Focus Question: When does the
American revolution truly begin, and
when does it truly end?
 From 1650s to 1750s the British colonists, the French and the
Iroquois maintained an uneasy balance of power over the continent.
 1750s that changed when religious and commercial tensions began to
stir friction
Main Idea A and B.– Causes and Consequences of the
French and Indian War:
1. French under Louis XIV sought greater empire sending
explorers down the Mississippi
 French peasants went deeper into the wilderness promoting the
lucrative fur trade
 Jesuits drove deeper into the interior in search for potential
converts
 French farmers headed southward from Canada into the
Mississippi Valley in search of longer growing seasons –
 Seigneurial (lords) held large estates in the northern part of the
continent - Seigneuries
 Creoles in the south had plantation style economies.
2. To secure these claims the French crown built
outposts, fortresses and missions
 French explorer Champlain made allies of the Algonquians
and the Hurons to protect the fur trade.
 French helped the allies against the Mohawks.
 French traders lived in Native American villages; learned the
language; and married local women. - Coureurs de bois
 By the early 1700s, French forts at Detroit, Niagara,
Kaskaskia, and New Orleans bordered the English
colonies to the west.
 Power struggle with the English meant constant
frontier battles. This will culminate in the French and
Indian War.
3. The Iroquois Confederacy – most powerful native
group in Northeast since they defeated the Hurons in
the 1640s
 Made up of Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga and
Oneida which forged a military alliance in the 15th
century
 Iroquois then formed a commercial relationship with the
English and Dutch along the eastern seaboard although
continuing to trade with the French
 Their strategy was to avoid too close of a relationship
with any group and astutely played each group against
the other which created an uneasy balance of power in
the regions for quite some time
1754 Albany Plan of
Union
Ben Franklin called for
representatives from
New England, NY, MD,
PA, VA, NC, SC, NJ
4. 1754: Albany Congress
•convened by British, led by Franklin
•1st attempt at colonial unity
•only 7 of 13 colonies there
•Purpose was to deal with:
•keep Iroquois loyal, bolster defense
against France through colonial
unity and raise taxes to pay for the
defense, western settlement
•Each colony would keep its own
constitution
•Result of the Albany Plan of Union
•Failure - rejected by the colonies
because of taxation
•Rejected by London who said it
gave the colonies too much
independence
5. Ohio River Valley was the scene
of many conflicts as
 the French claimed it
 Various natives were driven their
by English expansion from the
east
 English were expanding there
 Iroquois was trying to take
advantage by establishing trade
there
 1750s Iroquois granted English
trading concessions in the interior
(ORV) which led to French building
fortresses in the area which led to
the English responding by
building fortresses and the
balance of power quickly
disintegrated
 Iroquois allied with the Brits and
assumed a passive role in the
upcoming French and Indian War
• British concerned about French forts in Virginia
territory.
• Send Washington, a major in the Virginia
militia, to the Allegheny River Valley to defend
Fort Necessity
• Washington is defeated by French, Shawnee
and Delaware Indians at Fort Duquesne

“The Virginia Companies behaved like men and
died like soldiers; for I believe out of the three
companies that were there that day scarce
thirty were left alive.…The English soldiers
exposed all those who were inclined to do their
duty to almost certain death; and at length,
despite every effort to the contrary, [they]
broke and ran as sheep before the hounds.”

