French and Indian war through the constitution

causes of french and indian War

• territorial disputes over the Ohio River Valley

• competition for fur trade

• colonial expansion by both the British and French

• The war was essentially a struggle between Britain and France for control of North America, each seeking to expand their influence and power.

what did the treaty of paris 1763 state?

• ended the French and Indian War between Great Britain and France

• resulted in France ceding most of its North American territories to Britain

  • including Canada and the Ohio River Valley.

• Spain, an ally of France, ceded Florida to Britain but received New Orleans and the Louisiana territory from France

• significantly altered the balance of power in North America

• marked the end of French colonial presence in the region.

Ohio Valley

• contested region between British and French colonial interest

• leading to territorial disputes and contributing to the outbreak of the war.

• Control over this area was crucial for access to the fur trade and westward expansion.

proclamation of 1763

• issued by King George III of Great Britain following the conclusion of the French and Indian War

• prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, with the aim of stabilizing relations with Indigenous groups and preventing further conflicts

• restricted westward expansion by the colonists, which led to resentment among settlers eager to acquire land.

Boston massacre

• confrontation between British military & American colonist b/c of taxes

• ended w multiple casualties of American colonists

• contributed to the tensions that started the American revolution

Boston tea party

• in response to the British tea act

  • granting Britain a monoply on tea sales in the colonies

• colonists disguised as native Americans dumping tea into the Boston harbor

• lead to coercive acts

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

• series of laws passed in response to the Boston tea party

  • Closing Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for.

  • Reducing self-governance in Massachusetts.

  • Allowing British soldiers to be housed in private homes (Quartering Act).

  • Permitting British officials to be tried in Britain for crimes committed in the colonies.

• lead to continental congress in 1774

• increased tensions

Thomas Paine

• English-American writer and pamphleteer

• Common Sense (1776) : argued for American independence from Britain

• sparked widespread public support

Declaration of Independence

• U.S. break up letter w/ britian

• adopted by the second continental congress

• justified their decision & list of grievances against king George

Thomas Jefferson

• primary author of the declaration of independence

• key figure in the American revolution

• anti-federalist

John Adams

• founding father (pushed for independence)

• instrumental in drafting the declaration of independence

• federalist

Benjamin franklin

• founding father

• instrumental for securing French support during the American revolution

• key figure at the constitutional convention

• federalist

George Washington

• commander in chief of the continental army during revolutionary war

• 1st president

• helped secure American independence

• federalist

battle of Saratoga

• fought in 1777 in New York during American revolution

• defeated British army

• Turning point in the war as it convinced France to formally ally with the United States

  • provided critical military & financial support

battle of Yorktown

• final major battle of the American revolution

• fought in 1781 in Virginia

• led by George Washington & Comte de Rochambeau (American and French forces)

• British surrender effectively ended the revolutionary war

• victory led to signing Treaty of Paris

articles of confederation (weakness & strengths)

• first constitution of the untied states

• ratified in 1781

• established weak central government & power retained by individual states

• strengths: successfully guided us through end of revolution and treaty of Paris

• weaknesses: lacked power to

  • tax

  • regulate trade

  • enforce laws

• led to economic instability & internal conflicts (Shays Reb

U.S. constitution

• foundational document of the u.s. government

  • excutive, legislative, and judicial

  • democratic system

• guaranteeing individual rights & limited government power

• ratified in 1788

• created strong federal government W/ checks and balances & separation of powers to prevent despotism

bill of rights

• guaranteed for personal rights/freedoms & no interference go government

• pushed by Anti-Federalists

• protects freedom of speech, religion, and right to a fair trial

Shays Rebellion

• led by farmers Daniel Shays

• protested economic injustices (high taxes and debt)

• exposed weakness of the Articles of Confederation & need for stronger federal government

• led to constitutional convention in 1787

father of the constitution

• James Madison

• had ideas on federalism & separation of powers

• wrote in the federalist papers that helped secure its ratification

great compromise: 1. New Jersey, 2. Virginia, 3.Connecticut plans

• solution to the debate over representation in the new government during the constitutional convention in 1787

• 1. favored large states w/ population-based rrepresentation

• 2. favored small states w/ equal representation

• 3. created bicameral legislature w/ the senate & house of repressive offering population based representation.

federalist

• supporters of the U.S. constitution, favoring strong central government & concepts of federalism

• supporters

  • Alexander Hamilton

  • James Madison

  • John jay

anti federalists

• opponents of the u.s. constitution, fearing a strong government and wanted more power for the states

• opponents

  • Patrick Henry

  • Samuel Adams

• led to the promise of adding bill of rights to the constitution to ensure protections for individual liberties

federalist papers

• series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution

• articulated principles of the Constitution

• persuaded states to ratify

bill of rights: #1

bill of rights: #2

right to keep and bear arms

bill of rights: #3

protection from the quartering of soldiers in private homes

bill of rights: #4

protection from unreasonable searches and seizures

bill of rights: #5

protection against self incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process of law

bill of rights: #6

right to a fair and speedy trial, an impartial jury, and the right to a counsel

Boston Massacre

• Colonists were angry over British taxes and the presence of British troops.

• Incident: Colonists taunted and threw objects (like snowballs and rocks) at the soldiers. British soldiers opened fire on the crowd.

• Fueled anti-British sentiments and became a rallying point for the American Revolution.

bill of rights: #7

right to a jury trial in civil cases

bill of rights: #8

protection from excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment

bill of rights: #9

protection from rights, not specifically enumerated in the constitution

bill of rights: #10

powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people

first to ratify the constitution

• Delaware

• December 7, 1787

• encouraged other states to follow

three fifths compromise

• agreement reached during constitutional convention in 1787

• counted enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation & representation congress

• caused a sway in support for slavery in congress

3 branches of government

• ensures system of checks and balances, protecting individual rights and ensuring a balance of power

• legislative branch: congress, makes laws

• executive branch: president and administration, enforces laws

• judicial branch: courts, interprets laws

constitutional convention

• meetings gathered to address weaknesses of the articles of confederation & draft a new constitution

• resulted in the creation of the U.S. constitution