Birth of the United StatesChapters 4 & 5

Road to Independence

Chapter 4

The French and Indian War Causes of War

› Rivalry Between Britain and France

French had more land British along coast,

French Inland B = farm, F = trapping French better with NAs

Albany Plan of Union

June 1754 – delegates to Albany To strengthen ties with NAs Unify war effort Ben Franklin wanted a permanent union Plan was a grand council of elected delegates from each colony run by a president

Similar to Iroquois League Approved but colonies rejected Didn’t want a central government

Early British Defeats

British lost at beginning 1735 – 900 F and NA attacked Militia – armed citizens who served as soldiers British – open areas and straight lines F and NA – hiding and spread out

The Tide of War Turns

1756 – Britain declares war on France

William Pitt = British Prime Minister

Raised taxes and borrowed money to fight

British now better prepared Won several major battles French retreated

Treaty of Paris

1763 – Great Britain, France, Spain met in Paris

Ended French and Indian War and Seven Years’ War (Europe)

French lost everything English got Canada, all

land west of Mississippi Spain got Cuba for Florida

Weakened Loyalty to the British

Thought colonies didn’t help enough Colonists would have fought under

other colonists rather than British officers

Considered treasonous Loss of respect for British military Colonists not getting enough respect Thought they should be on their own

Issues Behind the Revolution

› Changing British Policy Proclamation of 1763

NA worried about British farmers

destroyed land Unlike French British

hated NAs Stopped dealing with

them

Proclamation of 1763 King George

closed area west of colonies

1764-1766 Peace treaties with tribes

Colonists continued to settle

Sugar Act of 1764

Cut duty on foreign molasses in half

Raised the tax Hoped people would buy

foreign molasses and pay tax rather than smuggle

Enforcement Ships could be seized if

though smuggling Judges got 5% commission

if ship found guilty

Quartering Act of 1765

Colonies had to provide shelter and food for British soldiers

Colonists very angry but went along

The Stamp Act Crisis

What is the Stamp Act? Stamp Act – tax on anything on paper Royal stamp to prove tax paid

Stamp Act Congress Outrage was widespread and extreme Affected everyone October 1765 Delegates from 9 colonies met in New York Leader – James Otis, lawyer from Massachusetts Taxation without representation Sent petitions to the king about rights

Sons of Liberty

Boycott of British goods Boycott – refusal to buy certain products

as act of protest Groups known as Sons and Daughters of

Liberty Founder – Samuel Adams Went to stamp distributers homes – resign

or house burned Eventually no one left to sell stamps 1766 – Act was repealed

The Townshend Acts 1767 –Put duty on things like glass and tea New finance minister Charles Townshend Raised duties rather than taxes = safer Colonists still upset about taxes with no rep. Boycott again

The Boston Massacre British troops sent to deal with violence in

Boston March 5, 1770 Small crowd threw snowballs at troops Troops killed 5 Crispus Attucks – 1st African American to die in

Rev. Next day, 9 British charged with murder John Adams defended them 7 found not guilty, 2 guilty of lesser crimes Punishment – Branded thumbs Parliament cancelled Townshend Act but kept

tea tax

The Boston Tea Party May 1773 – Tea Act to help

British East India Company BEIC didn’t have to pay taxes Made it cheaper than

smuggled tea Some harbors wouldn’t let

ships in December 16, 1773 Colonists disguised as

Indians boarded three ships

Broke open every crate and threw in the water

The Intolerable Acts

Spring 1774 – punishment for Tea Party Harsh laws that were ridiculous Limited town meetings to once a year Colonies called for group of people to fight back First Continental Congress formed

The First Continental Congress

September 5, 1774 56 delegates in

Philadelphia Founder Fathers Renewed boycotts and

create militias Direct appeal to King Left October 26, met again

in spring if issues not resolved

Fighting at Lexington and Concord

Groups of fighters called Patriots

Massachusetts Militia created stockpile of weapons in Concord

April 18, 1775, British marched to get supply

Patriots found out and Paul Revere and two other rode to tell

THE BRITISH ARE COMING

In Lexington, fighting took minutes, 18 Americans dead or wounded

Destroyed some of supply in Concord, left for Boston

4000 Patriots stood in their way

Shot at them from behind walls and buildings

240 British killed/wounded Became first battle of

Revolutionary War

Declaration of Independence The Delegates

Second Continental Congress met in May 1776 Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock Divided between solution and independence Olive Branch Petition

