Chapter 2 Section 2Mr. Gordon

American Independence

After the French and Indian War, the colonists rebelled against British attempts to assert control over the colonies and against new British taxes.

In 1775 the Second Continental Congress called for the writing of a formal Declaration of Independence.

Main Idea: The British imposed new policies on their American colonies, sparking rebellion and, in time, the American Revolution.

American Independence

The road that led the American colonies to unite with one another and break with Great Britain was long and fraught with conflict.

American Independence

Early Attempts at Unity1643: New England Confederation formed to defend against threats from Native Americans and Dutch colonies

1854-1763: French and Indian War spurred new drive toward unity

1754: Great Britain urged signing of treaty with Iroquois Confederation

Ben Franklin proposed Albany Plan of Union to control trade, raise armies, build settlements, equip fleets

American Independence

Growing Tensions

Mid-1700s: colonists used to handling affairs without interference from British

1760: King George III began to tighten control over colonies

Most colonists viewed selves as loyal subjects of British Crown

Parliament began to think colonies had become too independent

Following French and Indian War, Parliament placed new financial burdens on colonists

American Independence

Changes in British PoliciesBritish victorious in French and Indian War, but

incurred massive debtsParliament looked to colonies to offset cost of

war, defense of coloniesEnforced trade restrictions benefiting Britain,

including series of taxesColonists resented being taxed without their

consent.

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The Stamp Act Congress1765: Stamp Act: Parliament’s first attempt to tax colonists directly

Required tax stamp on paper goods such as legal documents and newspapers

Angry colonists responded with protests; in 1765, delegates from 9 colonies sent strong protest to king declaring power to tax should remain with colonial assemblies.

American Independence

Colonial Protests• 1766: Stamp Act repealed; colonies

protested, organized resistance; Boston Massacre

• 1773: Boston Tea Party protested American tea trade given to one British company.

• 1774: New harsh laws, Intolerable Acts, ended all forms of self-rule in Massachusetts.

American Independence

SummarizingWhat forms of protest did the colonists use

to oppose British policies?

Boycotts, Rallies, Pamphlets & Letter Writing Campaigns

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Compromise• Most colonists held out hope for

compromise to roll back taxes.• Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies

called for meeting of colonies in Philadelphia.

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First Continental Congress• 1774: First Continental Congress passed Declaration and Resolves demanding repeal of Intolerable Acts.• 1775: British rejected demands; British troops clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord—the first armed resistance by colonists.

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Second Continental Congress• 1775: Second Continental Congress organized Continental Army, named George Washington as commander• Revolutionary War began as colonists sought independence from Britain

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Common Sense of Democracy • 1776: The Common Sense pamphlet argued case for break with England.• Thomas Paine: independence was the only “common sense” for colonists• Saw history of world hanging on outcome of colonies’ rebellion

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Making InferencesAccording to Paine, why was independence

“common sense”?

It was “Common Sense” to break away from English Rule

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• Declaration of Independence• Armed conflict continued for months before independence officially declared• June 7, 1776: resolution proposed to Second Continental Congress to officially declare independence from Great Britain; resolution passed July 2• Committee appointed to write formal statement justifying resolution

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•Declaration of Independence• Thomas Jefferson wrote most of document, drawing on Virginia Declaration of Rights adopted by Virginia House of Burgesses one month earlier• Virginia declaration declared “all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights” that cannot be denied.

American Independence

• Declaration of Independence• Echoed philosophy of John Locke that people have rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”• Also echoed idea of government as social contract based on consent of the people• July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence was adopted. Britain’s thirteen colonies ceased to exist as new nation emerged.

American Independence

SummarizingHow did John Locke’s ideas inspire the

Declaration of Independence?

Locke’s beliefs in natural rights and that a government must have the consent of the people

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By 1780, each of the 13 newly independent states had adopted its own written constitution. Each tested ideas about how to design a republican government that protected individual rights.

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Self-GovernmentAll new state constitutions established republican governments with strong legislatures with elected representatives.

Voting rights varied from state to state.Some states granted the right to vote to adult male taxpayers, others had property qualifications; only New Jersey allowed women to vote.

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Separation of PowersThree branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial

States had real power to govern.Powers included conducting foreign affairs, declaring war

Most legislatures had two houses.Some elected governors and judges.

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Limited Government

• Strong legislative bodies reflected general mistrust of monarchy.

• Colonists did not grant unlimited power to legislatures.

• Annual elections, term limits, separation of powers established as checks

• Kept powers of governors deliberately weak, limited term

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Individual Rights• Protecting people’s rights seen as way to protect from excesses of government• 1780: Massachusetts constitution included bill of rights to protect individual liberties.• Liberties included trial by jury, freedom of assembly, and speech.

American Independence

SummarizingWhat ideas about government did state

constitutions experiment with? Self-government, limiting the power of the

executive branch, separation of powers, and individual rights