MacGruder's U.S. Government Chapter 2, Section 2 "The Coming of Independence"

1. U.S. Government
Chapter 2 – Section 2

2. Confederation
Albany Plan of Union
Delegate
Boycott
Repeal
Popular sovereignty

3. Section Objectives:
 Explain how Britian’s colonial policies contributed to the
growth of self-government in the colonies.
 Identify some of the steps that led to growing feelings of
colonial unity.
 Compare the outcomes of the First and Second Continental
Congresses
 Analyze the ideas in the Declaration of Independence
 Describe the drafting of the first state constitutions and
summarize the constitution’s common features.
4.3 Understand the basic features of major forms of
government in the world.

4. Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia, PA

5. Independence Hall
Philadelphia, PA

6. Independence Hall
Philadelphia, PA

7. Colonists became used to a large amount of self-government.
Each legislature began broad lawmaking powers.
People would not vote for the money the governor
wanted until he did what they wanted.
Government in London was responsible for colonial
defense and for foreign affairs.

8. London also provided a money system and
common market.
Little was taken from the colonies for taxes.
After George III came to the throne, Britain
became to deal more directly with the colonies.
Restrictive trading acts were enforced.
New taxes.

9. King George III

10. Mass., Plymouth, New Haven, and
Connecticut formed the New England
Confederation.
 NEC was a “league of friendship”
 Defense against Native Americans
Confederation- joining of several groups for a
common purpose.
League finally dissolved in 1684.

11. Meeting in Albany: Connecticut, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
Main purpose: discuss the problems of colonial trade and
the danger of attacks by the French and their Native Am
allies.
Albany Plan of the Union- Ben Franklin proposed the
formation of an annual congress of delegates
(representatives) from each of 13 colonies for trade,
military, and other purposes.

12. This body would have the power to raise
military and naval forces, make war and
peace with the Native Am, regulate trade
with them, tax, and collect customs duties.
This plan was turned down by the colonies
and the Crown.

13. Required the use of tax stamps on all legal
documents, on certain business agreements,
and on newspapers.
9 colonies sent delegates to the Stamp Act
Congress in NY.
This was the first time that a significant
number of colonies had joined to oppose the
British government.

14. Parliament repealed the Stamp Act.
New laws were passed to tie the colonies closer
to London.
 Mob violence erupted.
Colonists supported a boycott- refusal to buy or
sell certain products or services.
British troops killed 5 people.
 Known as the Boston Massacre.

15. Protests multiplied
Group of men disguised as Native Am.
Boarded Tea ships in Boston harbor and
dumped the cargo into the sea to protest
British control of sea trade.
BTP Video

16. In your own words, describe what “taxation
without representation” means.

17. Intolerable Acts- members discussed the worsening
situation and plans for action.
 Passed to punish the colonists for their troubles in Boston. (Tea Party,
Decl. of Rights & Grievances)
They sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III
protesting Britain’s colonial policies.
They urged each of the colonies to refuse all trade with
England until the taxes were repealed (withdrawn).
Also important: here a date was set for the next
convention to be held the following year.

18. Letter from John Adams to his wife, Abigail.
Phyladelphia Octr. 9, 1774
“I am wearied to Death with the Life I lead. The Business of
the Congress is tedious, beyond Expression. This Assembly is
like no other that ever existed. Every Man in it is a great
Man-an orator, a Critick, a statesman, and therefore every
Man upon every Question must shew it his oratory, his
Criticism and his Political Abilities.
The Consequence of this is, that Business is drawn and spun
out to an immeasurable Length. I believe if it was moved and
seconded that We should come to a Resolution that Three
and two make five We should be entertained with Logick and
Rhetorick, Law, History, Politicks and Mathematicks,
concerning the Subject for two whole Days, and then We
should pass the Resolution unanimously in the Affirmative”

19. Describe at least four events that led to the
calling for the First Continental Congress.

20. Became the nation’s first national gov’t
 No constitutional base for its existence
 The S.C.C. acted like a sovereign foreign government
Each of the 13 colonies sent delegates to the S.C.C.
 Most of those who attended the First C.C. were there
By the time the S.C.C. met, the American
Revolution had already begun
 Shot hear ‘round the world – Lexington and Concord

21. Second Cont. Congress became the nation’s first
national government
Notable newcomers were Ben Franklin, John
Hancock
Hancock was president of the S.C.C.
Continental army created at S.C.C
 Washington appointed to be its first commander-in-chief.

22. Congress named a committee to prepare of
proclamation of independence.
Largely the work of Thomas Jefferson
Proclaimed the existence of a new nation.
Colonies became free and independent
states.

23. Most states adopted written constitutions.
Constitution- a body of fundamental laws setting out
the principles, structures, and processes of their
govts.
 Massachusetts constitution is the oldest of the present day.
Popular Sovereignty- government can exist only with
the consent of the governed.
Only adult, white males could vote.

24. Common Features: Popular sovereignty,
Limited Government, Civil Rights and Liberties,
Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances.
Other common features: Frequent elections,
Bicameral legislatures, Weak executives
(Governors), Bill of Rights, Constitutions were
easy to amend.

25. Compare the goals of the First and Second
Continental Congresses.

26. Which of the following was a part of the
”League of Friendship”?
A. London
B. Tennessee
C. New York

27. Which of the following was to discuss the problems
of colonial trade and the danger of attacks by the
French and their Native Am allies:
A. Albany Plan
B. Stamp Act Congress
C. Petition of Rights

28. Refusal to buy or sell certain products or
services.
A. Representative Government
B. Boycott
C. Stamp Act Congress

29. This became the nation’s first national
government.
A. First Continental Congress
B. Delegates
C. Second Continental Congress

30. The Declaration of Independence was largely
a work of whom?
A. Ben Franklin
B. George Washington
C. Thomas Jefferson