Wanted Peaceful solution End fighting and stay loyal to Britain Denied

June 1776 – wrote Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote most the document List of reasons for leaving and why

Drafting a Declaration Jefferson influenced by the

Enlightenment of 1700s Science and Reason were

keys to improved society Used John Locke’s ideas for

government

The Declaration was Adopted July 4, 1776 Delegates approved Declaration

Fighting for Independence› The Siege of Boston

Patriots surrounded Boston for protection Others attacked British forts to get

supplies General Thomas Gage in charge of British

forces

Battle of Bunker Hill

June 17, 1775 – Gage wants hills for lookouts Attacked in tight blocks, easy target for muskets Retreated and attacked again, retreated, attacked a

3rd time Able to take Breed’s

Hill b/c Patriots ran out of ammo

Forced Patriots off Bunker Hill as well

Half of British 2400 died, only 400 Patriots

The British Leave Boston

July 1775 – George Washington put in charge of newly named Continental Army

January 1776 – Gen Knox brought cannons to south of Boston

Fired on British and their ships in the harbor

British flee with 1000 loyalists (people still devout to England)

Strengths and Weaknesses The British

Well equipped, disciplined and trained Supported by best navy in the world Loyalists and some NAs helped fight Hired 30000 mercenaries to fight Mercenary – paid foreign soldiers Called Hessians (German) Problem – war not popular in England Citizens resented the taxes Troops had to fight in hostile territory

The Americans

Fighting on their own territory

Officers familiar with successful fighting tactics

Lacked equipment and stable fighting force

Fighting in the North – New York British won many battles Washington wanted a spy Nathan Hale crossed lines and got

information Caught before he could give information Hung – Famous Last words

“I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”

Retreat from New York

British took NY, pushed Patriots to Penn.

Troops deserted and Washington thought army was falling apart

Thomas Paine wrote “The Crisis” to get people back on board

Trenton and Princeton Washington had to be creative due to lack of

everything Fought during winter Battle of Trenton – crossed Delaware River and

captured entire Hessian force Did same thing at Princeton British Gen. Cornwallis

saw troops coming but were pushed back

Patriot morale went up due to wins

Financing the War Had no money and couldn’t require taxes since

their was not yet a government Asked for help from colonies Issued paper money to buy supplies Nothing to back it up, if lost – money was

worthless

Victories Fighting in the West

Col. George Rogers Clark fought and won in IN/IL

Claimed the Ohio River for Patriots Fighting in the South

Worst fighting happened in South Loyalist vs. Patriots Several battles lead by British Gen Cornwallis Retreated to Yorktown on a peninsula Patriots blocked way out

Victory at Yorktown

French and Continental Army combined Bombarded Yorktown with ammunition Escape was impossible Cornwallis surrenders on October 19,

1781

Treaty of Paris England, France,

Spain, US 1783 US becomes

independent Canadian boarder set Mississippi sets

boarder between colonies and Spanish territory

Florida given back to Spain

England removes all troops Pledged to not harm any Loyalists (did

anyway!)

The Constitution

Chapter 5

Early Governments People believed they were citizens of states – not a country

Did not want a central government

Articles of Confederation 1777 – Continental Congress adopted the articles

Approved in 1781 Established a limited national government Most power lay with the states One branch – legislative (Congress) Congress did job of all three branches (Executive/Judicial)

States maintained own courts As many delegates as state wanted but only one vote

Laws required 9 of 13 to pass

Opposing the Articles Economic Problems

Wealthy worried too much power for people

1786 – National Debt $50 million

Printed more money with no backing

Each state had own money

States taxed each other

Concerns About Weak Government

1780s = Nationalist immerged wanted to strengthen national government Washington, Madison, Hamilton Needed strong government and courts People didn’t agree Thought articles were doing their job

Learning from History Men were well educated Knew European countries had tried and failed

Annapolis Convention 1786 – Nationalist Convention Plan to regulate interstate and foreign trade Did not address AOC weaknesses 12 men from five states Set up 1787 convention

in Philadelphia

Shay’s Rebellion

People who gave money for war wanted it back Mass. – heavies direct tax had to be paid in specie Specie – gold or sliver coin Farmers couldn’t afford it and complained State refused to repeal Daniel Shay, war vet and farmer 1786- lead rebellion to tax Drove off collectors, protested, riots State had no money to fight them until 1787 Rebels left for Vermont or NY Shay and others were caught, but freed eventually

