MWH 1.E

Characteristics of the New American States

Constitutions - Written laws that set out the

purposes, structures and processes of government.

Popular Sovereignty - The idea that government

can only exist with the consent of the people.

Limited Government - government's powers are

limited.

Civil Rights & Liberties - Rights that all people

have and cannot be taken away.

Separation of Powers - Government's power

split between different branches of government.

Checks and Balances - Each branch has

leverage over the other branches.

Unit I, Part E: The Birth of A New Nation

Americans Win Independence

The American Revolution lasted from

1775 to 1783, but with France's help, the Americans defeated the British.

The United States of America was

recognized as a free, sovereign country

At the time, it was essentially 13

different independent countries linked together in a confederation.

Each state's government had many

common characteristics.

America Declares Independence

In the summer of 1776, the 2nd Continental

Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson, a representative from Virginia, to make an official document

Deceleration of Independence - Document

gave birth to the US, written by Thomas Jefferson & adopted by Congress July 4th 1776 in Philadelphia, PA.

Declared colonies free from England, listed

American grievances that led to revolution, & stated "all men are created equal" and have the natural rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Americans Unite Against Tyranny

Second Continental Congress (1775) - Met

after 1st battles of American Revolution & became 1st real US government

John Hancock was President of the congress,

George Washington was the commander of the Army, Congress was unicameral, each state had one vote; served as US govt. until 1781 & passing of Articles of Confederation.

The 2nd Continental Congress decided that

an official break from Britain was in order by 1776

Colonies Outraged by Taxes

Some of the examples of how American

colonists united against british tyranny (misruling a country) were:

Stamp Act Congress (1765) - 9 colonies sent

delegates to this meeting to protest British "taxation without representation" and the Stamp Act.

First Continental Congress (1774) - Called to

discuss the worsening situation with England. 54 delegates from 12 colonies showed up, sent protests to the king and urged a boycott of British goods until things got better, they didn't get better.

King George III and parliament passed

numerous taxes on American colonists over a 10 year span

Since Americans were colonists and not

British citizens, they had no say about the taxes... "no taxation without representation" was the slogan from that era

Many Americans would protest the taxes,

the King would punish them, and Americans kept moving closer towards revolution

American Colonists and Loyal British Subjects

So, why did colonists decided to break

free from the British?

The French and Indian War (1754-1763),

fought between the British and French in America. Britain won and took control of French controlled Canada

King George began to heavily tax the

American colonists to pay for the war debt. Colonists disliked that and started to change American views.