Upload
elizabeth-holland
View
222
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Second Continental Congress
Delegates from the First Congress with new comers, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock
Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson would be the chief author of the document
He would be influenced by the Enlightenment period in Europe
Declaration of Independence
Jefferson divided it into four sections
1st Introduction or preamble
2nd Declaration of Rights 3rd Grievances against
the King 4th Resolution of
Independence
In Congress, July 4, 1776
“we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.”
“certain unalienable rights…life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” (idea of Locke)
“the representatives of the United States of America.”
“free and independent states.” -John Hancock presides over Congress
Foundation of Democracy
Ancient Greece 500 bc Magna Carta 1215 The Petition of Rights 1626 English Bill of Rights 1689 Social Contract Theory
(Thomas Hobbes 1651)
Natural Rights (John Locke 1690)
The biggest impact was of Early democracy was separation of powers
#4
First Attempts at Democracy
Mayflower compact 1620 Self
Government Virginia House of
Burgess Representative type
of Government
Common Sense
At the same time as the convention Common Sense appeared
Pamphlet by Thomas Paine
Spread revolutionary ideas to the colonies
One of the first major pieces of literature in American history
Revolutionary War
Battle of Bunker Hill British victory however
lost 2400 men to America’s 400
Showed the difference is fighting style
Washington moves his troops to Boston area
British leave Boston
Strengths and Weaknesses
British Well equipped, trained
army Help from 50,000
loyalist Help from Native
Americans and Slaves Hired help called
Mercenaries
America Home field advantage Washington New fighting style Fighting spirit Large amount of land to
conquer
Washington Crosses the Delaware
Christmas of 1776 Washington leave Pennsylvania with 2,400 troops
Crosses the iced over Delaware river Surprises about 1,400 Hessian troops America suffered five casualties This was a great moral victory for America Volunteer troops increased
Battle of Saratoga & Yorktown
Turning point of War, major US victory
French were now willing to help
Yorktown, Virginia Washington had Cornwallis surrounded, and French were coming in from the sea
Cornwallis surrendered to Washington
Treaty of Paris 1783
1. Great Britain must recognize the independence of United States of America
2. Border between USA and Britain was set up in the north (great lakes and Mississippi)
3. Mississippi became the western border 4. Florida was returned to Spain 5. Great Britain agreed to withdraw all troops
Critical Period
With the war over America had to set up a government for the new nation
They were afraid of creating something that gave too much power to one man (like King)
Washington, in one of the most important acts of his life, retires after the war giving up control of his army
This shows that one man is not stronger than the nation as a whole
At this time the US was a collection of 13 individual governments
Articles of Confederation
First attempt at a government 1777 Approved by the Continental Congress One branch of government: Legislative Representatives from each state Each state had its own constitution All of the power was in the States: no power
of the Federal government
Weak Government
Groups called Nationalist called to strengthen the national government
Nation was in debt from the war, had no way of collecting money
Nation did not have the ability to collect taxes
Weakness of the Articles
One vote for each state regardless of size No power to collect taxes Congress had no power to regulate foreign
trade No separate executive branch or president No national court State had all the power, no National power Articles were a weak “league of friendship”
The Northwest Territory 1785
The single greatest accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation
Land sold in the Ohio valley to raise money for federal government
Set up process for admitting future states like Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, & Wisconsin
Set up some of the first Universities in America Slavery was prohibited in the new territory America knew that a stronger government was
needed
Shay’s Rebellion
Daniel Shay Revolutionary War Veteran
Issue over debt, banks tried to seize property
Shay was looking for lower taxes & debt relief
Thousands supported Shay under Revolutionary ideas.
Massachusetts militia used to stop rebellion
Exposed the weakness of state government
Exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation