APUSH Unit 2 (+ AMSCO)

Seven Years War (1756-1763)

Also known as the French and Indian War; a conflict between Britain, France, Spain, and their respective Native allies.

Beginning of the Seven Years’ War

• From a British point of view, the French provoked them by building a chain of forts in Ohio Valley

• The French did this to halt westward British expansion

• Washington’s army surrendered to superior French and Native forces (in Fort Necessity) in 1754

The Albany Plan of Union

• 1754; A proposal by Benjamin Franklin aimed at unifying the colonies; created an inter-colonial government, taxes, & raised troops for common defense

• Failed because the colonies were too jealous of their own taxation power.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

• It officially ended the Seven Years’ War

• British gained French Canada, lands east of Mississippi River, and Spanish Florida (didn’t gain all of French territory)

• France lost all continental lands

• Spain gained lands west of Mississippi River, New Orleans, & Cuba

Seven Years’ War Effects on Britain

• Increased debt

• Greater British territorial presence in North America

• Low opinion on colonial military effort; saw them as poorly trained and disoriented

Seven Years’ War Effects on the Colonies

• United them for the first time against a common enemy

• Developed confidence that they could defend themselves

• Not impressed by British leadership and led to bitter feelings

Pontiac’s Rebellion

• 1763; First real test of British Imperial Policy

• Chief Pontiac was angered by colonial expansion to the west; united Native groups to attack them

• Sparked by dissatisfaction of Natives with British trade policies after the French and Indian War

• British troops crushed the rebellion

• Led to Proclamation of 1763

Proclamation of 1763

• An imaginary line prohibiting settlers from settling West of the Appalachian Mountains

• Tried to prevent hostility between colonists & Natives

• Angered colonists that hoped to exploit the new lands in the west as benefits for winning the war

• In defiance, thousands of colonists began settling westward

PEEP

1763;

• Pontiac’s Rebellion

• End of Salutary Neglect

• End of Seven Year's War

• Proclamation of 1763

George Grenville

• Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1763

• Insisted colonies should pay for Britain’s debt after the Seven Years’ War

• Maintained a standing army in America

• Enforced the Navigation Acts

Sugar Act

• 1764; aimed to raise revenue through taxing sugar and molasses

• Strictly enforced

• Merchants that were caught smuggling faced harsher penalties

• Led to widespread protests; taxation without representation

Quartering Act

• 1765; Required Americans to provide housing, food, and other necessities to British soldiers stationed in colonies

• Colonists saw this as a violation of their privacy and rights

Stamp Act

• 1765; required a stamp on all legal documents and printed materials

• First direct tax collected by the colonists

• Led the colonists to boycott because they believed it violated their rights; they can’t be taxed without representation

Examples of Colonial Resistance

• Petitions & pamphlets spreading the “no taxation without representation” message

• Sons of Liberty led by Samuel Adams; founded in response to Stamp Acts

• Daughters of Liberty; created cloth through spinning bee to boycott British goods

• Boycotting of British goods; most effective form of resistance

Stamp Act Congress

• 1765; Protested loss of American rights and liberties like: trial by jury, right against taxation without consent

• Called for repeal of Stamp & Sugar Acts

Repeal of the Stamp Act

• 1766; Parliament repealed the Stamp Act to help struggling merchants in London due to intense colonial protests and British boycotting.

