The British gained Nova Scotia for Spanish trade rights
King George's War
New Englanders capture Key French Forts, but the Crown gives them back.
The 7 years' War (1754-1763)
Part of a huge series of wars between the Crown and France + Spain.
Albany Plan of Union
Intercolonial government and collecting troops and taxes for common defense.
This set a precedent for a more revolutionary Congress.
Britain won!
In the short term, Britain dominated North America.
British naval power challenged the autonomy of natives (France treated them better).
Colonies no longer faced threats from foreign powers.
Long Term Effects: No more salutary neglect. Heavier taxation to pay off costs.
Proclamation of 1763
Colonists don’t go west of the Appalachian Mountains, as that land is for the Natives.
3.3 Taxation Without Representation
The Crown protected the colonies during the war. The Crown does not have money. Taxation for money ensues.
The biggest thing was representation.
Colonists couldn't elect representatives, but Parliament representatives were supposed to represent all citizens of the British Empire, including the NA colonies.
Sugar Act (1764)
Tax on sugar imports + increased smuggling enforcement
Quartering Act (1765)
Colonies gotta quarter soldiers and feed them
Stamp Act (1765)
Paper tax.
Colonists were outraged, leading to boycotts, which led to many acts being repealed,
This led to the Declaratory Act (1765)
A law declaring Parliament's authority to make laws binding on the American colonies asserted British power.
Townshend Acts (1767)
Taxes on tea, glass, and paper. Also, allowed the search of homes for smuggled goods.
More outrage and Sons of Liberty started taking action (Boston Tea Party), as a result of the Tea Act (1773) after the Townshend Acts were repealed
The 1770 Boston Massacrewas a result of the Colonial harassment of some British Soldiers.
Super increased tensions.
The Boston Tea Party caused the Intolerable Acts (1774), which were the Coercive Acts and the Quebec Act.
Coercive Acts closed the Boston Port, put Boston under Royal control, expanded the Quartering Act, and passed the Justice Act.
Justice Act: People tried in Britain, not the Colonies.
The Quebec Act gave land to Canadians, who had Catholicism as the official religion there.
3.4 Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution
Enlightenment and John Locke's writings influenced revolutionary ideas.
Deism
The belief that the supreme being created the universe but does not intervene
Rationalism
Choices based on reason and knowledge, not religion
Social contract
Like Thomas Paine's Common Sense pamphlet, power comes from the people below and not above.
Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense advocated for independence and became a bestseller, influencing public opinion and pushing the colonies toward revolution.
3.5 The American Revolution
Following the Intolerable Acts 1774, representatives from all colonies except Georgia attended the First Continental Congress.
The convention adopted the following measures.
Suffolk resolves
Appeal to the Intolerable Acts with boycotts. If it fails, we militarize.
Declaration of Resolves
King to redress grievances and restore rights
Continental Association
Committees to enforce the economic sanctions of the Suffolk Resolves
If colonial rights were not met, delegates would meet again
Important Battles of the Revolution
Lexington and Concord (April 1775)
Western Massachusetts declared open rebellion.
Paul Revere warned the minutemen, which led to a humiliating British defeat.
Bunker Hill (June 1775)
The British took Breed's and Bunker Hill with 3x casualties. American victory
Hardships (1775-1777)
1st 3 years saw many American hardships.
The Valley Forge winter of 1777 saw a harsh, demoralized army.
Continental currency was worthless (Soldiers Pay), and British occupied American Ports.
After fighting in Massachusetts, the Second Continental Congress gathered in May of 1775.
The Declaration of Causes and Necessities called on the colonies to provide troops.
Washington appointed the commander.
Many colonies still wanted to repair relations with the Crown.
Sent Olive Branch Petition
Last effort asking King George for peace.
The Crown said no (Prohibitory Act)
The Declaration of Independence was passed on July 4th, 1776.
Ending Battles
Battle of Saratoga (Oct 1777)
The turning point of the war was an American victory.
France now openly joined the revolution, as did Spain and the Netherlands a year later.
Battle of Yorktown (Sep 1781)
Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at, end of the war.
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The War was unpopular in Britain due to the high cost.
3.6 The Influence of Revolutionary Ideals
Britain would recognize US independence.
The Mississippi River would be the US west border.
America would have fishing rights off the coast of Canada.
The United States would pay back the British and treat loyalists (Colonists loyal to the crown) with good rights.
Patriots (Whigs)
Motivated Colonists fighting the British. Reluctant to leave their states.
British
Wealthy economy, amazing army, best navy.
