Early American Politics
Early American Politics
Time Line
1629-40 Charles I attempted to purge England of Puritans. Religious controversies also flourished in
Continental Europe. As a result, English Quakers, French Huguenots, German Pietists, and
people of other faiths fled to America to avoid religious persecution.
1760
King George III became King of England and tries to take power from Parliament.
1765
In Feb, Parliament enacts the Stamp Act in order to pay its debts from the Seven Years
War. In Oct, the Stamp Act Congress meets in New York to issue a response.
1766
Stamp Act Repealed.
1767
Townshend acts -- duties on the importation of tea, glass, lead, paper and paint to help pay
for the administration of the colonies, named after Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer.
1770
Boston Massacre.
1773
Tea Act -- removes export duties on tea from Britain to encourage Americans to buy it
and set a precedent for the taxation in the Townsend acts (May). Boston Tea Party (Dec).
1774
The Intolerable Acts – furious about the Boston Tea Party and other disturbances, King
George blockades Boston harbor and mandates that British soldiers be quartered in colonial
homes.
Early American Politics
A.
Mindset of the Early Americans
1.
By 1775, what was the attitude of early Americans
toward:
a.
b.
c.
religious laws?
British taxes?
standing armies?
d.
What was their attitude toward strong central
government?
Early American Politics
Time Line
1774
Oct. 5: First Continental Congress meets.
1775
Fighting at Lexington and Concord. Second Continental Congress meets.
1776
Declaration of Independence.
1775-83 Revolutionary War.
1781-89 The Articles of Confederation enacted.
1787
Constitutional Convention: Congress meets for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of
Confederation. Produces the Constitution.
1787-88
Ratification (Federalist Debates)
1789
Constitution enacted. George Washington Becomes the first president.
1791
Bill of rights ratified.
<Declaration of Independence Slide>
Early American Politics
B.
Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)
1.
Organized the country around a confederation of
independent and sovereign states.
a. Similar to the United Nations.
Early American Politics
Congress
(legislature, judiciary, & executive)
Voted in State Blocks.
Each state had one
vote.
At first, no executive
staff.
Judicial: formed
committees to
settle disputes
between states.
Beginning 1781
secretaries of Finance,
NH MA RI CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA NC SC GA
Foreign Affairs, and
War.
(Congress represented states, not people)
Revenues & Soldiers
raised by requisitions
Early American Politics
C.
Failures of the Articles of Confederation
1.
2.
3.
4.
Congress could not enforce its trade policy.
Congress received few revenues from the states
and could not pay its war debts.
States fell short in their quotas for soldiers.
Congress rarely received a quorum of nine states
in order to conduct major business.
Why?
Early American Politics
D.
Amending the Articles of Confederation
1.
2.
Congress proposes;
State legislatures must unanimously ratify.
…Amendments attempted in 1781 and 1783.