• Simultaneously passed the Declaratory Act

Declaratory Act

• 1766; passed on the same day the Stamp Act was repealed

• Asserted that Parliament had the power to tax or make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”

Townshend Act

• 1767; an indirect tax

• Taxes on imports such as glass, paint, paper, and tea

• Use of Writs of Assistance; police didn’t need a search warrant to see if colonists were smuggling goods

• Revenue used to pay for Imperial administration

• Brought vice-admiralty (jury-less) courts

“Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania”

• 1767; Written by John Dickinson, a lawyer disguising himself as a farmer in the letter

• Argued that the Townshend Acts violated “no taxation without representation”

• Said Parliament could regulate commerce but couldn’t enforce duties on colonies (form of taxation)

Massachusetts Circular Letter

• 1768; Written by Samuel Adams and James Otis, sent to other colonial legislatures

• Urged the colonies to petition to Parliament to repeal the Townshend Acts; said Parliament had no right to tax them without representation

• British threatened to dissolve Massachusetts Legislature & forbade other colonies from supporting it

Repeal of the Townshend Acts

• 1770; ended colonial boycott (except for one incident) and a 3 year period of peace from political troubles

• Repealed because of intense colonial boycotts

• Parliament retained a small tax on tea as a symbol of its right to tax the colonies

Boston Massacre

• 1770; A crowd of colonies, angered by the British troops they forced to quarter, harassed guards nearby a customs house

• The British guards fired into the crowd, killing 5 people including an African American, Crispus Attucks

• The soldiers were proven not guilty by lawyer John Adams

• Samuel Adams denounced the shooting incident as a “massacre” to inflame anti-British feeling

The Gaspee incident

• 1772; The Gaspee was a ship used to catch several smugglers; ran aground off the shore of Rhode Island

• Group of colonists disguised as Natives set fire to the ship

Tea Act

• 1773; made the British East India Company’s tea cheaper than smuggled Dutch tea

• Tried to encourage the Americans to buy their cheaper tea, therefore acknowledging Parliament’s right to tax them

• Obviously, the Americans didn’t buy their tea

Boston Tea Party

• 1773; a shipment of the East India Company’s tea arrived in Boston Harbor; no buyers

• Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Natives and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor

• Some applauded it as an action of justice; others thought it was too radical

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts

1774;

• Port Act - closed the Boston Harbor

• Massachusetts Govt. Act - reduced the power of the Massachusetts Legislature and increased the power of royal governors

• Administration of Justice Act - allowed royal officials in Massachusetts to be tried in Britain or another colony

• (New) Quartering Act - forced the colonists to build barracks to house soldiers

Quebec Act

• 1774; established Roman Catholicism as the official religion

• Set up a government without representative assembly

• Extended Quebec to the Ohio River

• Americans viewed this act as an attack, since it took away their land

Philosophical Foundations of the American Revolution

• For Americans, there was a long tradition of loyalty to the British crown

• Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rosseau

• Ideas like life, liberty, and property; consent of the governed, which said that the govt.’s power comes from the people

First Continental Congress

• October 1774; A response to the Intolerable Acts and protest Britain’s alarming threats to their liberties

• At this point, most Americans didn’t want independence; they wanted to repair relations with the British

The Delegates

• A diverse group of representatives chosen from each of the 13 colonies, whose views ranged from radical to conservative

• Moderates included George Washington and John Dickinson

• Conservatives included John Jay and Joseph Galloway

• Radicals included Patrick Henry and John Adams

Actions of Congress (First Continental Congress)

• Supported the Suffolk Resolves (originally passed by Massachusetts)

• Passed the Declaration of Rights and Grievances

• Created the Continental Association; an agreement to boycott British goods until they repealed the Intolerable Acts

• If colonial rights weren’t met, then they would meet again

Suffolk Resolves

• Called for the immediate repeal of the Intolerable Acts and called for colonial resistance through boycotting and military preparations.

Declaration of Rights & Grievances

• Backed by moderate delegates; the petition urged the king to set right to colonial grievances and restore colonial rights.