Shay’s Rebellion - Effects People determination against authority Need to strengthen national government to avoid civil unrest

Constitutional Convention› Convention Assembles

Constitutional Convention – meeting of May 1787

In Philadelphia 55 delegates from all but Rhode Island Ages 27-81, rich to middle class

Fathers of the Constitution James Madison (36) Attended every meeting and took notes Spent year before learning history, law, government Drew on Enlightenment thinkers Believed a Constitution was best

› Division at the Convention 1st act – George Washington elected president of

convention Unanimous vote Divided – amend AOC or new document

Virginia Plan Bicameral – two houses Representation – by population or

financial support Representatives

Lower house – popular vote Upper House – nominated

Popular among larger state

New Jersey Plan

One house Representation – equal for each state Representatives – elected by state

legislature Popular among little states

Reaching Agreements

The Great Compromise Introduced by Connecticut Took from both Bicameral Representation

Two houses Senate – two regardless of size House of Representatives – based on

population Approved on July 16th, 1787

Three Fifths Compromise Dealt with slavery Southern states wanted to use

slaves for representation numbers

Northern states with few slaves didn’t like this

Formula made for population count

Three fifths compromise – 3 of 5 slaves would count toward population

Didn’t let slaves vote or have rights (NA too)

A Lasting Document

Final draft approves September 17, 1787

Hasn’t changed much in 200 years

Specific but flexible Only 27 changes

(Amendments)

Ratifying the Constitution› The Federalist View

To become law, 9 of 13 had to ratify Ratify - approve Those who favored called Federalists Wrote “The Federalist Papers” 85 essays

supporting Explains the new government and why each part

is good Federal government was only slightly more

powerful than states

Anti-Federalist Views People who opposed Constitution Posed a threat to state and individual rights Seen as a betrayal of the Revolution Federal Government was going to rule peoples

lives Uneasy about taxes Feared loss of liberty again

Why the Federalist Won Submitted on September 28, 1787 Federalists campaigned to get Constitution ratified Drew on idea that the AOC had many problems All Federalists were behind the Constitution, AFs

didn’t have plan Well organized and communicated George Washington was Federalist Everyone expected him to be the first president Good leader, intelligent, gave up army voluntarily Small states ratified first – most to gain May 1790 – Rhode Island – last of 13 to ratify

The Bill of Rights Protecting Individual

Rights Clear declaration of

rights September 1789 –

James Madison offers BOR

Took effect December 15, 1791

The Ten Amendments 1 Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly & petition 2 Right to bear arms 3 No quartering of soldiers in private homes 4 No unreasonable search and seizure 5 Double Jeopardy, Taking of private land, Self-

incrimination 6 Fair and speedy trial 7 Right to a jury trial 8 No cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail 9 People have more rights than the ones listed 10 Power not given to the Federal government go to

state or people

Against the Bill of Rights Federalist saw no need for these Saw it unnecessary to state these

rights “people surrender nothing”

For the Bill of Rights Anti-federalist needed clarification Used to restrain the Federal

government Jefferson wanted a list of “unalienable

rights” Wanted clear, detailed language Compromise worked, passed

The New Government The New Leaders

April 30, 1789 – Washington inaugurated

Inauguration – Official swearing in

Won in unanimous vote John Adams – vice

president Started choose cabinet

(Leaders of major departments)

Secretary of State Jefferson Had been Governor of

Virginia and Ambassador to France

Became involved in Domestic affairs

Federalist with liberal views

Well educated and sense of duty made him good politician

Choose because he knew France well and was trusted

Treasury Secretary Hamilton

Well educated, leader in army

Headed largest department of federal government

Believed the government could accomplish anything

Things went smoothly for first few years

Economy got better

Washington’s Government Large and small problems

faced by Washington Set many precedents Example: Mr. President Office was made for him Was surrounded by much

ceremony Won reelection – 2nd term

was very hard Set the standard for

presidency

Planning a Capital City New York and Philadelphia served as capitals Residence Act of 1790 set aside 10 square mile area Between Maryland and Virginia – not in a state Run by the Federal Government Benjamin Banneker (AA mathematician and

inventor) and Pierre-Charles L’Enfant (French artist) Created plans for buildings, White House, Capital,

streets and parks Originally District of Columbia Added Washington after GW died in 1799