(Letter to Governor Dinwiddie on the Battle
of Fort Duquense, 1755) George Washington
(1732–1799)
6. France --> lost her
Canadian possessions, most
of her empire in India, and
claims to lands east of the
Mississippi River.
7. Spain --> got all French
lands west of the Mississippi
River, New Orleans, but lost
Florida to England.
8. England --> got all French
lands in Canada, exclusive
rights to Caribbean slave
trade, and commercial
dominance in India.
1763 of Treaty of
Paris
Main Idea C. Effects of the
War on Britain?
1. It increased her colonial
empire in the Americas.
Main Idea D. Effects of the War
on Colonists?
1. It united them against
a common enemy for
the first time.
2. It greatly enlarged
England’s debt.
2. It created a
3. Britain’s contempt for the
socializing
colonials created bitter
experience for all the
feelings.
colonials who
4. Therefore, England felt
participated.
that a
3. It created bitter
major reorganization of
feelings towards the
her
American Empire was
British that would
necessary!
only intensify.
Main Idea A. How Conflict leads to Independence
1. The French and Indian War – colonists acquire
land and move westward across the Appalachians
2. 1763 - Pontiac’s Rebellion
•As English traders poured over the Appalachians
into the Ohio River Valley Natives became restless
•Tribes allied under Chief Pontiac and strike
British “gifts” of
smallpoxinfected
blankets from
Fort Pitt.
• Chief
Pontiac was
an
influential
Ottawa
leader who
encouraged
his people
not to make
peace with
white
settlers.
• He was
murdered
by those
who
opposed his
political
views.
3. Proclamation
Line of 1763 British land policy
to temporarily keep
the colonists out of
Indian land until
treaties could be
negotiated with the
tribes.
4.George Grenville’s Program, 1763-1765
• French and Indian War left Britain with large debt. British army of
10,000 was left in the colonies.
• England said the army was to protect the colonists, but the
colonists thought the soldiers were there to intimidate them.
• To pay for British troops – Sugar Act
1. Sugar Act – 1764 - External tax designed to eliminate illegal trade
with Fr. And Sp.
• Northern merchants felt this would hurt rum trade. Other
colonists resented taxation without representation in
Parliament.
2.
Currency Act – 1764 - colonial assemblies to stop issuing
paper money and retire money in circulation
3. Quartering (Mutiny) Act - 1765
4. Stamp Act – 1765 - Internal tax
Main Idea B. The Stamp Act Crisis - 1765
1. Brit Action: The Stamp Act – the
internal tax
Grenville could not have devised a better
method for antagonizing and unifying the
colonies than the Stamp Act 1765.
•It fell on all Americans as it placed a tax
on all paper.
• Ship’s papers, legal documents,
contracts and licenses, including
tavern licenses, newspapers,
almanacs, printed sermons, playing
cards and other publications.
•Not very expensive but what upset the
colonists was the tax’s purpose: raise
money
2. Am. Reaction - Stamp Act Congress – James Otis
•Massachusetts representative who called for a colonial
assembly called the Stamp Act Congress
•Delegates from 9 colonies met in NY and created a
Petition to parliament and the King.
•Conceded that colonists are still subordinate but denied
taxation without representation
3. Virtual Representation
 The 13 Colonies were
represented under the
principle of “virtual”
representation.
 It did not matter if the
Colonists did not elect
members from each colony
to represent them in the
British Parliament.
 Not all citizens in Britain
were represented either.
 The British Parliament
pledged to represent every
person in Britain and the
empire
vs.
Actual Representation
 Americans resented “virtual”