Still lost to ragtag Colonists.
African Americans
The British promised freedom to slave fighters, so Washington had to do the same.
Many still went back to Slavery after
Tories (Loyalists)
Fought with the British.
More wealthy, and in the South.
Natives
Mostly Neutral, but many allied with the British due to the colony's attacks on their land.
Republican Motherhood
Women's status was now changed to educate the values of the new nation
With the constitutional emphasis on equality, abolitionism grew.
Many Northern States ended slavery, and the importation of slaves was banned
After Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin (which made Cotton very profitable), Slavery surged in the South.
3.7 The Articles of Confederation
The fear of tyranny led to the creation of an intentionally weak government - the Articles of Confederation.
Each state wrote its constitution.
However, all states had a List of Rights (Similar to the Bill of Rights). A separation of powers in branches, and voting (all white men landowners)
Articles of Confederation ratification had a unicentral legislative branch.
Since there was only 1 house, Congress, no executive or judicial branch, it needed 9/13 state votes to pass.
As a result, it was delayed due to disputes over Native Land.
The Articles of Confederation had the power to declare war, send diplomatic representatives, and borrow money.
They CANNOT regulate commerce, collect taxes, and enforce laws. (1781 - 1789)
The Articles of Confederation had accomplishments. The United States claimed ultimate victory against the British for its independence.
The Land Ordinance of 1785 established a policy for selling western lands and allocated 1 mile2 in each township to education.
New Ordinance (Northwestern Land)
Set rules for creating new states + self-governing land, + No slavery.
Very attractive to western-bound settlers.
However, the Articles of Confederation had many weaknesses.
It was too weak to stop Britain from its military posts.
Too weak to force people to return loyalist property.
No taxing power to repay debts.
Couldn't settle state disputes.
Shays' Rebellion
An uprising against high taxes, debt imprisonment, and a lack of paper money
3.8 The Constitutional Convention and Debates over Ratification
3 conventions
The Conference at George Washington's house, the Annapolis Convention, and the Philadelphia Convention were held to revise the Articles.
Some wished to revise the Articles of Confederation, while Federalists (Madison, Hamilton) wanted a new document altogether.
Federalism
A System of strong but limited central government.
All agreed on the separation of powers with checks and balances.
Debate whether larger states should have more representation.
Virginia wanted proportional representation. Favors big states as more people = more representation
New Jersey wanted equal representation. Favors small states as every state = same representation.
The Great Compromise
Have a bicameral legislature. The Senate is Equal, House of Representatives is proportional.
Debate whether slaves should count towards the population. South said yes, North said no.
⅗ compromisesaid a Slave counted as ⅗ of a person, for tax/ representative purposes.
Slavery went against equality, but the South needed labor.
For trade, South argued that Export taxes would be placed, and North argued yes to regulating domestic and foreign trade.
Commercial compromise
Congress can regulate trade and tax imports, but not exports.
For the presidency, they set a 4-year term and an infinite # of terms (For now).
The Electoral College was implemented to avoid mob rule from too much democracy.
The President was given significant power and could veto Congress's acts.
Federalists and Anti-Feds
Federalists
Supported ratification and a stronger government. Usually along the coast and in cities. Key members were Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay.
Anti-Federalists
Opposed ratification and feared a stronger government. Usually, farmers and western settlers. Key members were Jefferson, George Mason, and Patrick Henry. The main anti-Fed objection was the lack of a list of rights.
Federalists argued that since Congress was elected by the people, they didn’t need to protect themselves.
A list of rights could allow unlisted rights to be violated.
To appease the Anti-Feds, the Federalists added the Bill of Rights.
After 9/13 ratified, Virginia and New York (The biggest states) still hadn’t ratified. Later, after Virginia ratified, so did New York
3.9 The Constitution
Federalism made the federal government make national decisions (Like defense and foreign affairs).
The state government controls state issues, schools, and local elections.
The separation of Powers had checks and balances.
The President and the Supreme Court can block Congress's laws
The President makes treaties that must be ratified by Congress
Congress makes new laws, which the Supreme Court interprets.
Bill of Rights
First 10 Amendments:
1st: Freedoms (Press, Speech, Assembly, Religion)
2nd: Right to Bear Arms (Bear guns to protect themselves and the militia)
3rd: No Quartering soldiers
4th: No Search and Seizure without a warrant
5th: Plead the fifth (You can be quiet until a lawyer)
6th: Right to Speedy Trial
7th: Trial by jury in civil court
8th: No Cruel Punishments
9th: More rights and stuff
10th: States have their rights.
