USHG
Regents Review
Unit 1-2
American Revolution
Articles of Confederation
Writing and Ratifying the Constitution
Principles of the Constitution
• England generally ignored the colonies as long as they
were profitable so colonies did as they wanted
• England was rivals/enemies with France and fought them
frequently
• Albany Plan of Union
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Ben Franklin’s idea
Modeled on Iroquois Confederacy
Colonies would join together as protection from French
Colonies rejected it b/c they feared loss of independence
Causes of Am. Rev.
Albany Plan of Union
• Colonists upset at Treaty of Paris and Proclamation
Line of 1763
• Mercantilism- colonies exist for the good of the mother
country
• Britain started taxing colonies
• Sugar Act 1764
• Stamp Act 1765
• Writs of Assistance- English officials could search
colonists homes for “illegal” goods
Economic Causes of Am. Rev.
• Colonists boycotted, petitioned, and protested colonial
rules
• Believed Britain violated their natural rights (Locke)
• “ no taxation without representation” became a motto
for the colonies
• Tea Act- tax on colonial tea
• Boston Tea Party- colonists dumped tea into the Boston
Harbor in protest
• Intolerable Acts- Britain punished colonies by:
• Closed port of Boston
• Forbid town meetings
• Brit. troops sent into Boston
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First Continental Congress 1774
Colonies meet to plan a response to Intolerable Acts
met in Philadelphia
Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense in support of
revolution and independence
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-9pDZMRCpQ
No More Kings Video
• Second Continental Congress
• Thomas Jefferson wrote the Dec. of Indep.
• Used Enlightenment ideas from J. Locke
• Adopted July 4 1776
• Purpose:
• Announced that the colonies were independent
• Explain why they had to declare indep. from Britain
• Key Ideas:
• Natural rights
• Consent of the governed
• If a gov’t fails to protect rights, people can abolish it
• Three parts
• 1. Theory of gov’t
• 2. Grievances against the king
• 3. Formal declaration of indep.
Declaration of Indep.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrSeCYSnj5Y
Dec of Indep. Video
• Colonists led by George Washington
• France helped the colonists (enemies of Brit)
• Treaty of Paris 1783 ended the War
• Britain recognized independence of colonies
• Borders set at Canada, Florida, Mississippi
• Effects of Am Revolution
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States wrote their own constitutions
Iroquois League destroyed
Opposition to slavery began
Influenced the Fr. Rev
American Revolution
• How did England’s “neglect” of the colonies help cause
the Am Rev?
• How did the Enlightenment in Europe contribute to the
Am. Rev?
• Where does “taxation without representation” continue in
this country today?
Essential Questions
• First gov’t of the US
• Weak national gov’t and strong state gov’t
• Could make treaties, declare war, receive ambassadors
Articles of Confederation
• Negotiated the end of the war
• Passed the
• Land Ordinance of 1785
• Northwest Ordinance 1787
• These ordinances stated how land would be developed, how
new states could join and prohibited slavery in the NW
Territory
Successes of the A of C
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No national currency (money)
No national taxes (only states could tax)
No Judiciary or President
No national military
Could not regulate trade
Weaknesses of the A of C
• Watch Discovery Ed videos on Articles of Confederation
• See M Kelly
• 1780’s need for stronger national gov’t arose
• Shay’s Rebellion-poor farmers rioted- showed weakness of
A of C to control the people
• Constitutional Convention called
Changing the A of C
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George Washington
James Madison
Ben Franklin
Alexander Hamilton
• The leaders of the convention were white men, generally
wealthy, powerful and educated.
Constitutional
Convention
Articles of Confederation
Constitution
States had most power
Congress did not enforce laws
No Executive branch
Congress could not tax
Congress could not regulate trade
Each state had its own money
Federal system- power divided betw
national & state gov’t
Executive branch=President
Congress can collect taxes
National gov’t coins money
A of C vs. Constitution
• Why did the new US develop a government that was
weak after the War?
• What eventually made people realize they needed a
stronger central gov’t?
Essential Questions
• Great Compromise
• Created a Bicameral legislature-Congress
• Senate- representation equal 2 reps/state
• House of Representatives-representation based on
population
• Three Fifths Compromise-slaves counted 3/5 for
taxation and population
• Presidency Compromise• 4 year term for Presidents
• Indirect election through electoral college
Constitutional
Compromises
• Federalists
• In favor of ratifying the Constitution
• Wanted a strong central gov’t
• Alexander Hamilton
• Anti-Federalists
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Wanted a weak national gov’t
Thought states should have more power
Wanted a Bill of Rights added
Thomas Jefferson
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Create a stronger national gov’t
System of justice
Provide for peace at home
Provide for defense of the nation
Promote well being of citizens
Secure liberty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OyU4O80i4
The Preamble
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Popular sovereignty- consent of the governed
Limited gov’t- limits power
Federalism-power divided betw. national and states
Separation of powers -3 branches of gov’t
Checks and balances-each branch limits the other branches
Flexibility•
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Elastic clause- “necessary & proper”
AmendmentsJudicial interpretationUnwritten constitution-customs & traditions
• Ex political parties,
Basic Principles
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzAJyK0ovo8
SchoolHouse Rock
Constitution
• Amendments 1-10
• Guarantees rights of
individuals and protects
them from the power of
the gov’t
• Anti-Federalists supported
Bill of Rights
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13th
14th
15th
19th
26th
abolished slavery
defines citizenship
voting rights to Af-Am men
voting rights to women
voting ages of 18
Other Significant
Amendments
• Why do some historians believe that the Constitution is a
“document of compromises” ?
• Explain the idea of federalism and why it replaced the
Articles of Confederation.
• How is the Bill of Rights an example of the compromise?
Essential Questions
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEPd98CbbMk
SchoolHouse Rock
3 Ring Gov’t
• Congress split into 2 Houses
• Senate
• 2 reps from each state
• House of Representatives
• Rep. based on population
• Based on the census
• Makes laws
Legislative Branch
Powers of Congress
• Elastic clause- “necessary & proper” -allows flexibility
for changing times
• Unwritten constitution- customs and traditions in
running the gov’t
• Political parties, Supreme Court decisions
More Special Powers
• President
• Elected by electoral college
• People vote for electors, electors vote for President
• Enforces the laws
• Appoints judges
• Commander in Chief of the military
Executive Branch
• Supreme Court
• Judicial review-SC has the right to declare laws
unconstitutional
• President appoints judges, Senate approves them
• 9 judges
Judicial Branch
• Explain the concept of checks and balances.
• How does this help balance power in the gov’t?
Essential Questions