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Chapter 2
Beginnings of America
• Stamp Act- (1765) Issued by Britain, required colonists to
pay for an official government stamp on certain paper
items: first time parliament taxed colonies directly.
Eventually repealed after American protests.
• Boston Massacre- (March 1770) 5 colonists died when
British Soldiers fired into an angry crowd outside customs
house. The colonists felt it was a deliberate attack on
innocents.
• Battle of Lexington- (April 18, 1775) After British orders
to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock and confiscate
their gunpowder and weapons, 700 British troops set out
for Concord Mass. 70 minutemen along with Samuel
Adams and John Hancock, waited for British troops after
warning from Colonial alarm rider Paul Revere. Marked
beginning of war. 8 colonists killed
Key Terms and People
• Thomas JeffersonMember of Second
Continental Congress,
wrote 1st draft of the
Declaration of
Independence.
• George WashingtonChosen as leader of
Continental Army. Able to
retake Boston in March
1776, forced British troops
to evacuate city. 1st
president of US.
Important Revolutionary Documents
• Common SenseThomas Paine
pamphlet, condemned
Monarchy and King
George III, called for a
declaration of
independence.
• Declaration of
Independence- Formally
announced colonies break
from Britain. 3 main
ideas: inalienable rights,
unfair laws/taxes, George
violated social contract.
Introduced on July 2, 1776
signed July 4.
Important Battles
• Battle of SaratogaColonists attacked Gen.
Burgoyne at Fort
Ticonderoga in Upstate
NY. Gen. Howe was to
come to his aid but turned
towards Philadelphia
instead. Oct. 17,1777
surrendered his 600 men
to 1700 Continental Army
troops. A major turning
point in the Revolutionary
war.
• Battle of Yorktown- July
1781, Britain tried to
escape but Washington
blockaded bay and
attacked Gen. Cornwallis
from land and sea. Oct.
19, 1781 surrendered. Last
battle of Revolutionary
war.
Treaty of Paris
• September 3, 1783. Britain
recognized independence of the
United States and granted the
U.S. significant western
territory. The 1783 Treaty was
one of a series of treaties signed
at Paris in 1783 that also
established peace between
Great Britain and the allied
nations of France, Spain, and
the Netherlands.
•
(QUESTIONS)
• Articles of
confederation- Nov. 1777,
America’s 1st national
constitution, lacked
powerful congress,
difficult to put laws into
effect, no executive or
judicial branches.
• James Madison- delegate
at constitutional
convention, kept diary of
convention. Often called
“father of constitution”
due to role in document.
Drafting the Constitution
• Constitutional Convention- May 1787, Congress
called all the states to meet in Philadelphia. Key
delegates included: Roger Sherman, Alexander
Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison,
and George Washington. Tried to find a balance
between large and small states, between southern
and northern interests and between strong national
government versus states rights.
Great Compromise
• Virginia Plan (large
state)- Gave more
power in national
government to large
states, Bicameral
legislature (2 houses),
Number of state reps
based on population
• New Jersey Plan
(small state)- Equal
power in national
government for all
states, Unicameral
legislature (1 house),
each state have equal
number of reps
Bicameral Legislature: lower house- reps determined by
Population, upper house- reps equal
Three Branches of Government
• Checks and Balances- Set up
between 3 branches so each
branch could delay or stop an
action of another branch. No
branch could be too powerful.
• Legislative Branch- Makes
laws, Congress
• Executive Branch- President
and departments, carry out laws
• Judicial Branch- Supreme
Court and lower courts,
interprets laws as they relate to
constitution
Opposition to Constitution
• Federalists- Supporters of
the Constitution, sharing
of power between a
national government and
sub-divisions (states). Saw
a more urban country with
a centralized government
and involved in world
affairs.
• Anti-FederalistsOpposed constitution.
Feared a strong central
government would
lead to tyranny and
abuse both states
rights and individual
freedoms.
Bill of Rights
• Document of basic
rights to protect
individual liberties.
Anti-federalists
wanted it added to
constitution before
ratification
(accepting). Bill can
be added to as times
change.
•
(questions)
• Alexander HamiltonSecretary of Treasury
under Washington,
Federalist. Financial
Plan: national debt,
tariffs to raise revenue,
national bank/mint
(not in the
Constitution – but not
prohibited)
• DemocraticRepublicans- Led by
Jefferson and
Madison, saw a more
rural country with
power residing with
the people and state
governments.
• Judiciary Act of
1789- Congress
organized Judicial
branch- 6 person
Supreme Court. John
Jay 1st Supreme Court
Chief Justice
Differing Views
• Loose Constructionist• Strict
People who believed the
Constructionist- The
Constitution also allows
people who believed
actions that are not
government only had
mentioned as long as they
are not prohibited and they
the powers specifically
are necessary and proper.
granted in the
Constitution.
What problems arise if we only follow the powers
specifically stated in the Constitution written 200 years ago?
National Government Reacts
• Whiskey Rebellion1794, 1st major challenge:
farmers in Pennsylvania
objected excise tax on
whiskey, attacked
collectors. Washington
suppressed rebellion
without bloodshed. He
wanted to make clear that
armed rebellion against
the national government
would not be tolerated.
• John AdamsWashington’s Vice
President, Lawyer, 2nd
president of the US.
Wanted to improve
relationship with
France.
• Marbury v. Madisonestablished Judicial
Review- can declare
that a law violates the
constitution.
Louisiana Purchase
•
Jefferson purchased Louisiana
territory from France. The price
was 60 million francs, about $15
million; $11,250,000 was to be paid
directly, with the balance to be
covered by the assumption by the
United States of French debts to
American citizens. France was
facing renewed war with Great
Britain, and could not spare troops
to defend the territory but they
needed funds to support French
military in Europe. Accordingly, in
April 1803 they offered to sell
Louisiana to the United States.
War of 1812
• United States caught in the middle between Great
Britain and France. Great Britain began policy of
impressment, or seizing and drafting United States
sailors into their navy. US also discovered that
Great Britain was helping the Native Americans
fight the settlers in northwest territory. Led to the
call for war by the Americans, led by the War
Hawks
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