representation.
Colonists governed themselves
since the early settlers.
They had direct representation
by electing colonial assembly
members to represent their
interests.
Colonists were not opposed to
paying taxes because the
Colonies taxed their citizens.
If the British Parliament was to
tax them, they should be able to
elect a representative from their
colony to represent their
interests in Parliament.
4. Stamp Act Protests:
1765 to 1766
•Sons of Liberty -unskilled
workers, artisans, small
farmers, merchants, and
lawyers, organized boycott
of British goods and put
pressure on merchants who
did not join the boycott.
Committees of
Correspondence:
Samuel Adams started to
spread the news of British
injustices from colony to
colony.
– Became basis of a political
network to unify the
colonies
–Stamp Act Repealed
•
Main Idea C. Townshend Duties Crisis: 1767-1770
1. 1767  William Pitt, P. M. & Charles Townshend, Secretary of the
Exchequer.”Champaigne Charlie”
1.
Disbanded the NY assembly until they complied with the Mutiny
Act (Quartering Act)
2.
Tax these imports  paper, paint, lead, glass, tea, which he
believed to be external taxes
3.
He diverted revenue collection from internal to external taxes
Increase custom officials at American ports  established a
Board of Customs in Boston.
2. American Reaction: Colonial boycotts led by Massachusetts
Assembly– letters circulated to the various assemblies encouraging
boycotts on internal and external taxes
4.
3. British Action: 1767 Townshend suddenly dies and is replaced
by Lord North who repeals the Townshend Duties except on tea in
March 1770
4. American
Reaction: Boston
Massacre
•In Boston March 5, 1770, where
tensions were already high,
colonists began throwing
snowballs at a British sentry
guarding the customs house.
•Though they had been ordered
not to, the soldiers fired into the
crowd and killed five civilians,
including Samuel Grey, Samuel
Maverick, James Caldwell, Patrick
Carr, and Crispus Attucks, a
former slave who had been
working as a merchant seaman.
Main Idea D. Tea Act Crisis–
1773
1. British East India Co.:
•
Monopoly on Br. tea imports.
•
Many members of Parl. held
shares.
•
Permitted the Co. to sell tea
directly to cols. without col.
middlemen (cheaper tea!)
• New British P.M. Lord North expected the colonies to eagerly choose the
cheaper tea.
2. American Reaction - Made Am. Merchants mad – Boston Tea Party
• North thought the Am. would appreciate reduced prices
• Colonists boycott – unified colonists in large numbers
•Daughters of Liberty
•Organized protests (Philly and NY), Charleston, Boston
3. British Action: The
Coercive or Intolerable Acts
(1774)
Lord North
•
Closed Boston Port
•
Reduced colonial selfgovernment – dissolves
Assembly
•
New Quartering Act
•
Administration of Justice
Act – royal gov. tried in
Eng. or other colony
4. Brit Action: Quebec Act 1774
•Provide a civil government to French
speaking Roman Catholic inhabitants of
Canada and Illinois
•Law extended the boundary of Quebec
to include the area between French
speaking Ohio and the MS River
•Recognized Catholicism – Roman
Catholic Church would be legal
•Convinced many Am. that there was a
plot to subject them to the tyranny of
the pope
•French Catholics were guaranteed
their rights.
•American colonists thought the act
limited their chances to live on the
western frontier.
Main Idea A and B. The Continental Congresses
1. Virginia – 1774 – Royal Governor dissolved
the assembly
2. American Reaction: Delegates met in the
Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg and called for
the First Continental Congress
• 55 delegates from 12 colonies (No
Georgia) - 1 vote per colony represented Convened in Carpenter’s Hall, Philly 1774
• Agenda - How to respond to the Coercive
Acts & the Quebec Act?
1. Endorsed a statement of grievances
“Declaration of Rights and Grievances” –
authority of parliament but repeal laws
2. Approved resolutions to begin preparing
for war with England
3. Total boycott
4. Agreed to meet again
1770
3. American Action: The Second
Continental Congress - 1775
• Formed the Continental Army
• Appointed George Washington
commander in chief
• Issued a Continental (national)
currency
4. Wrote A Declaration of the
Causes and Necessity of Taking Up
Arms
5. Proposed reconciliation with King
George III in the Olive Branch
Petition – conflicting message – see PSD
#1
6. British Reaction: King George III
declared colonies to be in rebellion
•Parliament passed law banning
colonial trade outside the British
Empire.
Copyright ©2007 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc
Olive Branch Petition
7. Patriots vs. Loyalists
Americans to divide into three
groups: patriots, loyalists, and
bystanders. Patriots and
loyalists were each about 20% of
the population and competed
for the 60% of the population
who had not committed to
either side.
• Second Continental Congress 1775
• Delegates from every colony except
Georgia
• All agreed to support war
