Unit 2

Creating the United States

1. Colonial America

A. Salutary Neglect

i. Economic benefitsa. Colonies run themselves (and pay for it)

b. Little time or money required of England.

ii. Colonial Chartersa. Joint-Stock – Business owned.

b. Royal – controlled by crown.

c. Proprietary – Controlled by person or group.

B. Colonial Examples

i. Pennsylvaniaa. 21 yr + white men who paid taxes could vote.

b. Representatives had 1 year terms.

c. Many rights given by proprietor (William Penn)

ii. Virginiaa. Originally Jamestown Colony.

b. Joint-stock charter by Virginia Company.

c. First elected legislature – House of Burgess.

iii. Massachusettsa. Plymouth Bay Colony

1) Originally headed to Virginia, but blown off course.

2) Mayflower Compact signed establishing a right of the majority to rule.

b. Massachusetts Bay Colony1) Headquarter in Boston.

2) Many locally elected officials.

3) Eventually joined with Plymouth.

2. Declaration of Independence

A. Cause for Break

i. French and Indian Wara) 1754-1763b) French/Indians and British (Americans) attempt to

take Ohio River Valley.c) British Prime Minister William Pitt takes out loans

and heavily taxes English to win war.d) British win.

ii. Proclamation of 1763a) Peace with Natives.b) OR Valley is placed under military control.c) Americans – no moving west.

iii. Who won the war?a) British - our military.

b) Americans- our militia.

iv. British want Americans to shoulder burden of debt.

v. New taxes & laws to help the Americans take care of the military & debt.

A. Cause for Break

vi. Sugar Act 1764 – 1st enforced.a) Smugglers tried in Naval Court

b) NO JURY

vii. Quartering Act 65’– colonists provide food & housing for troops.

viii. Stamp Act 65’ – paper products must be stamped (costs $).

A. Cause for Break

B. Break Occurs

i. Stamp Act Congress 65’ – delegates wrote protest to London.

a) Englishman’s rights crushed.b) No taxation without representation.

ii. Boycotts of British products.iii. Tax collectors tarred and feathered.iv. 66’ Parliament repeals Stamp Actv. Declaratory Act – British can do what ever we

want.vi. Townshend Act – tax on tea: 67’.

vii. Boston Massacre, Tea Party.

viii. Sons of Liberty had organized boycotts.

ix. Coercive Acts – passed in anger to Boston.a) Closed port at Boston.

b) Eliminates most self-government of MA.

c) Quebec Act – gives Ohio to the French-Canadians!

x. First Continental Congress – Cont. boycotts, asks colonists to arm, sends Declaration of Resolves to plead Englishman’s rights.

B. Break Occurs

C. Violence Occursi. April, 1775 – Battles of Lexington and

Concord.

ii. Second Continental Congress Meetsa) Olive Branch Petition by John Dickinson

asks for peace from king.

b) King George III wants rebellion crushed.

c) Declaration of Independence is written by Thomas Jefferson.

d) Inspired by Enlightenment – John Locke’s ideas of basic rights (life, liberty, property).

III. Articles of Confederation

A. Alliance of States1. Created in 1777 and adopted by the Continental

Congress

2. Established a national government in 1781.

3. Legislative branch only.a. No executive

b. State courts only

4. State Constitution

a. Most states adopted a list of duties of the government

b. Most states also adopted a “bill of rights.”

B. Trouble with the Articles

1. Economic hardships faced the nation

a. America had $50 million debt.

b. Continued to print worthless money.

c. Many failed to pay back money owed to wealthy.

d. Wealthy complained average citizens had too much power.

2. Nationalists Arise

a. Wanted to restrain unpredictable behavior of states.

b. Feared lack of national courts and economic policy.

c. Wrote to newspapers.

d. Included:

i. George Washington

ii. James Madison

iii. Alexander Hamilton

e. Feared America’s culture of challenging authority.

f. European and Roman Republics had failed.

g. Believed America should be a world model.

3. Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

a. One vote for each states.

b. Congress can’t collect taxes

c. Congress can't regulate commerce.

d. Amendments = unanimous approval.

e. 9/13 majority to pass laws.

f. “Firm league of friendship.”

4. Annapolis Convention - 1786

a. Only five states sent delegates.

b. Agreed on meeting the next year.

C. Shays’ Rebellion

1. Daniel Shays the war veteran, led a revolt over unpaid bills and taxes.

2. Rebellion put down.

3. Prominent Americans saw need for order.

IV. Constitution of the United States of America

A. Constitutional Convention

1. May – September 1787

2. Meetings kept secretive.

3. 55 delegates - educated

B. James Madison

1. Father of Constitution

2. Studied gov’t

3. Believed people were selfish.

4. Government controls lust for power.James Madison

C. Debate would ensue throughout convention

1. Federalists wanted new, central government

2. Anti-federalists wanted Articles with strong state governments

3. Federalists won.

D. Big vs. Small States

1. Virginia Plan- legislature proportional to population

2. New Jersey Plan – every state gets and equal vote.

E. Connecticut or Great Compromise

1. Bicameral legislature

2. Lower House –Representatives by population

3. Upper House – 2 Senators from each state

F. Slaves to be counted or not?

1. Southerners want slaves counted so representation to House would be greater

2. Northerners opposed

3. Three-Fifths Compromise : 3/5 counted were counted.

G. Ratification

1. 9/13 states needed to ratify.

2. Federalist papers written to persuade New Yorkers to ratify.

Patrick Henry

H. Federalists Convince the States

1. Federalists had a plan, were organized.

2. George Washington, national hero, backed Constitution.

I. Parts of the Constitution

1. Legislative

2. Executive

3. Judicial

4. States recognize each other

5. Amending

6. Supremacy

7. Ratification

J. Bill of Rights - Added to appease the Anti-Federalists that freedoms would be protected.

i. Freedom of expression (Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition, Religion)

ii. Bear armsiii. No quartering of troopsiv. Warrantsv. Remain silentvi. Speedy/public trial, witnessesvii. Juryviii. Cruel & unusualix. Rights not namedx. Unnamed powers to states

i. Freedom of expression

a) Religion

b) Speech

c) Press

d) Assembly

e) Petition

ii. Militia and right to bear arms*

iii.No quartering of soldiers during peace.

iv.Search and seizure – warrants required.

v. Cannot testify against oneself, no double jeopardy, natural rights cannot be taken without due process of law, property cannot be taken without payment.

vi.Speedy & public trial, accused, right to examine and provide witnesses, right to counsel.

vii.Trial by jury.

viii.No excessive fines, bail, or cruel and unusual punishment.

ix.Rights not in the Constitution are allowed.

x. Powers not in the Constitution are for the states.