Lesson 2:Revolution and the Early Republic

Colonial Resistance and Rebellion

England is in Debt
⚫ The French and Indian
War cost way, way too
much money.
⚫ England started taxing
the American Colonies to
pay the debt back.
⚫ They also started
tightening control over
the colonies.
The Colonies get Upset!
⚫ Sugar Tax, Stamp Tax
(tax on all types of
paper goods)
⚫ Colonies upset – they
felt that it was unfair to
be forced to pay a tax
without having
representation in
Parliament.
The Colonies get Upset (cont.)
⚫ Colonists began to protest and
boycott all the paper goods – it
worked, England repealed the
Stamp Tax.
⚫ Then, England passed the
Townsend Acts – tax on glass,
lead, tea and other goods.
⚫ Colonists boycotted again, it
worked again, England
repealed the taxes – except on
tea.
Things Start to Happen
⚫ Boston Massacre –
5 colonists are
killed while
harassing British
soldiers.
Boston Tea Party
⚫ Boston Tea Party
– in protest of the
Tea Act, a bunch
of colonists dump
English tea in the
harbor.
England Tightens Control
⚫ Intolerable Acts –
punishment for the
Boston Tea Party
⚫ Closed Boston Harbor
⚫ Quartering Act – forced
people to let soldiers stay
in their homes
⚫ Placed Boston under
military control
⚫ Made some gun
ownership illegal
Lexington and Concord
⚫ British troops march to
from Boston to Concord
to capture a supply of
rifles.
⚫ 70 Colonists ambushed
them in Lexington and
open fire (only 1 British
soldier died).
⚫ On the way back they are
ambushed by over 3000
colonists (LOTS British
soldiers die).
More Trouble in Boston
⚫ Colonial Militia and
tries to free Boston.
⚫ Battle of Bunker Hill
(over 1000 British
soldiers die).
⚫ Colonials capture
Boston.
⚫ British Navy blockades
Boston Harbor.
Colonies Raise an Army
⚫ Second Continental
Congress (the group of
colonial leaders) decide to
raise a militia (army) and
select George Washington
as the commander.
Moving Toward Independence
⚫ Ideas of John Locke –
Enlightenment Philosopher
⚫ Believed that people were born with
natural rights (life, liberty,
property).
⚫ It is the government’s responsibility
to protect people’s rights.
⚫ If a government does not, then
people have the right to rebel
against that government!
Moving Toward Independence
⚫ Common Sense –
pamphlet/essay written by
Thomas Paine.
⚫ Written to promote rebellion
against English rule (chance
to create a new society,
better control over trade,
etc.).
Declaration of Independence
⚫ Colonists finally
decide that they
should fight to become
a new nation (not just
to earn better
treatment from
England).
⚫ Now all they had to do
was win the war!
The War ⚫ Patriots lost many battles
early on.
⚫ The first major battle we
won was the Battle of
Saratoga – which
convinced France to help.
⚫ After five years of
fighting, the British
surrendered after the
Battle of Yorktown
(1781).
Why the Colonies Won
⚫ Colonial soldiers fought
hard to defend their homes.
⚫ Colonial soldiers knew the
land better (used guerilla
tactics).
⚫ The British made several
mistakes.
⚫ The war was unpopular in
England, cost too much
money… so they decided to
stop fighting.
Treaty of Paris (1783)
⚫ Officially ended the
war.
⚫ Confirmed that the
Colonies were
independent.
⚫ Set the boundaries of
the new nation.
Confederation and Constitution
Articles of Confederation
⚫ Now that they were
independent, the colonies had
to make a government.
⚫ Articles of Confederation –
created a WEAK central
government with little
cooperation among the states.
Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
⚫ Could not collect taxes from
the states.
⚫ Each state had one vote
(regardless of size).
⚫ 9 out of 13 states had to
agree to pass laws.
⚫ No executive branch.
⚫ No national court system.
⚫ Could not regulate
interstate commerce
(business).
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
⚫ Plan for settling the
Northwest Territory.
⚫ Would create 3-5 new
states (ignored the rights
of Native Americans).

⚫ This was the only successful thing

that was accomplished by the
Articles of Confederation.
 Shay’s Rebellion
⚫ Massachusetts farmers
protested increased state
taxes.
⚫ Protests became a riot, state
militia ended up killing some
farmers.
⚫ Scared all of the colonies –
people decided that a stronger
government was needed to
solve the country’s problems.
Constitutional Convention
⚫ Meeting of colonial leaders to
discuss a plan to fix the Articles of
Confederation.
⚫ They ended up creating a whole
new form of government:
⚫ Federalism – system where the
central (federal) government
shares power with the states.
Conflict over Representation
⚫ Large states wanted
representation in congress based
on population.
⚫ Small states wanted each state to
be represented equally.
⚫ Great Compromise – two houses
of congress: one based on
population (House of
Representatives), one with equal
representation (Senate).
Conflict over Slaves
⚫ Southern states wanted
slaves to be counted for
representation.
⚫ Northern states did not
want them counted.
⚫ Three-Fifths Compromise –
they agreed that a slave
would be counted as 3/5ths
of a person for
representation (and taxing).
Separation of Powers
⚫ Legislative Branch –
makes the laws.
⚫ Executive Branch –
enforces the laws.
⚫ Judicial Branch –
interprets the laws and
settles disputes.
⚫ Checks and balances –
each branch can prevent
the others from
becoming too powerful.
Ratifying the Constitution
⚫ Federalists – favored the
Constitution.
⚫ Anti-federalists – against the
Constitution.
⚫ Bill of Rights – first 10
Amendments that
guaranteed people’
individual rights – protected
against government
becoming too powerful.
Launching the New Nation
Washington is President
⚫ Judiciary Act of 1789 – created
the Supreme Court (and other
federal courts).
⚫ Cabinet – the president’s main
advisors.
⚫ Secretary of State – Thomas
Jefferson
⚫ Secretary of War – Henry Knox
⚫ Secretary of Treasury –
Alexander Hamilton
Political Differences
Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson

⚫ Favored strong federal ⚫ Favored states having more

government power – “states rights”
⚫ Favored business interests ⚫ Favored farming interests
⚫ Loose interpretation of the ⚫ Strict interpretation of the
Constitution Constitution

⚫ FEDERALISTS ⚫ DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICA
NS
Problems Facing the Nation
⚫ Financial problems (debt
from the Revolution) -
⚫ Created the National Bank.
⚫ Protective Tariffs– taxes on
imported goods (designed to
encourage local production).
⚫ Foreign Affairs
⚫ stayed neutral in conflict
between England and
France.
Conflict over the National Bank
⚫ Federalists felt that it was
necessary to manage the
nation’s economy.

⚫ Anti-federalists felt that

it was unconstitutional
(the constitution didn’t
give the federal
government the right to
do it).
John Adams is President
⚫ Adams was a Federalist
⚫ Alien and Sedition Acts –
⚫ Extended the length it took for immigrants to
become citizens to 14 years.
⚫ Made it illegal to make statements against the US
government.
⚫ Nullification – principle that says that states can
nullify/ignore any law that they believe is
unconstitutional (it never became a law).
⚫ Inspired by the Virginia and Kentucky
Resolutions