1. Chapter 2 Section 2
Mr. Gordon

2. 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.

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

6. 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.

8. American Independence
Early Attempts at Unity
1643: New England Confederation formed to defend against threats from Native Americans and Dutch colonies

9. American Independence
Early Attempts at Unity
: French and Indian War spurred new drive toward unity in the colonies

10. American Independence
1754: Great Britain urged signing of treaty with Iroquois Confederation

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

13. 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

14. American Independence
Growing Tensions
Most colonists viewed selves as loyal subjects of British Crown

15. American Independence
Growing Tensions
Parliament began to think colonies had become too independent
Following French and Indian War, Parliament placed new financial burdens on colonists

16. American Independence
Changes in British Policies
British victorious in French and Indian War, but incurred massive debts
Parliament looked to colonies to offset cost of war, defense of colonies

17. American Independence
Changes in British Policies
Enforced trade restrictions benefiting Britain, including series of taxes
Colonists resented being taxed without their consent.

18. American Independence
The Stamp Act Congress
1765: Stamp Act: Parliament’s first attempt to tax colonists directly
Required tax stamp on paper goods such as legal documents and newspapers

20. American Independence
The Stamp Act Congress
Angry colonists responded with protests; in , delegates from 9 colonies sent strong protest to king declaring power to tax should remain with colonial assemblies.

21. American Independence
Colonial Protests
1766: Stamp Act repealed; colonies protested, organized resistance; Boston Massacre

22. American Independence
Colonial Protests
1773: Boston Tea Party protested American tea trade given to one British company.

23. American Independence
Colonial Protests
1774: New harsh laws, Intolerable Acts, ended all forms of self-rule in Massachusetts.

24. American Independence
Compromise
Most colonists held out hope for compromise to roll back taxes.
Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies called for meeting of colonies in Philadelphia.

25. American Independence
First Continental Congress
1774: First Continental Congress passed Declaration and Resolves demanding repeal of Intolerable Acts.

26. American Independence
First Continental Congress
1775: British rejected demands; British troops clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord—the first armed resistance by colonists.

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

28. American Independence
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

30. American Independence
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

31. American Independence
Declaration of Independence
Committee appointed to write formal statement justifying resolution
Thomas Jefferson wrote most of document, drawing on Virginia Declaration of Rights adopted by Virginia House of Burgesses one month earlier

33. American Independence
Declaration of Independence
Virginia declaration declared “all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights” that cannot be denied.
Echoed philosophy of John Locke that people have rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

35. American Independence
Declaration of Independence
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.

38. American Independence
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.

39. American Independence
Self-Government
All new state constitutions established republican governments with strong legislatures with elected representatives.
Voting rights varied from state to state.

40. American Independence
Self-Government
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. (revoked in 1807)

42. American Independence
Separation of Powers
Three branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial
States had real power to govern.

43. American Independence
Separation of Powers
Powers included conducting foreign affairs, declaring war
Most legislatures had two houses.
Some elected governors and judges.

45. American Independence
Limited Government
Strong legislative bodies reflected general mistrust of monarchy.
Colonists did not grant unlimited power to legislatures.

46. American Independence
Limited Government
Annual elections, term limits, separation of powers established as checks
Kept powers of governors deliberately weak, limited term

47. American Independence
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.