UNIT 2
FROM REVOLUTION TO CONSTITUTION, 1763-1789
UNIT BASICS
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After the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 tension increased between American colonists and the British
government.
After the end of the American Revolution in 1781 the British recognized American independence.
Americans established their first national government under the Articles of Confederation, a constitution that created, in the
minds of many prominent American leaders, a central government too weak to solve national problems.
Weaknesses in the national government under the Article of Confederation led to a Constitutional Convention in which a new
and more powerful central government was created.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
A. What caused the American Revolution?
After the French and Indian war ended in 1763 the English government attempted to regulate and tax the colonies to pay for the war.
These policies sparked protests by the colonist that led to the American Revolution in 1775.
B. When did Americans declare independence from England?
After a year of fighting for the “rights on Englishmen” and “no taxation without representation” Americans declared their
independence from England. Independence was inspired in large part by Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense. The Declaration
of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson.
C. What significant battles led to the American victory over English forces?
An American victory at Saratoga, New York, inspired the French to actively help Americans. The American Revolution ended in
1781 when American forces led by George Washington defeated English troops at Yorktown, Virginia. The Treaty of Paris, in
which England recognized the independence of the United States, was signed in 1783.
D. What were the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation provided the United States with its first written constitution. Under the Articles of Confederation the
central government had no power to tax, to regulate commerce, to raise an army, or to enforce its laws. Each state had one vote in the
Confederation Congress and it took a unanimous vote to amend the Articles of Confederation. In short, the Articles of Confederation
created a weak central government that many American leaders wanted to strengthen.
E. What event promoted delegates to write a new constitution?
Daniel Shays led a rebellion of debtor farmers against the Massachusetts government in the winter of 1786-87. Although the
rebellion was unsuccessful, it made many prominent Americans aware that the Confederation Congress was powerless to protect the
nation from invasion or domestic violence.
F. Who attended the Constitutional Convention?
Although Rhode Island boycotted the convention, fifty-five delegates from twelve states attended the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia in 1787. George Washington of Virginia was chosen to preside. Delegates to the convention included Alexander
Hamilton of New York who spoke in favor of a strong central government, Ben Franklin of Pennsylvania who gave prestige to the
convention, and James Madison of Virginia who was considered the” Father of the Constitution.” Several notable leaders such as
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry did not attend.
G. What was the Virginia Plan?
Edmund Randolph of Virginia introduced a plan to create central government with a bicameral (two house) legislature, an executive
elected by the legislature, and a separate judiciary. In Randolph’s plan the lower house would be elected by the people and the upper
house would be elected by the lower house. Representation in both houses of the legislature would be based on population.
H. What was the New Jersey Plan?
William Paterson of New Jersey introduced a plan expressing the desire of small states for equal representation in a unicameral (one
house) legislature.
I. What was the Three- Fifths Compromise?
In the Three-Fifths compromise delegates decided to count slaves as three- fifths of a person for both taxation and representation.
J. What from of government was created by the U.S. Constitution?
The Constitution created a republican form of government based on a separation of powers between three branches of government
(Executive, Legislative, and Judicial).
In addition, the Constitution created a federal system of government that separated powers between a national government and state
and state governments.
K. What arguments were presented in the debate over ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution, believed the new government would destroy the power of the states and would not
protect individual rights. Federalists, who supported the Constitution, believed that strengthening the central government would
provide the stability and power to prevent foreign domination and domestic rebellion. In addition Federalists believed that by
creating a republican government with limited power, the rights of the people could not be violated.
L. When was the U.S. Constitution ratified?
The Constitution was ratified in 1788 after the required nine of thirteen states voted against adopting the new form of government.
Only two states- Rhode Island and North Carolina- voted against ratification. The new government took power in 1789.
O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose not only the tyranny but the tyrant, stand forth! Every sport of the Old World is overrun with
oppression. Freedom has been hunted round the globe. Asia and Africa have long expelled her. Europe regards her like a stranger and
England has given her warning to depart. O! Receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind.
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is
right of the people to alter or to abolish it…
-Declaration of Independence, 1776
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
1. Stamp Act, 1765
11. Declaration of Independence, 1776
2. Declaratory Act, 1766
13. Battle of Saratoga, 1777
3. Townshend Act, 1767
14. Treaty of Alliance, 1778
4. Boston Massacre, 1770
15. Battle of Yorktown, 1781
5. Boston Tea Party, 1773
16. Articles of Confederation go into effect, 1781
6. Intolerable Acts, 1774
17. Treaty of Paris, 1783
7. First Continental Congress, 1774
18. Annapolis Convention, 1786
8. Battle of Lexington and Concord, 1775
19. Shays’ Rebellion, 1786-1787
9. Second Continental Congress, 1775
20. Constitutional Convention, 1787
10 Thomas Paine, Commons Sense, 1776
21. Ratification of the Constitution, 1788
IMPORTANT PEOPLE:
22. Sam Adams
28. John Hancock
23. King George III
29. George Washington (Constutution)
24. Thomas Jefferson
30. Alexander Hamilton
25. George Washington (Revolution)
31. James Madison
26. Marquis de Lafayette
32. John Jay
27. Charles Cornwallis
33. Ben Franklin
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
34. Salutary neglect
42. Three-Fifths Compromise
35. Writs of assistance
43. Republican form of government
36. Patriot
44. Federal system of government
37. Loyalist
45. Separation of powers
38. Deism
46. Three branches of government
39. Virginia Plan
47. The Federalist Papers
40. New Jersey Plan
48. Federalists
41. Great Compromise
49. Anti-Federalists