Moving Towards Statehood

Chapter 4

Section 3

Government and Trade

England thought Parliament represented all citizens

Colonists thought they were represented by their legislators

Colonies could only trade with England Colonists still loyal English citizens Helped England defeat France in 1763

No Taxation Without Representation Facing war debt England taxed the colonists Colonists thought they should not be taxed

without representation To make colonies pay taxes more power

given to government

Steps Toward Independence

Some colonists organized committees of correspondence

Colonies realized they had to unite 1774 12 colonies met in Philadelphia

First Continental Congress Tried to get England to respect colonists

rights.

Colonists pledge to cut off trade with England 1 year later 2nd Continental Congress meets Massachusetts already fighting English

soldiers Many colonists feared independence

Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense in 1776 Stated England belongs in Europe, America

to itself

Declaration of Independence

Popular support for separation from England 2nd Continental Congress called for

independence Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John

Adams on committee Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of

Independence

Colonists belief about natural rights “We hold these truths to be self evident, that

all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Unalienable rights- means that no government has the power to take them away.

People gave power to the government to protect their rights

Jefferson said England had ignored their demands

Declaration of independence signed July 4, 1776

Publicly read on July 8, 1776

Organizing a new Government Compact- a written agreement to make and

obey laws for the welfare of the group Now that the States were free they had to

organize a government People used the idea of a written plan of

government.

State Constitutions

Each state created one States clearly spelled out limits of

government power Some states included citizens rights To prevent tyranny stats limited years

Governor could hold office

Montesquieu idea of three branches Executive, Legislative, Judicial

Legislative had the most power be cause they drew their power directly from the people

Articles of Confederation

13 separate governments Conflicts with England made colonists fearful

of giving power to central government States disagreed on number of

representatives

Virginia a large state wanted the number of legislatures based on population

Rhode Island who was small was fearful of large states

New Jersey wanted equal representation

Drew up loose confederation of states No Executive or Judicial Branch National legislature (Congress) Gave power to

declare war make treaties with foreign government Make trade agreements

No power to tax or enforce laws that it made Power would remain with the states Needed ratification from all 13 states Took 4 years for the states to agree

Limping Governent

After the Revolution Government had problems

Congress and states borrowed a lot of money Could not pay huge debts Did not have enough silver and gold

Congress had no power to regulate trade with England

America bought a lot from England England did not allow colonies to trade with

British West indies

Shays Rebellion

Farmers had debt Farmers in Massachusetts had to pay high

taxes on land Many farmers lost their farms 1786 Hundreds of angry farmers led by

Daniel Shay stoned a courthouse Massachusetts had to use militia to crush the

rebellion

Newspapers spread the story Mad Americans want a stronger government Needed one to keep order George Washing thought Articles of

Confederation were weak Congress needed to raise taxes 13 independent states learned they need a

stronger government

Why do you think Thomas Paine called his pamphlet Common Sense?

To suggest that it is obvious that the colonies should break away from England

Why were states reluctant to give power to central government? Each state was afraid that a central

government would not represent their interests well enough. The states did not trust central government

How did conflict between England and the colonies develop? England decided to raise money by taxing the

colonists. The colonists protested because they had not agreed to pay new taxes

Why did Parliament refuse to listen to the colonists protests? Parliament believed that it had absolute

authority over the colonists because they were British citizens.

What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? To announce the independence of the

colonies and the lists of the reasons for the move

What were the most important ideas? “all men are created equal” and they have

“certain unalienable rights”

List the powers reserved for the central government in the Articles of Confederation?

Declare war, make treaties, and colonists could trade with any of the 13 states

Why did the colonists want state governments to have more power than the central government? Colonists were loyal to their colonies then to

a nation

What challenges did the new government face at the end of the Revolution?

National debt Protests over high taxes on farmers Lack of Congress to pass laws

How might colonies meet the challenges? Congress would have to rewrite Articles of

Confederation Give National Government more power

What was the importance of Shay’s Rebellion? Shay’s rebellion made it clear Congress did

not have enough power to make and enforce laws

It showed the need for a strong central government