What is the importance of September 17 in the history of the United States? Do Now
The Colonial Period And Uniting for Independence
The colonies owed allegiance to the monarch and British government Colonies originally served as a source of raw materials and a market for British goods, existing for the economic benefit of GB. Colonial Times
Colonies did what they pleased: Grew accustomed to governing themselves. Legislatures to deal with problems Set up division of power The Colonists
King George III French and Indian Great Debt Solution Set up a series of taxes on tea, sugar, glass, paper, etc. Response Boston Tea Party. Response Intolerable Acts (closed Boston Harbor, MA could not govern itself)
Debated about GB. Imposed an embargo (an agreement prohibiting trade with Britain) and not to use British goods. Led to the Boston Massacre. First Continental Congress
Three weeks later All 13 colonies met in Philadelphia Results Organized an army Organized a navy Issued money George Washington commander of the Continental Army. Second Continental Congress
George III was an enemy to liberty. Key Parts: 1.Statement of purpose and basic human rights “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” 2.Complaints against George III, violations of the colonists’ political, civil, and economic liberties. 3.Conclusion stating determination to separate from GB. Declaration of Independence
Were the colonists or the British more responsible for the breakup leading to American independence? Do Now:
November, 1777 Unicameral Congress which chose executive positions. As opposed to? Committee of States (1 delegate from each) managed government when Congress was not is session. No federal court system. Congress settled disputes among states Each state had 1 vote. Government Under the Articles
Make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors Enter into treaties Raise and equip a navy Maintain an army Appoint senior military officers Regulate Indian affairs Establish post offices Decide disputes among states Powers of Congress under the Articles
Congress could not: Levy or collect taxes Regulate trade Force anyone to obey the laws it passed Laws needed the approval of 9 of the 13 states. Amending the Articles required the consent of all states. No executive branch. No national court system. Weaknesses of the Articles
Why did the colonies set the Articles up the way that they did? Think….
Ordinance of 1785 – survey and divide lands to the west. Northwest Ordinance – territories were to be developed for statehood on an equal basis with the older states Peace treaty with Great Britain Departments of Foreign Affairs, War, Marine, and Treasury Achievements of the Articles
Count off by 7, each group will be assigned one of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. You will create a political cartoon illustrating one of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. On the back of your political cartoon, you will list an example of how the weakness may have caused later problems for the colonial government. As a group, you will present your cartoon to the class, as well as share and how the weakness may have caused later problems for the colonial government. Weaknesses of Articles Political Cartoon
Revise the Articles: Strengthen National Government Separation of Powers Limit Power of States Compromises: Connecticut Compromise - based on the VA and NJ Plan with a House based on population and Senate based on equal representation. Three-Fifths Compromise - between North and South based on 3/5 of the enslaved counting toward representation. Constitutional Convention
Anti-Federalists – argued for a Bill of Rights to protect people’s freedoms. Federalists – argued for a strong national government. Federalists conceded promising to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution as the first order of business. Ratifying the Constitution
Why do you think that the period from has been called a “critical period” in American history? Exit