Steps Toward
Independence
1. By 1763, colonies controlled
by the King
a. Parliament not involved very
much
b. King used London based
administrators:
i.
ii.
Board of Trade
Privy Council*
*A group of advisors with great influence
2. In theory, King controlled all
important decisions
a. Governor appointed by King
i.
ii.
to enforce decisions made in
Britain
But Britain was a 4 month round
trip by sail
b. Governors had to deal and
negotiate with colonists as best
they could
c. Colonists controlled money
available.
i. Legislatures often refused to approve
funds until governor compromised or
capitulated
d. In fact colonies were largely selfgoverning.
3. Division of authority developed
a. Royal government controlled
i. Colonial defense
ii. foreign affairs
iii. uniform system of money & trade
iv. support for trade among colonies
1. colonies were part of a trade
network between North American,
the West Indies, Africa, and Europe
b. Colonial legislatures
controlled internal affairs of their
colony
i.
Ignored trade regulations
they didn't like
4. Trade Regulations
a. Between 1651 and 1696, Parliament
passed a series of Navigation Acts
b. Plan to control colonial trade
c. At first, colonies benefited from assured
market
d. Eventually the restrictions hurt colonies
and colonialists mostly ignored the laws
e. Britain didn't have enough ships to
enforce.
5. French And Indian War
a. War between
France & England
i. 1754-1763
ii. Part of larger war
iii. Involved French &
English colonies
around the globe
5. French And Indian War
b. War left Britain deeply in debt
i. Britain imposed new taxes on
colonies to pay for the cost
ii. Colonists resented
1. "No taxation without representation"
5. French And Indian War
b. War left Britain deeply in debt
i. Imposed new taxes on colonies to
pay for the cost
ii. Colonists resented
1. "No taxation without representation"
6. Moves Toward Unity
a. Early Efforts
Moves Toward Unity
Early Efforts
i. New England
Confederation in
1643
a. To co-ordinate
military action
against Native
Americans
b. Disbanded in
1684
Moves Toward Unity
Early Efforts
ii. The Albany Plan of Union in 1754
1. British Board of Trade called a
meeting of the 7 northern colonies
a. To consider problems with
i. Colonial Trade
ii. Defense against French & their
Native American allies
Moves Toward Unity
Early Efforts
ii. The Albany Plan of Union in 1754
2. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin
3. To provide more centralized government
for 11 colonies
a. To raise military forces
b. Make war & peace with Native
Americans
c. Regulate trade with Native Americans
d. Collect taxes & duties
e. Settle border disputes between colonies
Moves Toward Unity
Early Efforts
ii. The Albany Plan of Union, 1754
4. Colonies to select members to a “Grand
Council”
5. King to appoint a “President General”
6. Rejected by colonies and British Board of
Trade
a. Colonies resented possible loss of
power
b. Crown wanted more direct control of
colonies
Moves Toward Unity
Early Efforts
iii. Stamp Act Congress in1765
1. Delegates from only 9 colonies attended
2. Issue of “taxation without representation”
3. Acknowledged authority of Parliament to
make laws
4. Reasserted rights of the colonists as
Englishmen
5. Requested repeal of Stamp Act
6. Generally ineffective
7. First Continental Congress
1774
a. Response to Coercion Acts
i. These acts were intended to
punish colonies for civil unrest
ii. Called “Intolerable Acts” by
Colonists
b. Meeting called by
Massachusetts & Virginia
assemblies
7. First Continental Congress
1774
C. Delegates from every colony, except
Georgia
i.
“Declaration of Rights” sent to King
George III
1. Rejected by British government
ii. Urged boycott of trade with England until
taxes and trade regulations repealed
1. Called for local committees within colonies to
enforce boycott
iii. Called for another congress for May 1775
8. Second Continental
Congress
May 10, 1775
a. All thirteen colonies sent delegates
i. Fighting had begun April 19, 1775
1.Battles of Lexington & Concord
ii. George Washington appointed
Commander in Chief of continental
forces
Second Continental Congress
b. Became 1st national government
i. Conducted foreign affairs
ii. Borrowed and disbursed funds
iii. Issued money, called “Continentals”
iv. Raised troops
Second Continental Congress
v.
Lacked formal legal basis
1. No power to tax
2. Had to request that colonies
provide funds
a. Requests frequently ignored
Second Continental Congress
c. Resolution of Independence approved,
July 2, 1776
d. Declaration of Independence adopted
July 4, 1776
i. Reflected ideas of John Locke
9. State Governments
a. January 1776, New Hampshire replaced
royal charter with a written constitution
b. May 10, 1776, Continental Congress urged
each state to adopt own constitution
c. By 1777, most states adopted written
constitutions
d. In 1780, Massachusetts held an elected
convention to draft constitution which was
then put to popular vote for ratification.
State Governments
e. Common features of state
governments:
i. Popular Sovereignty
1. Government exists with the
consent of the governed
2. The people are “Sovereign”
State Governments
ii. Limited Government
1.Powers of government generally
specifically designated with restrictions
iii. Bill of Rights
2. Seven states had a bill of rights
which stated the rights held by people
that the state must always respect
State Governments
iv. Separation of Powers with Checks &
Balances
1. Powers divided among three
branches
2. Powers divided so that each
branch could check (block) the others
3. Governors generally had limited
powers
State Governments
v. Right to vote
1. Limited to adult white males who
met property requirements