3.10 Shaping a New Republic
Washington was the unanimous choice as 1st president.
The Supreme Court was only a federal court, but Congress gave the power to create other federal courts.
Hamilton's Financial Program
To combat financial problems, Hamilton (treasurer) established a financial plan.
1) Pay off national debts at face value
2) Increased tariffs on imports to protect infant industries and collect money.
3) Create a national bank to deposit and print money.
Opposed by Anti-Federalists and farmers (Loss of State Powers)
Supported by Federalists and Northern merchants (Benefit from Tariffs)
The French Revolution happened.
Federalists liked British trade and relations, while Anti-Federalists liked the French.
Proclamation of Neutrality
Washington declared US neutrality.
This is because the young US was not strong enough
Jay Treaty
The British kept impressing American sailors into the British Navy and occupying posts.
In his Jay Treaty, John Jay got the Brits to leave posts but not impressment. Angered Americans but maintained neutrality.
The Pinckney Treaty settled a dispute between the US and Spain over Florida.
Native Americans resisted settlement. Natives formed the Northwest Confederacy.
Defeated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. In the Treaty of Greenville, the Native Americans surrendered Ohio and opened it to settlement.
3.11 Developing an American Identity
Whiskey Rebellion
To make up for revenue, Hamilton taxed Whiskey, leading to rebellion.
Washington's show of force put down the rebellion, marking the new government's strength.
Washington's Farewell
Stay out of Europe, don't make permanent alliances, don’t form political alliances, don’t fall into sectionalism. (These were all immediately broken btw)
Political parties
Anti-Feds = Democratic Republicans (Mainly against Hamilton's $ Program).
Federalists (Adams and Hamilton)
Wanted loose constitution interpretation and a strong central government. Pro-British. Loved Business, National Bank, and increased tariffs.
Democratic Republicans (Jefferson and Madison).
They wanted a strict Constitutional interpretation and a weak central government. Pro French. Didn’t like business, hated national banks, and decreased tariffs.
In 1796, John Adams (Federalist) and Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) were elected.
John Adams became President, and Thomas Jefferson became Vice President
XYZ affair
Americans were angry at the French seizing ships. Delegates were sent to France, and France said it would only negotiate with Bribes.
America was outraged, but Adams didn’t declare war.
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Federalists took advantage of their victory by restricting their opponents.
Since most immigrants were Democratic-Republicans, they passed the Naturalization Act to increase citizenship requirements from 5 to 14 years.
Alien Acts
Allowed the president to detain illegal immigrants
Sedition Act
Illegal to criticize the Adams administration.
Virginia and Kentucky declared both unconstitutional.
Both of those states' resolutions nullified the act and said they had the right to do so.
All were repealed after Democrats-Republicans won, with Thomas Jefferson winning.
3.12 Movement in the Early Republic
Reverence for the Founding Fathers became the core of the new national identity.
Wanted a new strong identity that was “American”
Some Changes
Nobility Abolished.
Many states adopted secularism, or the Separation of religion and state.
Regional shifts in people emerged (Demeanor and Speech)
Westward expansion faced Native resistance.
Indian Intercourse Act
Regulated interactions between Natives and Settlers, emphasizing Native sovereignty.
The federal government controlled everything with the Natives
Settlers ignored this, so the Native confederation attacked them. Natives lost
This forced Natives west onto reservations.
For slavery, by the late 1700s, the Enlightenment and democracy led to opposition.
Western expansion of Slavery led to conflict between the North and the South (Foreshadowing)
Summary Unit 3
Comparison
Federalists favor a strong central government, whereas Anti-Federalists favor a weak central government.
The Articles were too weak to enforce any laws or taxes, whereas the Constitution was strong enough to enforce federal laws properly.
Continuity
Despite their role in the war and republican motherhood, women remained inferior to men.
Slavery continued and grew.
Conflicts continued with the Natives, and legislation continued to be ineffective at preventing this.
The US established a policy of neutrality and tried its best to uphold it.
Harsh clashes between Federalist and Anti-Federalist ideals
Change
The idea of republican motherhood helped to alter perceptions of a woman’s role.
Despite Washington’s warnings, the first political parties were formed.
The differences/tensions between the North and South started becoming more apparent when writing the Constitution.
After the US won independence, state support of churches declined.
Causation
Due to fears of making another tyrannical government, the Articles of Confederation were intentionally very weak.
Since the Articles were too weak, the government couldn't enforce anything, so the Constitution was written instead.