Origins of American Government Our path to Government

The English Colonies The 13 colonies were established separately over a period of 125 years by England First colony (Virginia) Jamestown 1607 Each colony was established by a charter (written grant of authority from the King) Outlying trading posts and farming (goods sent back to England)

13 English Colonies

Leading to Independence Colonies controlled by the King mainly through the Privy Council and the Board of Trade in London Parliament rarely managed the affairs of the colonies London was over 3,000 miles away and it took about 2 months to sail the distance Colonies became use to self-government Each colony had a legislature and began to expand their “law making” authority. By mid 1700’s, relationship between Britain and colonies became federal (colonial defense and trade) with very few taxes

3,000 miles between England and Colonies

King George III Came to the thrown in 1760 Britain began to deal with the colonies more harshly restricting trade and imposing new taxes to support the British troops in North America “Taxation without representation” Colonies had no representatives in the British Parliament French Indian War ( ) No need for troops Colonist were loyal but refused to except British control over local affairs Did not like increased taxes

Early Attempts at Government The Albany Plan (Headed by Benjamin Franklin) 1754: British Board of Trade called a meeting of the northern colonies to discuss trade problems and threat of attacks from the French and Indians  Proposed the formation of an annual congress  Could raise a military and navy and make war against the Native Americans  Could regulate trade with Native Americans  Could tax the colonies  Franklin’s plan was rejected by the colonies and by England

British Taxes and Acts: 1764 Sugar Act. The act increased duties on non-British goods shipped to the colonies Currency Act. This act prohibited American colonies from issuing their own currency, angering many colonists 1765 Quartering Act. The British further angered American colonists with the Quartering Act, which required the colonies to provide barracks and supplies to British troops Stamp Act. It taxed newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, broadsides, legal documents, dice, and playing cards. Issued by Britain, the stamps were affixed to documents or packages to show that the tax had been paid.

British Taxes and Acts: Stamp Act Congress: 9 colonies (all except Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia) sent delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in New York Sent the Declaration of Rights (petition) to King George III in protest of the Stamp Act Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in response Declaratory Act. The Declaratory Act, passed by Parliament on the same day the Stamp Act was repealed, stated that Parliament could make laws binding the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever." Townshend Acts. To help pay the expenses involved in governing the American colonies, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, which initiated taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.

British Taxes and Acts: 1773 Tea Act. By reducing the tax on imported British tea, this act gave British merchants an unfair advantage in selling their tea in America. American colonists condemned the act, and many planned to boycott tea Quartering Act. Parliament broadened its previous Quartering Act (1765). British troops could now be quartered in any occupied dwelling New England Restraining Act. Parliament passed an act banning trade between the New England colonies and any other country besides Great Britain.

Growing Resentment and Violence Boycott of English goods Boston Massacre (1770) Committees of Correspondence (Boston 1772) Boston Tea Party (1773) 1 st Continental Congress (1774)

2 nd Continental Congress : Philadelphia (May 1775) Nation’s first National Government 13 Colonies sent representatives to the Congress John Hancock chosen President Continental Army Created (George Washington) Had no constitutional basis Condemned by Britain as traitors Would serve as the national government until the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781 Raised an Army and Navy, fought a war, borrowed money, made treaties, created a money system.

Declaration of Independence Adopted on July 4 th, 1776 Declared that the 13 colonies were now 13 states Proclaimed the existence of a new nation and made the break from England official United States of America 2/3 of the document is a list of the King’s wrong doings (taxes and acts) 1/3 is statement of the rights of men and the right to dissolve a government and form a new one if it breaks these rights Thomas Jefferson TREASON!

Declaration of Independence

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 abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundations on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Declaration of Independence