Build-Up to the American Revolution

Pre-Conflict

» For 150 years, there was very little English interference in the colonies

» Most colonies had their own government set up by English settlers˃ Usually three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial)

» The English and the colonists were for the most part thriving under these circumstances

French and Indian War

» North American Theater of the Seven Years War» Primarily a conflict between the British and the

French» The conflict on our continent pitted the British

and their Native American allies against the French and their Native American Allies

» The British victory gained much new land for the British on the continent.

Before The War

After 1763

Post-War

» Land gains were good for the economies of Britain and the Colonies

» Britain had a large war debt that needed repaid» If the colonies were benefitting from the results

of the war, should they not chip in to help pay the debt?

» Should they not chip in to help pay the cost of defending the colonies as well?

Post-War

» Sugar Act – 1764˃ Tax on imported goods to the colonies˃ Tax on TRADE˃ English thought it was reasonable˃ Colonists felt singled out

» Stamp Act – 1765˃ Tax on printed materials in the colonies˃ DIRECT tax on colonists˃ Met with even more resistance

» Townshend Acts – beginning in 1767˃ Various additional acts meant to levy additional taxes on colonists˃ Extreme resistance and boycotting of British goods˃ Led to the Boston Massacre - 1770

+ 5 dead, 6 injured+ Anti-British propaganda and sentiment spread throughout the colonies

Post-War

» Tea Act – 1773˃ Effectively gave a monopoly to the East India Co. on tea shipments into the colonies˃ Colonial merchants suffered˃ Led to the Boston Tea Party - 1773

» Parliament responded in 1774 with the Coercive Acts, or Intolerable Acts, which, among other provisions, ended local self-government in Massachusetts

» Colonists responded by convening the First Continental Congress

» Escalation between the two sides eventually led to the Revolutionary War

Articles of Confederation

» Second Continental Congress convened due to the need for some association between the States in order to defeat England

» Because of what had happened with England, colonists feared creating a strong central government

» Result – Articles of Confederation˃ Created a national legislature (Congress) where each state had one vote˃ No executive or judicial branches˃ Congress had power to:

+ Declare war+ Borrow money+ Make treaties with foreign nations+ Work out trade agreements between States

˃ All other powers belonged to the individual States, INCLUDING THE POWER TO TAX

Articles of Confederation

» War for Independence had brought a lot of debt

» Under the Articles, Congress could not tax, making it difficult to find money to pay off the debt

» Additionally, the Articles provided no way of enforcing decisions that Congress made

» The American Economy began to suffer, making people realize that a revision of the Articles

» 1787 – Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention

» Virginia Plan˃ Two house legislature˃ Representation based upon population in each state˃ Favored by states with LARGER populations

» New Jersey Plan˃ One house legislature˃ Representation equal for all states regardless of population˃ Favored by states with SMALLER populations

» Connecticut Plan˃ “The Great Compromise”˃ Two house legislature˃ House of Representatives based upon population˃ Senate representation equal for all states regardless of population - 2 senators for each state˃ Legislation must pass through both houses to become law

Comparison of Governments

Govt. Under Articles of Confederation Govt. Under Constitution

» Loose alliance of independent states

» 1 house legislature» No executive or judicial

branches» No ability for federal govt. to

tax» States coin money separately» No inter-state trade regulation» Most power held by STATES

» National govt. representing all citizens

» 2 house legislature» Executive and judicial branches

included» Congress has ability to tax the

people » Only federal govt. can coin

money» Federal govt. regulates inter-state

trade» Power is SHARED

Questions

» Anti-Federalists – What is the most important omission from this Constitution?˃ Rebuttal?

» Federalists - Why is it better to more strongly tie together the states under this Constitution?˃ Rebuttal?

» Anti-Federalists – What is your biggest fear about allowing a stronger national government?˃ Rebuttal?

» Federalists – Why is the new plan for Congress better than the old plan under the Articles?˃ Rebuttal?

Debate over the Constitution

Anti-Federalists Federalists» Too much power transferred

from states to national government

» States should be free to pass legislation specific to their situations

» No Bill of Rights» “Necessary and proper” clause

could allow congress to take more power

» Executive branch is too powerful, we don’t want too much power in the hands of one person

» Power is needed in a national government to protect all of the states

» National government prevents states from creating factions

» Guaranteeing certain rights could exclude certain other rights

» Congress is representative of the people and will follow their will

» Checks and balances prevent abuse of power

Constitution

» Preamble˃ Clearly sets the purpose of the new government

» Article 1˃ Sets up the structure, powers, and processes of the Legislative Branch (Congress)˃ Bicameral legislature˃ Power to declare war, ratify treaties, coin money, etc…˃ “Necessary and Proper” clause˃ Also denies certain powers

» Article 2˃ Sets up the structure, powers, and processes of the Executive Branch (President)˃ President executes the laws, does not make them˃ Many limits placed on Presidential power to prevent abuse˃ No precedent for this position

» Article 3˃ Sets up the structure, powers, and processes of the Judicial Branch (Court system)˃ Supreme Court interprets laws and actions based upon the Constitutionality

Constitution

» Article 4˃ Sets up standards of relationships between States˃ States must honor acts and records of other States˃ More strongly unites the States under one nation

» Article 5˃ Sets up method for amending the Constitution˃ Allows the Constitution to be a “living document” better able to adapt to the future

» Article 6˃ Sets up the supremacy of federal law over State laws˃ Labels the Constitution as the supreme law of the land above all others

» Article 7˃ Requires 9 of 13 States to ratify in order to replace the Articles of Confederation

Constitutional Powers