1. Constitutional Foundations for the US Democratic Republic
*The Constitution is the foundation of American Society – who and what contributed to that foundation?

2. Greeks and Romans Greeks (Athens)- Direct Democracy
Romans - Representative Democracy (Republic)

3. Enlightenment Philosophers
John Locke (England)
Natural Rights (life, liberty, property).
Govt exists to protect these rights and gets it’s power from the “consent of the governed.”
If the social contract between the people and their govt is broken, then the people have the right to change rulers/govt (revolution).

4. Enlightenment Philosophers
Montesquieu (France)
Believed that governments should be balanced and separated to guarantee individual rights and prevent too strong of a govt (separation of powers, checks & balances)

5. Enlightenment Philosophers
Rousseau (France)
Emphasized the “General Will” of the people.
Doing what is best for the group.
Social contract between the ruler and the ruled.

6. Enlightenment Philosophers
Voltaire (France)
Believed that people deserved more freedom and rights (civil liberties.)
He argued for freedom of speech and against religious intolerance and persecution.
Friend of Ben Franklin

7. Foundation of American Rights
Magna Carta (1215) –trial by jury, due process
English Bill of Rights (1689)—right to petition, no cruel punishment or excessive fines
Bill of Rights (1791)—freedom of speech, press, religion

8. British Colonies Mayflower Compact (1620) House of Burgesses (1619)
Self-government
House of Burgesses (1619)
Legislative branch in Virginia
John Peter Zenger libel case (1735)
Freedom of the Press!
Not guilty of seditious libel if true!

9. Iroquois League (Confederacy)
5 Nations
Seneca
Cayuga
Onondaga
Oneida
Mohawk
Loose Union of tribes where the power rested in the hands of each individual tribe.

10. French & Indian War
Rivalry between France and Britain spilled over to the colonies in North America.
The French joined with the Indians to fight the British in the French & Indian War (aka Seven Years’ War).
While the British won the war – it proved to be very expensive and someone had to pay.

11. British Colonies United?
Albany Plan of Union (1754) by Ben Franklin to protect the colonies against the French.
Rejected out of fear (loss of self government)

13. Effects of the French & Indian War
The colonies had to foot the bill through new taxes and new restrictions (Proclamation of 1763 – no expansion into former French territory)
Salutary Neglect was over and the colonies were not happy.
Mercantilism was now being enforced.

14. Who am I?

15. Those stinkin’ taxes Sugar Act – 1764 Stamp Act -1765
Tax on imports
Stamp Act -1765
Required a stamp on all legal documents (permits, newspapers, wills, pamphlets, and playing cards)
Townshend Acts – 1767
Taxes on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea
Tea Act – …then Parliament passed a series of laws the colonists named the…
Intolerable Acts – 1774 (closed Boston harbor, quartering soldiers, moved trials, limited town meetings…)

16. The Colonists protest the taxes
Stamp Act Congress – politely petitioned the King and Parliament.
Some colonials burned
the stamps.

17. The Colonists protest the taxes
Boston Massacre – 1770
Crispus Attucks

18. The Colonists protest the taxes
Boston Tea Party – 1773

19. Causes of the Revolution
Economic
Mercantilism
End of salutary neglect
Taxes, taxes and more taxes

20. Causes of the Revolution
Social/Ideological
Colonies had developed an independent life from the British based on:
Belief in natural rights and active self-government
Belief in equality and liberty.
The 1st Great Awakening – a strong religious movement that encouraged people to question human authority.
…And still the colonists were divided:
1/3 were rebels, 1/3 were Loyalists (Tories), 1/3 were apathetic.

21. Causes of the Revolution
Political
Led by revolutionaries/radicals Patrick Henry (“Give me liberty or give me death!”) and Samuel Adams
Colonists organized their protests against the taxes with groups:
Stamp Act Congress
Sons of Liberty
Committee of Correspondence
1st and 2nd Continental Congress’
Threats to their liberties as English citizens
“No taxation without representation!”

22. 1775 – Lexington and Concord Arsenals in Massachusetts
When the Redcoats arrived in Boston, Paul Revere alerted the colonists:
He hung 2 lanterns in the Old North Church and then rode to Lexington saying “The regulars are coming out!”
William Dawes rode out to warn even more.
John Hancock and Sam Adams escaped, the Minutemen organized and the ammo was moved.
British retreated, under continuous attack by militia.

23. Enlightenment Philosophers Influenced...
Thomas Paine (England/America)
Wrote “Common Sense” saying that “if a gov’t doesn’t protect your rights, then it’s only common sense to get a new gov’t.”
Jan. 1776

24. 1776 – Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson it was set out in 3 parts:
1. Premise: Democratic principles.
2. List of grievances/complaints against the King (27 of them!)
3. Formal resolution declaring independence.
Announced that the colonies were now a new, independent nation and why.

27. Effects of the American Revolution
Britain recognizes the US as a new nation.
States write new constitutions limiting the power of government
Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation.
Iroquois Confederation is destroyed and Native Americans are pushed West by immigration.
Ideas of freedom and natural rights inspire abolitionists.
Ideas of revolution influence events throughout the world. (1789 France!)