1 of 34

2 of 34

The Rights of an Englishman

Magna Carta 1215

Limits power to tax
Rights to a fair trial

English Bill of Rights 1688

Freedom of speech
Trial by jury

3 of 34

Colonial Government

Growth of representative government

British traditional government extended
Benign neglect

Representative government

House of Burgesses 1619
Assemblies
New England town hall meetings

4 of 34

Colonial Life

Mercantilism
Subsistence farming/cottage industry
New England

Trade

Middle Colonies

Breadbasket

Southern Colonies

Cash crops and slavery

Source: American pageant

Mercantilism formed the basis for the trade of the colonies. It was based on the idea that the “mother country” exports more than you import so that your “bank account” goes up. The purpose of colonies was to supply raw materials for the “mother country”

New England

These colonies had little farming due to the thin rocky soil. However, they had many fine harbors and large forests that contributed to the growth of trade and the fishing industry as well as shipbuilding. Many cities grew up beside the deep water ports and fast moving streams.

Middle Colonies

These colonies had broad fertile plains, mild climate, and slow moving rivers that enabled the growth of farms both large and small devoted primarily to the growing of food products such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, and potatoes that led to the nickname of “breadbasket colonies”.

Southern Colonies

This was a plantation society where the farms were scattered at great distances from each other. Out of necessity they had to be self-sufficient. They grew cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo for export and then imported finished goods from England. The economy depended upon slavery for its labor source. However, the majority of landowners were small farmers living inland and practicing subsistence farming – growing only enough to feed their families.

5 of 34

French and Indian War

Proclamation of 1763

Source: American Pageant

The French and Indian War was fought against France over the land west of the Appalachians. The colonists were on the side of the English. Most French settlers made their living trading fur with the Indians. The Indians had a good relationship with the French . The French and Indian War was part of a larger war being fought in Europe. When the war ended France gave up its claims in North America east of the Mississippi to Britain.

Native Americans did not like British settlers moving west onto their lands. Led by Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, they attacked British forts. The British purposely gave smallpox to Native Americans who came to discuss peace. The spreading disease weakened the Native American groups and they surrendered.

To prevent further fighting, the British banned colonists from settling west of a line along the Appalachian Mountains. Many colonists were angered by this Proclamation of 1763, and continued to settle there anyway.

6 of 34

Issues Leading to Revolution

1765, Stamp Act

1767, Townshend Acts

1773, Tea Act

1774 Intolerable

Acts

Stamp Act Congress
Boycott British goods
Sons and Daughters of Liberty formed
Boston Tea Party
Continental Congress

Causes

Effects

French and Indian War

The conclusion of this war saw more soldiers left in the colonies to defend the frontier. The colonists were forced to pay for their upkeep which lead to resentment.

“Taxation without representation”

Sugar Act – taxed raw sugar and molasses - colonists complained that the tax violated several traditional English rights – the act let officials seize goods without due process

Stamp Act – direct tax – first that Britain had ever placed on colonists – Virginia House of Burgesses led by Patrick Henry passed resolutions that Virginians were entitled to the rights of British people

Townshend Acts – purpose was to raise money from the colonists – mercantilism

Tea Act – East India Company given special concessions in tea business and shuts out colonial tea merchants – reaction was the Boston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)– King George III tightens control over Mass. By closing Boston harbor and quartering troops – reaction – Colonial leaders formed the first Continental Congress and draft up declarations of colonial rights

7 of 34

The Revolution Begins

Loyalist(Tories) vs. Patriots
Lexington and Concord

“Shot heard round the world”

Second Continental Congress
Thomas Paine, Common Sense

8 of 34

Declaration of Independence

Unalienable rights

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Consent to be governed
Right to revolt if governed unjustly
List of grievances against England and the King
Thomas Jefferson
July 4, 1776

9 of 34

THE WAR!

Lexington and Concord

First battle

Saratoga

Turning point

Yorktown

Victory

Treaty of Paris

10 of 34

The Confederation�1783-1787

New state constitutions
Voting rights expanded
Freedom of religion
Articles of Confederation

Weak central government
Debt issues
Northwest Ordinance 1787

11 of 34

Constitutional Convention

1787 - Philadelphia
Purpose was to revise Articles of Confederation
George Washington presided
James Madison proposed a new document called….