• Acknowledged Parliament’s right to regulate commerce

Battle of Lexington and Concord

• British troops led by General Gage left Boston to seize colonial weapons

• Minutemen warned by Paul Revere and William Dawes

• At Concord, colonial forces managed to push back the British

• “Shot Heard Round’ the World” - first shot fired at Lexington

• Provided a powerful precedent for future battles, that the colonies could fight against the British in later conflicts

2nd Continental Congress

• May 1775; agreed to raise a Continental Army with George Washington in command

• Issued the Olive Branch Petition

• Became a national government for the colonies

• Key people: John & Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Henry Lee

Olive Branch Petition (Second Continental Congress)

• July 1775; a final attempt by the Second Continental Congress to avoid a full-blown war against Britain

• Expressed loyalty to the British crown while requesting repeal of oppressive Parliamentary laws

• Highlighted the colonists’ desire for peace and reconciliation despite rising tensions

• King George III rejected the petition, led to further hostilities

Prohibitory Act

• 1775; declared the colonies were in rebellion and outlawed all trade with them

Common Sense

• Written by Thomas Paine in January 1776

• Advocated for American independence from British rule

• Played a crucial role in shaping public opinion; it was common sense for colonies to break away from a tyrannical government and establish their own democracy

• Used straightforward language and compelling arguments to inspire the American population

Declaration of Independence

• Adopted on July 4, 1776; the American colonies declared their independence from Britain

• Expresses the ideas of individual liberty and government by consent; served as a moral justification for the colonies’ separation

• Greatly inspired by John Locke

• Listed grievances against King George III

British Strengths / Colonial Weaknesses

• Most colonists were still loyalists; there was infighting between the colonists

• British had the largest, most powerful navy in the entire world

• Britain was militarily and economically superior

• Some Native Americans fought on the side of the British, often angered by colonist expansion westward

Colonial Strengths / British Weaknesses

• Familiarity with the land

• Prior experience in military and political leadership

• Ideological commitment to freedom

• Later on, military and economic aid from Spain, Netherlands, and France

Battle of Saratoga

• October 1777; the British surrender to American forces

• A significant turning point; boosted American morale and persuaded France to enter the war as an ally of the colonies

• Encouraged army enlistment and support for the Continental Army

Alliance with France

• Initially hesitant because they didn’t want to risk losing another war

• Louis XVI had no interest in American independence; saw it as an opportunity to weaken their traditional enemy and get revenge after the Seven Years’ War

Battle of Yorktown

• October 1781; General Cornwalis surrenders to American & French troops

• Last major battle of the American Revolutionary War; ended major military operations in the colonies and led to peace negotiations

Treaty of Paris (1783)

• An agreement signed between the United States and Britain that officially ended the American Revolutionary War

• Recognized American independence and established new borders for the nation, granting it significant territory

• U.S. extended to Mississippi River to Great Lakes to Spanish Florida

• Americans had to respect rights of Loyalists and paid British debts

Role of African Americans

• They were recruited on both sides; promised freedom after they fought

• Lord Dunmore of Virginia promised freedom to slaves who fought for the British

Political Impact of the American Revolution

• State constitutions abolished old European laws and traditions; established a nation based on Enlightenment ideals

• Most states eliminated property requirements for voting

• Most states didn’t have full democracy (e.g. women & African Americans couldn’t vote)

Social Impact of the American Revolution

• Women played significant roles as nurses and cooks or boycotted British goods (Daughters of Liberty)

• “Republican Motherhood” - idea that women have a vital role in shaping the morals and values of the nation by raising virtuous citizens

• Gradual emancipation in the northern and middle states, but slavery expanded in the south and adjacent western lands

• Slavery was protected in the Constitution

Common Features of State Governments

• By 1777, ten of the former colonies had written new constitutions

• List of Rights: each state constitution began with a “bill” or “declaration” listing the basic rights and freedoms of citizens, like trial by jury and freedom of religion

• Separation of Powers: powers of state governments split into 3 branches to prevent tyranny; legislative, executive, and judicial

• Voting: right to vote extended to all white males who owned property

• Office-holding: those seeking elected office had a higher property qualification requirement

The Articles of Confederation

• The first constitution of the United States; established a loose confederation of states with a weak central government and a unicameral (one house) Congress