8. Disagreed on purpose
• Adams camp
• wanted independence
• mainly from New England
• Dickerson camp
• wanted modest reform and
reconciliation
• mainly delegates from middle
colonies
Main Idea C. More colonists supporting
independence
1. Colonists angry at the king’s reaction to the Olive
Branch Petition
2. They learned that the British were recruiting Native
Americans and African Americans to fight against
them as well as hiring mercenary soldiers from the
German state of Hesse.
3. Cost – in lives and money. The war’s original aims
seemed too modest
4. Common Sense
•When the Continental Congress met again, it opened
seaports to foreign trade except with Britain.
 Thomas Paine writes a
pamphlet called Common
Sense – PSD #3
 Argues that the colonists
should free themselves from
British Rule and establish an
independent government
based on the ideas of the
Enlightenment
 Written in a simple style so
ALL colonists could
understand it
 500,000 copies sold
 Colonists support
independence as a result
Main Idea D. Declaring Independence
1. American Action: Virginia calls for independence
 In May 1776 the Virginia Convention of Delegates issued
the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the first official call
for American independence.
 Influenced the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of
Rights, and many state constitutions
 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia then presented three
resolutions to the Continental Congress.
 The colonies should be independent.
 Americans needed to form foreign alliances for
support.
 The colonies needed to form a plan for unification.
 Richard Henry Lee’s Resolution
 Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of
right ought to be, free and independent States, that
they are absolved from all allegiance to the British
Crown, and that all political connection between
them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to
be, totally dissolved.
 That it is expedient forthwith to take the most
effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
 That a plan of confederation be prepared and
transmitted to the respective Colonies for their
consideration and approbation.
2. American Action: Writing
the Declaration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u
ZfRaWAtBVg&feature=c4-overviewvl&list=PL63D8987721EB3C48
• The Continental Congress organized
a committee to write a draft of a
declaration of independence.
– John Adams, Robert Livingston,
Roger Sherman, Thomas
Jefferson, and Benjamin
Franklin.
– Jefferson was chosen to write
the draft.
• On July 2, 1776, Congress approved
final document and voted to declare
independence.
• On July 4, they approved the entire
document.
 The Declaration of
Independence was
signed by 55
members of the
Continental
Congress. John
Hancock was the
first to sign.
3. Principles of the Declaration of Independence
 “natural rights” life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
 Governments derive their power from the people and
could be abolished if individuals “unalienable rights”
(rights everyone has from birth) were trampled
 All men are created equal
 Listed how England had violated the colonists “inalienable
rights”
4. Parts of the Declaration
1. Preamble – legal and philosophical justification for
the revolution and colonial independence
2. Declaration of rights - governments can’t trample a
mans rights and if it does, it can be over thrown.
3. List of grievances – outlines the how King George had
violated the colonists rights
4. Statement of independence
 “When, in the course of human events, it becomes
necessary for one people to dissolve the political
bands which have connected them with another,
and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the
separate and equal station to which the laws of
nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent
respect to the opinions of mankind requires that
they should declare the causes which impel them
to the separation.” –Excerpt taken from the
introduction of the Declaration of Independence
 Jefferson was saying sometimes a group must cut
themselves off from another country. When people
do this they should explain their reasons.
 “We hold these truths to be self-evident:
that all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights: that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” –
Excerpt taken from the second section of
the Declaration of Independence
 People have certain rights that should never
be taken away. These rights include the
rights to live, to be free and to be happy.
Jefferson believed that one of the purposes
of a government is to protect the basic
rights of its people.
 “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt
our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.”
 He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign
mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation,
and tyranny already begun.” -Excerpts from the third
