1. Chapter 2 Section 2
Mr. Plude

2. American Independence
After the French and Indian War
(7 years war) ,
The colonists rebelled against British attempts to assert control over the colonies
New British taxes to pay for the war

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

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

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

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

9. Proposed by Ben Franklin Supported by Great Britain
Albany Plan of Union
Proposed by Ben Franklin Supported by Great Britain
Treaty with Iroquois Nation
Control colonial trade
Raise colonial army
Build settlements
Build and equip fleet

10. 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

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

12. American Independence
Growing Tensions
Parliament - colonies had become too independent
Levied taxes to pay for French and Indian War

13. American Independence
Changes in British Policies
Taxes to pay war debts
Colonies to offset cost of war
Justified paying for defense of colonies

14. American Independence
Changes in British Policies
Enforced trade restrictions benefiting Britain, including series of taxes
Colonists - “Taxation without Representation”

15. 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, newspapers, playing cards

17. American Independence
The Stamp Act Congress
Colonists protested
delegates from 9 colonies sent protest
Power to tax should remain with colonial assemblies.
1766: Stamp Act repealed

18. American Independence
Colonial Protests
Protests resulted in increased troop presence
Boston Massacre brawl that turned bloody
Rallying point for Colonists

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

20. American Independence
Intolerable Acts
1774: laws ending all forms of self-rule in Massachusetts.

21. American Independence
Compromise
Colonists wanted compromise to roll back taxes.
Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies called for meeting of colonies in Philadelphia.

22. American Independence
First Continental Congress
1774: First Continental Congress
Passed Declaration and Resolves
Demanded repeal of Intolerable Acts.

23. American Independence
First Continental Congress
1775: British rejected demands
British troops clashed with colonial militia
Lexington and Concord
first armed resistance colonists.

24. American Independence
Second Continental Congress
1775: Second Continental Congress
Organized Continental Army
Named George Washington commander
Revolutionary War begins as colonists sought independence from Britain

25. 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

27. American Independence
Declaration of Independence
Armed conflict continued for months before independence officially declared
June 7, 1776: resolution proposed for independence
Passed July 2
Signed July 4

28. 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

30. 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.
From John Locke that people have rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

32. American Independence
Declaration of Independence
Echoed ideal of 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.

35. American Independence
By 1780, 13 states had adopted its own written constitution.
Each tested ideas about how to design a republican government that protected individual rights.

36. American Independence
Self-Government
Established republican governments
Strong legislatures with elected representatives.
Protected Individual rights
Voting rights varied by state

37. American Independence
Self-Government
Examples of right to vote
Adult male taxpayers
Property qualifications
New Jersey allowed women to vote (ended

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

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

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

43. American Independence
Limited Government
Annual elections, term limits, separation of powers
Governors kept deliberately weak, limited terms (fear of monarchy)

44. 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.