1. The American Revolution
Section 3:
Forming a New Government

2. The Declaration of Independence, 1776
Preamble:
Influence of Locke’s ideas
Natural (inalienable) rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness (property)
Power to govern from “consent of the governed”
Body:
Lists abuses of the British government towards the colonies
Conclusion:
Declares the colonies are now to be considered “independent states” and will be joined as the United States of America

3. Jefferson’s Declaration
Ratified by the Second Continental
Congress
July 4, 1776

4. The Articles of Confederation 1781-1787
Weak central government
No power to:
Tax
Negotiate treaties with foreign nations
Gave individual states too much power
Shay’s Rebellion, 1786
Daniel Shays led a rebellion of Massachusetts farmers against the state govt. to protest high taxes
Prompted some leaders to call for stronger central govt. to keep order

5. The U.S. Constitution
Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia, 1787 to remake the govt.
Important delegates:
G. Washington – President of Convention
J. Madison – “Father of Constitution”
Not present:
T. Jefferson – US Ambassador to France
J. Adams – Britain
S. Adams & P. Henry – not elected as delegate

6. The American System of Government
Federal system: 2 layers of govt.
3 branches:
National
State-Local
Legislative – 2 houses
Executive
Judicial

7. Impact of Enlightenement
Government exists for “the people”
Locke, Hobbes & Rousseau: consent of governed
Federal System and 3 Branches of Government
Montesquieu: Separation of Powers
Bill of Rights (First 10 amendments to Constitution)
Voltaire: freedom of speech, religion, expression
Beccaria: due process of law, rights of the accused