• Central government given limited powers; unable to regulate commerce or collect taxes

• Government lacked the executive power to enforce laws

• Positives: led to the Northwest Ordinances; created a framework for westward expansion

Problems of the Articles

• Weak central government; unable to create laws or impose taxes (which led to inability to pay off British debt)

• Foreign affairs; Britain and Spain threatened to take advantage of a weakened America and had little respect for a nation that was unable to pay its debts or resolve crises

Northwest Ordinance

• 1784-1787; created territories that would become the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, & Wisconsin

• Sold plots of land to settlers to pay off debts; settlers had to create towns and foster public education

• Prohibited slavery north of the Ohio River

• Set rules for statehood

• Takeaways: expanded territory, brought in revenue, & prohibited slavery

Shay’s Rebellion

• 1786; Daniel Shay from Massachusetts led farmers in an uprising of high taxes, debtor’s prison, and lack of money

• Showed the Articles’ inability to effectively raise an army

• Created panic within the states and motivated the creation of a strong national government

Annapolis Convention

• 1785; George Washington hosted a conference in his house in Virginia

• A meeting of representatives from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania to discuss the weaknesses of the Articles

• Agreed to meet a year later to discuss revision of the Articles

Virginia Plan

• Proposed by James Madison

• Would’ve established a strong national government with an executive branch & 2-house Legislature based on population

• Small states rejected the plan; lack of representation

New Jersey Plan

• Proposed by William Paterson

• Called for a revision of the Articles

• Would’ve established a unicameral legislature with equal representation for the states & increased powers for the national government

Philadelphia Convention

• Rhode Island didn’t show up because they were suspicious

• Called for 13 states to send their delegates

• They were going to discuss the revisions of the Articles

• Key delegates: George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin

The Great Compromise

• Blended the Virginia and New Jersey Plan; satisfied all states

• President & Vice President elected by electoral college

• Legislature with a Senate (equal representation) and a House of Representatives (based on population)

Debate over Slavery

• Delegates debated whether slaves would count in the state populations

• 3/5ths Compromise; slaves would count as 3/5ths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation

Anti-Federalists

• Poor farmers, artisans; lower class

• Opposed the Constitution; feared that it would give the government too much power and infringe their individual rights

• Feared states would lose their power

• Demanded a Bill of Rights before the ratification of the Constitution

• Key delegates: Patrick Lee, Richard Henry Lee

Federalists

• Wealthy businessman, property owners, lawyers, bankers; upper class

• Supported the Constitution

• Federalist Papers; 85 articles arguing in favor of the Constitution and said how it was designed to prevent abuse of power

Arguments for Bill of Rights

• Anti-Federalists feared that the Constitution would take away their individual rights and state powers; another Britain

• Argued that a bill of rights was the only way to prevent that

Arguments against Bill of Rights

• Federalists argued that the Bill of Rights was unnecessary, as Congress was elected by the people

• People should assume all rights are protected rather than create a limited list where individuals could use loopholes to abuse it

Outcome of the Ratification of the Constitution

• Federalists saw early victories in state conventions in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

• Promised to add a bill of rights to the Constitution, appealing to the Anti-Federalists

• Eventually, Virginia’s vote convinced New York to do so as well, followed by North Carolina and Rhode Island, which ratified the Constitution

Origin of the Ten Amendments

• 1789, first Congress under the Constitution worked quickly to create a list of rights; drafted largely by James Madison

• Originally protected against abuses of power

The Ten Amendments

• 1st Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition)

• 2nd (bear arms)

• 3rd (no quartering of soldiers)

• 4th (protection from unreasonable searches/seizures)

• 5th (due process, no self-incrimination/double jeopardy),

• 6th (speedy trial)

• 7th (civil jury trial)

• 8th (no cruel/unusual punishment)

• 9th (unenumerated rights)

• 10th (powers reserved to states/people).