U.S. History Day 3States and Capitals, Beginnings of the New Nation

Do Now• Imagine you lived in a country and a large group of your friends wanted to make your own country. What steps would you take to do so?

Review1) List the words that are abbreviated in the AEC model. What will you be using this model for?2) What is an artifact? Provide two examples.3) What are the 3 important questions you must answer when you are analyzing an artifact.

I. Origins of the U.S.

A. Causes of the American RevolutionCauses:• High taxes – England needed money to pay war debts.• Boston Massacre – British soldiers killed colonists.• Common Sense – published by Thomas Paine, rallied Americans around idea that they should have their own government.

A. Causes of the American Revolution

“No taxation without representation” – colonists’ motto before American Revolution; beginning of desire for representative government.

B. North Carolina Spotlight: Halifax Resolves• Written in Halifax, NC – the county right beside Warren County.

• Halifax Resolves: urged the North Carolina delegates at the Continental Congress to vote for independence. The FIRST written document of its

kind that urges a vote for independence.

C. Declaration of Independence• Written by Thomas Jefferson and declared the colonies independent from Great Britain.

• Read the Declaration of Natural Rights section on pg. 74 and then discuss with a partner the following question:How do you think the Declaration of Independence might have influenced the creation of the U.S. government in the Constitution?

D. American Revolution•We fight and we win.•Huge upset – Great Britain had well-trained army and we only use state militias. •Most famous military tactics were guerilla warfare.

II. Origins of American DemocracyObjective 1.01:

A. Articles of Confederation •Articles of Confederation – first document that created a weak U.S. government and strong state governments.Was written during the war itself to establish the U.S. government during the war.

• Established the following:•Unicameral Legislature* One vote per state* 2/3 majority needed to pass legislation* Unanimous vote needed to amend Articles

•What seems to be missing?

B. Flaws in the Articles of Confederation• No national executive * No national court system* National government could not collect taxes* National government could not raise an army* National government could not regulate trade • The weak federal government made it difficult to support the colonies in their fight for independence.

C. U.S. Constitution • The American Revolution highlighted the flaws of the Articles of Confederation.

• Next governing rules: The Constitution, ratified in 1789.• Gave more power to the federal government and less power to the state government. Powers: right to raise an army, create or raise taxes, create one

currency, divided government, and many more.• Federalists: people who supported giving the federal government more power.

• Antifederalists: people who wanted the states to have more power than the federal government.

• The Federalists and the Antifederalists were the first two political parties in America.

Exit Ticket• Explain the significance of the Halifax Resolves. Why should it have a special meaning to people living in Warren County/eastern North Carolina?• Why were American leaders eager to replace the Articles of Confederation?• What is the major difference between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?