section of the Declaration of Independence
 This is the longest part of the Declaration of
Independence. Jefferson listed more than 25 ways the
King had wronged the colonists. This section also
explains steps the colonists took asking the King to
correct these wrongs. Notice the strong language he
used. He was trying to anger and persuade the colonists
still loyal to England.
 “And, for the support of this declaration, with a
firm reliance on the protection of Divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other
our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”Excerpt taken from the conclusion of the
Declaration of Independence
 The last section announced the colonists’
independence. They were willing to fight to
have all the rights that other nations had.
Those who signed the Declaration of
Independence were willing to give their
property and their lives for freedom. They
hoped their example would be followed by all
Americans.
Main Idea A. Articles of Confederation - Limited Power of the
National Government and more power for the states
1. Articles of Confed adopted in 1777, Congress had power to
– conduct wars,
– foreign relations
– appropriate money
2. Articles did not give the power to
– regulate trade
– draft troops
– levy taxes on people
 Each state had one vote, articles ratified only after VA and NY gave
up western land claims in 1781
3. The First State Constitutions under Articles
– Written Constitutions and Strong Legislatures
– States decided that constitutions had to be
 written b/c believed vagueness of England’s unwritten
constitution produced corruption
 believed power of executive had to be limited
 separation of executive from legislature
– Except GA and PA most state constitutions had upper and lower
chambers
 upper chamber represented the higher order of society
4. There were also property requirements for voters
–
–
The 1780s, then, are known as the Critical Period in American history when the future of the
nation hung in the balance. The virtues of social affection (fraternity) and public spirit were
being replaced from below by private interests, selfish striving for money, and regional
rivalries. America looked doomed to fall as did the Roman Republic, only faster. The people
urging a revision to America’s government pointed to several areas of concern. For now,
we’ll call these people nationalists.
The nationalists observed the rise in power of the individual states. State governments had
increased in size and become peopled with more rural, less educated men.
Main Idea B. Continental Army v. British Army
Continental Army
British Army
1. Strengths
 Strong military leadership
 Fighting on home territory
 Alliance with France Saratoga
 Fighting for their livlihood
3. Strengths
 Well-trained military
 Ample resources
 Alliances with Loyalists
2. Weaknesses
 Small, untrained military
 Shortages of resources
 Weak central government
4. Weaknesses
 Fighting in unfamiliar
territory
 Fighting far from home
 No purpose
Main Idea C. Internal Conflicts and
the Treaty of Paris 1783
1. Confederacy declared neutrality
in 1776, but Joseph and Mary
Brant persuaded some tribes to
support British (Mohawk, Seneca,
Cayuga). Believed British victory
would stem white movement
onto tribal lands
2. Native shifting alliances from
French to English due to English
population growth and
expansion
American
Allies
British Allies
Oneida
Cayuga
Tuscaro
Seneca
Mohawk
3. Treaty of Paris
1783
 Ends the
Revolutionary War.
 Britain recognizes the
United States as an
independent nation.
 Sets the borders of
the United States.
 Congress agrees
American loyalists
will have property
restored
 Americans ignore this
order.
Main Idea D. The Assumptions of Republicanism – Republican Ideology
1. Republicanism meant all power came from people - “Freedom,
Equality, and Unity”
2. The success of that government depended wholly on active
moral and responsible citizenry
A. could not be just a few powerful aristocrats and mass of dependent
workers- idea of independent landowner (small freeholder) was
basic political ideology – virtuous citizen
B. Opposed Eur ideas of inherited aristocracy- talents and energies of
individuals and not birth would determine role in society- equality
of opportunity vs. equality of condition
3.
Voting citizens elect representatives given the power to make
laws
4. Rule of Law
From the beginning the philosophy of republican ideals has
always been challenged in America by the spirit of
individualism.
Main Idea A. Revising State Governments - Shift to Strong Executives
–
By late 1770s state govts divided and unstable,
believed to be so b/c they were too democratic—
steps taken to limit popular power
1. To protect constitutions from ordinary politics
created the Constitutional Convention- special
assembly to draft constitution that would never meet
again
2. Executive strengthened – governors now had
 appointment power
 veto over legislation
 fixed salary
 elected by ppl

