STANDARD 1.2

EARLY GOVERNMENTS AND

ROAD TO REVOLUTION

REPRESENTATIVE

GOVERNMENT A form of

government in which elected officials would vote on the laws for the good of the society. The American model is based on this premise.

Why a representative

government?

American representative government was developed due to:

1. A transfer of ideas of

representative government from England

2. Circumstances in the New World

Magna Carta 1215 Also called the “Great

Charter”- recognized the rights of Englishmen to be consulted on the levying of taxes and to have their rights protected by a jury of their peers

So what?

The Magna Carta is the basis of the English parliamentary and judicial system

Many colonial charters guaranteed that the English colonists continued to enjoy the rights of Englishmen

ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

Reiterated that the people have a right to be consulted about taxation.

It limited the power of the king (executive) through checks and balances with Parliament and granted religious freedom.

ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

States that people have the right to religious freedom which is also included in the First Amendment in the American Bill of Rights

Early Representative Colonial

Governments

Mayflower Compact- New England

House of Burgess

New England Town Meetings

House of Burgesses The Virginia Company

allowed the colonists in Jamestown to start the House of Burgesses.

This was a way to maintain order and attract new colonists.

Only property owners were allowed to vote causing a social elite to which others deferred Virginians did not have a

true democracy.

Mayflower Compact In New England

Puritan ideals supported representative government in Massachusetts Bay and it was spread as the Puritans migrated

Early example that government derives its authority from the people

New England Town Meetings

Puritans governed their civil society through town meetings.

Each town sent a representative to the General Court in Boston.

By the 1700s, all male property owners were allowed to vote.

Other Circumstances in

England

SALUTARY NEGLECT!

English Civil War which ended in the overthrow (Glorious Revolution) of King James by William and Mary who agreed to abide by the English Bill of Rights.

They were forced to recognize the supremacy of Parliament and its right to make tax laws.

John Locke

Primary Document Analysis of Treaties of Two Civil Governments

Read the handout from John Locke’s book. Turn and talk with a partner about the meaning of his writings.

-Lasted ten years

-also called the French and Indian War

They fought on SAME side:

Great Britain, Colonists, Indians

VS.

French and Indians

THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR (1754-1763)

COLONIAL RESISTANCE AND

REBELLION Why were the colonists so

angry?

1. The policy of salutary neglect was abandoned during and after French/Indian War

2. Colonists wanted to keep the local governments that they had established under salutary neglect

3. They felt that they had loss their rights as Englishmen

England’s Parliament and

Big Ben

Taxation Issues

Huge debt from the French-Indian War caused the English Parliament to impose a series of taxes on the colonists

Colonists protest

THE SUGAR ACT

The Sugar Act (1764) placed duties (taxes) on certain imports that had not been taxed before

More importantly, it meant colonists accused of violating the Act were tried in Vice-Admiral Courts rather than Colonial Courts

These courts denied them the right to a trail by a jury of their peers

Reaction: protest and increased smuggling

THE STAMP ACT In March of 1765

Parliament passed the Stamp Act which imposed a tax on documents and printed items such as wills, newspapers, and cards (a stamp would then be placed on the item)

This was vehemently opposed because it was a direct tax rather than an indirect (import tax)

“TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

RESISTANCE GROWS

In response the colonists created:

1. Sons and Daughters of Liberty

2. Stamp Act Congress

3. Economic boycott which led to the repeal of the Stamp Act

TENSION MOUNTS IN

MASSACHUSETTS The atmosphere in

Boston was extremely tense

The city erupted in bloody clashes and a daring tax protest, all of which pushed the colonists and England closer to war

Boston Massacre was in 1770 when a mob taunted British soldiers – 5 colonists were killed

BOSTON MASSACRE 1770 BY PAUL REVERE

MORE TAXES, MORE PROTESTS

More taxes and acts soon followed: Declaratory Act

Townshend Acts

The Townshend Acts taxed goods brought into the colonies from Britain – including lead, paint, glass, paper and TEA

BOSTON TEA PARTY 1773

BRITS RESPOND TO TEA

VANDALS

After 18,000 pounds of tea was dumped by colonists into Boston Harbor, King George III was infuriated

Parliament responded by passing the Intolerable (Coercive) Acts; which included the closing of the Harbor, the Quartering Act, Martial law in Boston

THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION

Colonists start to organize and communicate

First Continental Congress met in 1774 and drew up rights

Military preparation began

England reacts by ordering troops to seize weapons

ATTENDEES INCLUDED SAMUEL ADAMS, PATRICK HENRY, AND

GEORGE WASHINGTON

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS - 1774 PHILLY

LEXINGTON AND CONCORD

With Paul Revere’s announcement, the Colonists and the British began fighting in April of 1775

The first battle of the American Revolution lasted only 15 minutes, but its impact has lasted for over 200 years

“The shot heard ‘round the world!”

SECOND CONTINENTAL

CONGRESS

May 1775, Colonial leaders met for a Second Continental Congress

Some called for Independence, some for reconciliation

Finally, the Congress agreed to appoint George Washington as head of the Continental Army

Patrick Henry addresses Congress

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL

British General Thomas Gage decided on an attack on Breed’s Hill (near Boston)

Deadliest battle of war as over 1,000 redcoats and 450 colonists died

Battle misnamed Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill would have been more accurate)

June 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill

OLIVE BRANCH PETITION

By July 1775, the Second Continental Congress was readying for war, though still hoping for peace

Most delegates deeply loyal to King George III

July 8 – Olive Branch Petition sent to King who flatly refused it