12 of 34

Principles of the Constitution

Limited government
Republicanism
Checks and balances
Federalism
Separation of powers
Popular sovereignty
Individual rights

13 of 34

Limited Government

The ruler is subject to the law.

Came from the Magna Carta (1215).

14 of 34

Republicanism

Form of government where people are ruled through elected officials.

15 of 34

Checks and Balances

A means for each branch of government to monitor and limit the power of the other two.

16 of 34

The Feds

The States

Federalism

17 of 34

Separation of Powers

The division of power between the three branches.

18 of 34

Popular Sovereignty

The people choose!

19 of 34

Individual Rights

20 of 34

When it came time to vote on the Constitution,

there was a fight.

21 of 34

Ratification Fight

Federalist

Supported adoption
Supported federal system
Supported regulation of trade
Individual rights implied

Antifederalist

Opponents of Constitution
Opposed strong central government
Supported addition of Bill of Rights

22 of 34

Federalist Papers

Collection of 85 essays
Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
Explained how the new Constitution worked and why it was needed

23 of 34

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments
Limited what the federal government could do in terms of infringing the rights of the people
Answers the grievances of the Declaration of Independence

BILL

OF

RIGHTS

24 of 34

Bill of Rights

1 – Freedom of religion and

expression (speech and press)

2 - Right to bear arms
3 - Quartering troops

25 of 34

Bill of Rights

4 – Searches and seizure
5 – Rights of the accused
6 – Right to a speedy, public trial
7 – Trial by jury in civil cases
8 – Limits on fines and punishments

26 of 34

Bill of Rights

9 – Rights reserved to the people
10 – Powers reserved to the states

27 of 34

The Amendment Process

New Amendment Born!

Amendments proposed at the national

level and approved by 2/3 majority.

Amendments ratified

by 3/4 of state

legislatures.

I’m

Ratified

1st

A

M

E

N

D

M

E

N

T

28 of 34

Nullification Crisis 1828-1833

Regional differences spurred crisis
Tariff of Abominations
South Carolina threatened to secede
VP Calhoun proposed nullification
President Jackson sends warship to Charleston
Crisis diffused by Henry Clay

Regional differences spurred crisis. With little state industry, South Carolina purchased many of its tools, cooking utensils, and other manufactured goods, from England. Tariffs made them extremely expensive, however. When Congress levied a new tariff in 1828 – which critics called the Tariff of Abominations – many South Carolinians threatened to secede, or withdraw, from the union.

Calhoun anonymously published The South Carolina Exposition and Protest, which argued that because the states had created the federal union, that they had the right to declare a federal law null, or not valid.

The war of words erupted into an explosive situation in 1832 when Congress passed yet another tariff law. South Carolinians stepped up their call for secession , while a special session of the state legislature voted to nullify the law. Jackson considered nullification an act of treason and sent a warship to Charleston. As tensions rose, Senator Henry Clay managed to defuse the crisis. At Clay’s insistence, Congress passed a bill that would lower tariffs within two years. South Carolina then repealed its nullification of the tariff law.

29 of 34

Sectional Conflict

States’ rights
Tariff issues
Slavery

Slavery and States’ rights are the key issues that cause the nation to divide.

North

South

30 of 34

Secession and Civil War

Election of 1860 – Lincoln is elected
South Carolina secedes followed by six more states in the lower South
Three border states shortly follow

CIVIL WAR 1861-1865

31 of 34

Confederate and Border States

Source: American Pageant

32 of 34

Civil War

North industrial
South agricultural
North had larger army
South fought a defensive war
South surrendered at Appomattox
Lincoln assassinated April 14, 1865

33 of 34

Reconstruction Amendments

13^TH AMENDMENT – FREE

14^TH AMENDMENT – CITIZENS

15^TH AMENDMENT - VOTE

34 of 34

Reconstruction

Ends in 1877

The Gilded Age Begins!