3. Postwar Depression 1784-87
 Confederation had war bonds to be repaid
 owed soldiers money
 foreign debt
 had no way to tax, states only paid 1/6 of
requested funds
 Group of nationalists led by Robert Morris,
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison called
for a 5% impost on imported goods
 when Congress rejected plan
 they withdrew involvement from Confederation



4. Shays’ Rebellion – read PSD 4 and 5
– To pay war debts states increased taxes, poor
farmers burdened by their own debt and new taxes
rioted throughout New England
– Some farmers rallied behind Daniel Shays
– 1786 Shayites prevented debt collection.
– Boston legislature denounced them as traitors,
when rebels advanced on Springfield
– state militia (financed by wealthy merchants)
defeated them January 1787
Convinces many people the Articles need serious
revision.
Demonstrates the weakness of centralized government
at the state and national level
Main Idea B. Failures and Successes under the Articles
 Postwar Disputes with Britain and Spain - failures
1. GB failed to live up to terms of peace treaty of 1783
 forces continued to occupy posts
 no restitution to slave-owners
 restrictions on access to empire’s markets
 1784 John Adams sent to make deal but British refused
Disputed Territorial Claims between Spain & the
U.S.: 1783-1796
2.
Treaty w/ Spain 1786
The Jay–Gardoqui
Treaty (also known as
the Liberty Treaty)
• solidified Florida’s
borders
• limited US rights to
navigate Mississippi
R
• Southern states
blocked ratification,
further weakening US
standing in the world
under the Articles
3. Success under the Articles Resolution involving the western
lands
 Landed states began to yield their
claims west of the Appalachian to
the national government in 1781
4. by 1784 Congress began making
policy for the national domain
Main Idea C. The Confederation
and the Northwest
1. Ordinance of 1784 (TJ) divided
western territory into 10 districts
which could petition for
statehood when pop. reached
the pop. of smallest existing
state.
2. Ordinance of 1785
– Congress created surveying
+ sale system
– areas north of Ohio R. were
to be parceled into
townships each with 36
sections.
– Every township would set
aside 4 sections for the US.
– One of the other section
sales would fund a public
school
3. Expands Republican Ideology by granting equality of opportunity for
people to become the ideal virtuous citizen who is an independent
landowner – yeoman. – American Dream
• Prospective individual landowners and settlers continued to ignore
treaties with Native tribes in order to obtain valuable land
4. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 abandoned ten
districts, designated five territories that when had
60,000 ppl would become states, guaranteed
religious freedom and trial by jury; slavery
prohibited
 S of Ohio R. chaotic, Kentucky and Tennessee
entrance conflict not resolved
 Chapter 6 and 7 PSD #5
Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government
and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall
forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall be observed towards
the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them
without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall
never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by
Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to
time be made for preventing wrongs
Article 3, Northwest Ordinance, 1787
Test on Period 3 part 1
The United States in 1787
 George Washington's quote, "We have, probably, had too good an
opinion of human nature in forming our confederation."
Main Idea D. Movement toward centralization
1. The Annapolis Convention was a meeting in 1786 at Annapolis,
Maryland, of 12 delegates from five states (New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia) that unanimously called for
a constitutional convention to strengthen the government
2. Why strengthen national government? Regulate and
Protect – Currency Disputes
3. and 4. Examples:
 American manufacturers wanted to reform states taxes for a uniform
national duty
 Land Speculators wanted to resolve the Indian Menace
 Merchants and creditors – paper currency and inflation problems
plagued people who were owed money
 Large property owners wanted protection from mobs, ie Shay’s
rebellion
Main Idea A. FARMERS – yeoman – Currency Dispute
1. A crucial fact to know about farmers as the settlement of the
West began is that most were in debt.
 They borrowed money to buy land, tools, mules, seeds, etc.
2. Farmers therefore wanted paper money. Paper money makes
the least stable currency, and an economy dependent on it is
the most susceptible to inflation.
3. Inflation and Inflating the currency (more currency in
circulation) helps farmers.
4. They receive more money for their products, and their debts
are easier to pay off since borrowed dollars don’t change in
value.
 If a farmer borrowed $100 and inflation hits ten years later, he
is still paying off the balance of the $100 but now with
cheaper dollars (there are more of them in his pockets).
Main Idea B. A Divided Convention –
Constitutional Convention
1. Virginia will be proactive – Madison was
the brains behind the operation
– Convened with Edmund Randolph of
VA successfully getting his resolution
quickly approved
– National Government with 3
branches: Executive, Legislative and
Judiciary – Separation of Powers
 The Virginia Plan
– Larger states
– Bicameral
– Lower house number of reps
proportionate to population
– Upper house members elected by
lower house
The Convention at Philadelphia
New Jersey Plan – William Patterson
– Smaller states
– unicameral legislature – each state to have equal representation
like AOC
– Congress with power to tax and regulate commerce
– Delegates tabled but noted amount of support
2. More division – North v. South
– Southern states wanted
 to count all slaves for representation purposes but none for
taxation.
 This would give them more representatives in Congress.
 Thus giving them more voting power in Congress and
protecting their self-interest of slavery.
– North objected to the South’s proposal

