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The Coming of Independence
Britain’s Colonial Policies
• Colonies were able to govern themselves but the Crown increasingly wanted control of trade– London 3,000 miles away, 2 months to travel– 1700’s relationship became Federal– 1760 George III, wanted to be more strict
• New taxes, trade regulation
3,000 Miles To Great Britain
• No need for British soldiers because the French had been defeated– “taxation without representation”– Colonists accepted that they were loyal to the
Crown, but refused to let the Crown rule their day to day affairs
Growing Colonial Unity
• Early confederation to protect vs. Native Americans
• Albany Plan – proposed by Ben Franklin– Delegates from the 13 colonies would be able
to act as a “national government”– Turned down by the Crown and the colonies
3• 1765 Stamp Act
– Use of tax stamps on legal documents, newspapers and business agreements
• Taxation without representation• Colonies sent a delegation vs the act to the Crown• Act was repealed but friction mounted• Boycott of British goods (refuse to buy or sell)
• 1770, Boston a crowd had gathered and shots were fired, 5 citizens had died– Boston Massacre
• A local lawyer took up the case for the defense of the soldiers– John Adams– Found the soldiers guilty of manslaughter
• Much debate about who fired the first shot
• December 16th 1773 Boston Tea Party
First Continental Congress 4
• 1774 new set of laws to punish – Intolerable acts !
• September 5th, 1774 met in Philadelphia– Two months of debate about the situation
• Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington and John Jay (et al)
Carpenters Hall
– Sent a declaration of rights to the crown• Called for a refusal to trade, until the regulations
were repealed (or canceled)• All the colonies supported the congress
Second Continental Congress 5• British enforced more strict laws
• Philadelphia May 1775– 3 weeks prior the battles of Lexington and
Concord had already been fought
– 13 colonies again sent representatives• Ben Franklin and John Hancock
– Continental army was raised, George Washington was appointed commander
• Thomas Jefferson then took George’s place
• Became our first government 1776-1781– Condemned by the British– Supported by the public– Unicameral legislature, each state had one
vote
The Declaration of Independence 6
• A year after the revolution a committee was organized to declare independence– Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger
Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson
• Largely the work of Jefferson
• July 4th 1776 adoption of the Declaration 7– Repeated injuries and usurpations led to the
revolt
• Purpose of government
• Wrongs, could do better
• What can you do about it
First State Constitutions 8
• 1776 -1777 most states had adopted constitutions– Usually by committee, or submitted for voter
ratifications– Popular sovereignty – government only exists
with the consent of the people– Limited government, civil rights and liberties,
separation of powers and checks and balances
• Short terms of office
