Constitution
Lesson 2
Coming of Independence
A. Royal Control
1. King controlled the 13 colonies
- parliament stayed out of it
2. King was 3000 miles away
- took 2 months to sail to London
- colonies were somewhat self-governed
- colonial legislatures grew powerful over time.
3. Similar to Federal System
- King in charge of defense and foreign affairs
- Provided uniform money system
- allowed inter-colony trade
- Colonists set up their own local govt.
- often ignored the King’s rules
But then …
- King George III takes the throne in 1760
1. set up harsh colonial taxes.
2. Restricted colonial trade
3. Sent Br. soldiers to enforce the rules
- colonists were upset – King should not
control local affairs!
- “No taxation without representation!”
4. Colonists wanted to remain BR citizens
- Choice = SUBMIT OR REVOLT!!!
B. Growing Colonial Unity
- colonists tried to promote colonial unity.
1. Early Attempts
- 1643 -- League of Friendship – Mass Bay, Plymouth,
New Haven, & CT. -- needed Indian protection.
- 1696 – William Penn (PA) wanted colonial cooperation
for defense, trade, courts, etc.
- other colonies did not like the plans.
2. Albany Plan
- 1754 – Ben Franklin came up with Albany Plan for Union
- set up a congress of delegates
- raise army & navy
- regulate taxes and trade
King & colonists shot down the idea!
3. Stamp Act Congress
- Stamp Act of 1765 – pay a tax on all legal docs. & newspapers
- severe rates
- colonists protested – King repealed it, but there was friction
- Boston Massacre Æ 5 colonists killed by panicked soldiers
4. Committee of Correspondence
- Samuel Adams – set up network to exchange info with other
colonies.
5. Boston Tea Party
- to protest Tea tax – colonists dumped tea into harbor.
C. 1st Continental Congress
1. Intolerable Acts – punish colonists
2. Met to discuss 13 colony boycott of BR goods.
D. 2nd Continental Congress
1. War began in April Æ Lexington & Concord
2. Met in May to discuss what to do.
- put George Washington in charge of ARMY
- John Hancock was President of the Congress
- U.S. first national govt. – from 1776 – 1781 when
Articles of Confederation were approved.
E. Declaration of Independence
- Richard Henry Lee of VA suggested independence.
- asked Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman,
Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson to write it.
- Thomas Jefferson wrote the final draft.
- adopted and signed on July 4, 1776
F. First State Govts.
- each state adopted a new const.
- constitution – fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures,
and processes of govt.
- MA was first – held a convention Æ other states followed suit
G. Common Features of New States
1. Popular Sovereignty - people have the power
2. Limited Govt. – many restrictions on govt.
3. Civil Rights & Liberties
- 7 of 13 states had Bill of Rights Æ unalienable
4. Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances
- Executive, Legislative, Judicial
- state govts. had little power.
- elected terms were very short - 2 yrs. at most
- only male property owners could vote
Had a large impact on the future U.S. Constitution!!!