3. Grand Committee established with Franklin as head, produced basis
of “Great Compromise” where
– both the VA and NJ Plan would be adopted – Roger Sherman
 lower house - population with each slave counted as 3/5 o of
a person in representation and direct taxation – 3/5ths
compromise – Northern Concession
 in upper house each state had 2 reps
– July 16, 1787 compromise accepted; Native Americans were
excluded.
Compromise between North and South
• legislature forbidden to tax exports because of Southern fear of interfering
with cotton economy
• Fugitive Slave Law -Escaped slaves captured had to be returned to their
plantation owner.
• Not enforced in North and led to the creation of the Underground
Railroad. Southerners would become bitter and ultimately left the US.
• slave trade couldn’t be stopped for 20 years (1807) - North hoped slavery
would eventually die away
• max of $10/head - duty on imported slaves
4. What the Constitution did NOT contain
• Constitution provided no definition of citizenship, absence of list of
individual rights that would restrain powers of nat’l govt
• Constitution failed to define the relationship between tribes and the
national government creating problems with treaties and the seizure of
Indian land
Main Idea C. The Constitutional Structure
1787
1. James Madison helped resolve question of
sovereignty and of limiting power
• Power to the people but how do we maintain
a balance of power?
• Specifically states having more power than
the national government.
All power at all levels of government
flowed ultimately from the people.
Thus neither the federal or the state
government were sovereign – We The
People …
2. Framers created a Federal System
•Divided the powers of government on a geographic basis.
•They created 3 levels of government.
•National, state and local
3. Constitution is the “Supreme law of the land”
• It is above all levels of government and no act, law or
public policy can be in conflict with it.
• National Government is over the States.
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4. Dealing with the issue of fear of Tyranny and despotism
– Fear of despotism, but also fear of the “mob” and “excess of democracy”, only
House of Reps elected directly by people.
– Balance between individual liberty and order (collective security)
– Montesquieu (Fr.) said that a small republic with direct representation was the
only way to avoid tyranny and corruption
– Federalist - Madison said that a large republic would prevent tyranny and
corruption because no one faction can have dominion over another with
multiple factions in a large republic – checks and balances – Federalist No.
10
– Anti-Federalist - claimed that since Americans were already so diverse, the
government would have to become tyrannical to preserve order. The
Constitution’s being “the supreme law of the land” unnerved them and made
them think the United States were on their way to becoming one state.
– Constitution signed on September 17, 1787
How the Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Were Corrected by the Constitution
US Constitution
Articles of Confederation
States have most of the power and
national govt. has little.


