American Foundations - US History Lecture

American Foundations  Colonial America Very prosperous for many Less class distinction, more job/land opportunities Highest living standard in world More freedom of religion, speech Britain ruled 13 colonies Eastern seaboard of...

American Foundations  Colonial America Very prosperous for many Less class distinction, more job/land opportunities Highest living standard in world More freedom of religion, speech Britain ruled 13 colonies Eastern seaboard of US Installed African enslavement in certain areas Took large % of colonial $, natural resources, crops 1585-1760: Allowed colonists self-rule in most areas Colonial assemblies w/ elected representatives Ex: VA House of Burgesses Each colony had a Brit. Gov.  How the Trouble Started Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) Brits & Am colonists fought French & Native Am’s Brit won war, but in debt Unfairly blamed colonists for war Brit increased Colonial Am taxes 1764-1774: Increased taxes on items like food, legal docs, building items Placed more controls on colonists Those who broke tax/smuggling laws tried by Brit. officials, not fellow colonists Increased Brit. troops in colonies  Stamp Act: Unified Am. colonists Taxed all Americans’ official papers Hurt colonial economy Against Brit. political tradition King & House of Lords not supposed to levy taxes House of Commons, as ppl’s reps, was the taxing body Brits insisted colonists, as Brit. subjects, already represented in Parliament Colonists disagreed because… Parliament had no colonial reps Feared “virtual representation” would enslave colonists to Brit. Demanded Parliament abolish tax since direct rep. impossible Patrick Henry, VA Rep: Argued that Brit had no right to tax Virginians – only their elected reps could do that Boston Tea Party (1773) 1765-1773: Colonists boycott taxed goods Ex: Colonists sent tea shipments back to Britain Dec. 1773: Boston’s Brit. Gov. held 3 tea ships in harbor Insisted colonists pay tax Sons of Liberty threw tea overboard Brit. punished Boston Blockaded city Placed it under military rule Other colonists sympathetic & scared  13 United Colonies 1774: 1st Continental Congress Delegates from 13 colonies met in Philadelphia Concerned for future based on Boston situation 1775: Revolutionary War began MA militia fought British 1775: 2nd Continental Congress Delegates debate whether or not to join MA Agreed that representative gov’t & liberty worth war Patrick Henry: “Give me liberty or give me death”  Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson 1776 55 delegates from 13 colonies signed it Blamed Brit. Gov’t for king & Parliament’s despotism Declared US right to set up own gov’t US to be a republic 13 colonies “free & independent States” Gave citizens right to “life, liberty, & pursuit of happiness 1776: Granted to all white men Later, expanded to include all genders & races  US Victory Defeating Brits difficult Brit had world’s best army US soldiers untrained farmers Advantages Gen. George Washington able leader US army on home soil, dedicated to cause US army used guerilla tactics Brit generals incompetent French aid to US 1783: Treaty of Paris Brits recognized US independence  Founders Against Democracy US a republic – Why not a democracy? Democracy – “Rule by all” Majority of pop. votes directly on laws Danger of mob rule, neglect of minority rights Not everyone qualified to govern – some selfish, others lack knowledge, experience, maturity, etc. Large groups prone to crown dictators Ex: French Revolution Monarchy → Republic → Mob Rule/democracy/murder of nobility → monarchy (Napoleon) US Constitutional Convention  US a Republic “Gov’t by consent of the governed” Ppl elect representatives to govern on their behalf Checks & balances Keep a gov’t branch from being too powerful Pres has veto, Congress can override Pres, Supreme Ct. judges laws by Constitution Senate & House have to agree for most decisions Electoral vote a check on popular vote State power a check on pop. power Term limits on Pres. & Congress Different pres. choose justices Freedom of religion – New concept Citizens had freedom to worship – or not Separation of church & state – Gov’t to keep out of religious affairs Am’s of any religion could serve in gov’t  US Constitution 1789 Two-House Congress House of Reps: Voters elect members, # reps based on pop. of districts w/in states Senate: 2 senators per state Executive First: Electoral college chose president Later: Votes of each state’s ppl determine that state’s electoral votes, candidate w/most states wins Judicial Hierarchy of courts w/in nation, Supreme Ct. chosen by pres. Bill of Rights Some afraid important rights might be left out of Con. Original bill had 10 amendments 1st – Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly Today, total of 27 Amendments