggested the Connecticut Compromise (a.k.a. the Great Compromise) which satisfied both big & small states

• Bicameral Congress with House of Reps based on population (VA Plan) and Senate based on one state = one vote (NJ Plan)

Three-fifth Compromise• Next difficult issue:

Slavery • Southern states wanted

slaves included in the population figures used to determine Representatives

• Northern states which had few slaves, disagreed

• Compromise was to count each slave as 3/5ths of a person

Division of Powers• Next issue: Should the

National government or the states hold power? Who shall be sovereign?

• Delegates choose to split power

• Federalism system developed• Federal government had

delegated, or enumerated powers (Coin, trade, war, etc.)

• States had reserved powers (education)

Federal Enumerated Power

State Reserved Power

Separation of Powers• Federal gov’t had the power

to:– Executive branch: Execute

laws, veto the legislature’s acts, supervise foreign affairs, and direct the military

– Legislative branch: Senate (elected by state legislature)/House (elected by the people) Virginia vs. New Jersey plan

– Judicial branch: enforce the Constitution as the “supreme law of the land”

Checks and Balances• To prevent one

branch from having too much power, the framers agreed on checks and balances

Federalist Vs. Anti-Federalists

•The Articles of Confederation are too weak.• Only a strong central government can overcome the difficulties the Republic faces.• Liberties that would be included in a bill of rights are covered in the State constitutions.

The subject speaks its own importance; comprehending in its consequences nothing less than the existence of the UNION, the safety and welfare of the parts of which it is composed, the fate of an empire in many respects the most interesting in the world.”

— Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, No. 1, 1787

• The States no longer have the power to print money.• The central government holds too much power.• There is no bill of rights. The fate of this question and America may depend on this: Have they said, we the States? Have they made a proposal of a compact between States? If they had this would be a confederation…”

— Patrick Henry, speech before the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 5, 1788

Federalists Anti-Federalists

The Constitution was HOTLY debated by both sides!

How did the Constitution get adopted?

• The Constitution is called a “bundle of compromises”• Oldest Living Constitution

• Promise of a Bill of Rights– These 10 amendments guaranteed many of the freedoms

Americans identify today

– Many of these rights were derived from the natural rights proposed by the 18th Century philosophes

Cougar Congress• I have petitioned Mrs. Exline and the BOE for a change in

the power structure at SHS– I think the students should have more of a say in the everyday

operations of the school• Cougar Congress:– will have power to “govern” school issues like: snack machines,

lunch choices, open lunch, phone use, the type of music played throughout the day, etc.

• I have been asked to poll my students on how this assembly should be made up

• In your groups, you will have 10 min. to complete your role and come up with a representation strategy

Word Wall AssignmentsGroup # Words Assigned1 salutary neglect2 colony3 citizen4 sovereignty5 loyalists6 French-Indian War7 Sons of Liberty8 Stamp Act Congress9 Taxation without representation10 King George III11 Popular sovereignty12 Militias 13 confederation14 imperial15 Daughters of Liberty

Front: Vocabulary word +hint

Back: Definition/ Team names