No executive to carry out the laws of
Congress


No national courts---only state courts

9/13 states have to approve a law
before it goes into effect


Congress has no power to tax


Congress can not regulate trade among 
the states.

Each state coined its own money. No
single national currency.

States have some power, but most power
is given to the national govt.

Federal Government
Electoral College
 3 branches of govt.






Unicameral Congress


Articles only a “firm league of
friendship”

Executive---enforces law
Legislative---makes law
Judicial---interprets law
Majority vote in Congress
Checks and balances
Congress given the power to tax, regulate
trade and enforce laws.
Only national govt. has the power to coin
money
Bicameral (2 house) Congress
Equal Representation by States and a
State’s population
Constitution established a strong National
Govt. over the States and to form a more
“perfect union”
Main Idea D. Ratification
Race
– Delegates decided that
Constitution would come
into existence when 9 of 13
states had ratified it thru
specially elected state
conventions instead of
unanimous state legislature
approval required by Articles
•Supporters of Const were Federalists
•well organized
•popular in the cities, outnumbered in the general population
•supported by Washington and Franklin
•Feared disorder, anarchy, power of masses – mobocracy
•Antifederalists - less organized; believed
• Const would betray principles of Revolution by establishing a
strong, potentially tyrannical central govt that would increase
taxes, obliterate states, favor the “well born”.
• Const lacked a bill of rights, any govt with central authority could
not be trusted to protect citizens’ liberties, therefore natural
rights had to be enumerated in order to be preserved
• Their core consisted of farmers and planters.
• Agreed on one central issue: they distrusted any central authority
• Led by Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee
• Robert Yates, New York delegate, wrote anti-Constitution essays
under the name Brutus.
• A series of essays discussing and defending the
Constitution were published in New York newspapers.
• Written under the pen name Publius
• Circulated widely in other states
• Collected in a book, The Federalist, also known as the
Federalist Papers
• Main goal of essays was to persuade New York delegates to
ratify the document by explaining the advantages it would
bring
• Publius was three Federalists: James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and John Jay
 The most famous is Madison’s “Federalist No.
10” in which Madison explained why a republic
was best for ruling a large country, contrary to
the political science fashions of the day.
 He said a large country will produce many
factions which will prevent any one faction from
dominating.
 Furthermore, having only a few representatives
from a large population will insure that only the
best would go to serve in the national
government.
3. Bill of Rights - The states of North Carolina and
Rhode Island rejected the Constitution outright until
such a time as a Bill of Rights would be added.
 Madison began to push the first ten
amendments to the Constitution through the
House of Representatives having penned the first
draft himself.
 The first nine addressed the fear of the loss of
individual rights
 the tenth amendment said that whatever powers
were not specifically granted to the federal
government devolved upon the states (the “states’
rights” amendment).
 Federalists quickly organized and gained control of
several state conventions, especially in small states.
 Delaware first to ratify
 New Hampshire 9th state in June 1788.
 New govt could not flourish w/o participation of VA
and NY.
4. VA, NY, MA ratified on assumption that bill of rights
would be added
 After 11 states had ratified the Constitution, the
Congress of the Confederation set dates for elections
to choose members of Congress and presidential
electors.

Framing a New Government
–
–
–
–
–
–
First elections took place 1789
George Washington elected first president unanimously
John Adams became VP
inauguration April 30, 1789
First Congress passed bill of rights 1789
10 amendments were ratified by states by end of 1791.
 Some historians have argued that the American
Revolution was not a revolution in nature. Support,
modify, or refute this interpretation, providing
specific evidence to justify your answer.
 In pairs determine the following:
What kind of question is this? (use long essay rubric and
Historical Thinking Skills description)
2. Deconstruct the prompt – what is it asking you to do and
define the terms
3. On loose leaf
1.
Create a thesis (hint for a position – Articles of
Confederation)
2. Outline the body paragraphs – use the “How Conflict
Leads to Independence” Flow Chart and Vocab Terms
3. Bonus point – conclusion sentence - synthesis
1.