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Section 4 Birth of the American Republic

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Its author, Thomas Paine, wrote with passion tempered by reason. ... 1787 - the nation's leaders met in Philadelphia and created the Constitution of the United States ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Section 4 Birth of the American Republic


1
  • Section 4 Birth of the American Republic

This painting describes the historic moment when
General George Washington led the American
revolutionary troops across the Delaware River in
order to surprise the English and Hessian troops
in the Battle of Trenton the day after Christmas
in 1776. The original painting by Emanuel
Gottlieb Leutze is more than 12 feet high and 21
feet long
2
  • Setting the Scene
  • Early in 1776, English colonists in North America
    eagerly read the newly published Common Sense.
    The pamphlet called on them to declare their
    independence from Britain. Its author, Thomas
    Paine, wrote with passion tempered by reason. "In
    the following pages I offer nothing more than
    simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense
    In Common Sense, Paine echoed the themes of the
    Enlightenment. He rejected ancient prejudice and
    tyranny, while appealing to reason, natural laws,
    and the promise of freedom. Colonists hotly
    debated Paine's arguments. As resentment of
    British policies grew, however, many came to
    agree with his radical ideas.

3
I. The 13 English Colonies
  • By 1750, Britain's empire included 13 prosperous
    colonies in North America

4
I. The 13 English Colonies
  • Britain applied mercantilist policies to its
    colonies, such as the Navigation Acts to regulate
    colonial trade and manufacturing

One great source of irritation between the mother
country and her colonies was found in the
Navigation Acts. The twofold object of these acts
was to protect English shipping, and to secure a
profit to the home country from the colonies.
Under the provisions of this legislation, trade
with the colonies was to be conducted only in
English or colonial ships. Certain "enumerated"
items (such as sugar, tobacco and indigo) were to
be shipped only within the empire. Trade destined
for nations outside the empire had to go first to
England.
5
II. Growing Discontent
  • Colonists felt entitled to the rights of English
    citizens but after 1763, relations with Britain
    grew strained

Britain's success in the Seven Years' War and its
American counterpart, the French and Indian War
(1754-1763) was costly. Parliament's attempt to
cover its debts and to pay for a continuing
military presence in America by direct taxation
of the colonists soon caused strained relations
between mother country and colonies.
6
II. Growing Discontent
  • Britain began to enforce the laws regulating
    colonial trade, and Parliament passed new laws to
    increase taxes

TOWNSHEND ACT taxes goods such as glass, paper,
silk, lead, and tea. Also set up new ways to
collect taxes. SUGAR ACT replaced an earlier tax
on molasses that had been in effect for years.
STAMP ACT this law put a tax on legal documents
such as wills, diplomas, and marriage papers. TEA
ACT the act did away with some taxes paid by the
company.
7
II. Growing Discontent
  • Colonists resented this attack on their rights -
    "No taxation without representation

8
A. Early Clashes
  • March 1770 - British soldiers in Boston fired on
    a crowd and killed 5 protesters - the "Boston
    Massacre

9
A. Early Clashes
  • December 1773 - colonists threw a cargo of
    British tea into Boston harbor to protest the tea
    tax

The Boston Tea Party
10
A. Early Clashes
  • The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to
    decide what action to take

The First Continental Congress met in 1774 in
Philadelphia to discuss responses to increased
British oppression. It formally declared that
colonists should have the same rights as
Englishmen and called for the suspension of trade
with Great Britain. The mural depicts an oration
by Patrick Henry in Carpenters' Hall.
11
B. Declaring Independence
  • The Congress set up a Continental Army and in
    April 1775, the crisis exploded into war

12
B. Declaring Independence
  • July 4th, 1776 - the Second Continental Congress
    voted to declare independence from Britain

13
III. The American Revolution
  • At first, many battles ended in British victories
    and the American cause looked bleak

14
A. The French Alliance
  • 1777 - A turning point came in when the Americans
    won the Battle of Saratoga and France joined
    against Britain

15
B. Treaty of Paris
  • 1781 - with the help of the French fleet,
    Washington forced the surrender of the British at
    Yorktown, Virginia

16
B. Treaty of Paris
  • 1783 - American, British, and French diplomats
    signed the Treaty of Paris, which ended the war

When Benjamin West began painting the signing of
the peace treaty (left), he started confidently
with portraits (left to right) of John Jay, John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and
Franklin's grandson, William Temple Franklin,
secretary to the American Delegation.
Unfortunately for West, the British commissioners
refused to pose, and the picture was never
finished.
17
IV. A New Constitution
  • 1787 - the nation's leaders met in Philadelphia
    and created the Constitution of the United States

Signing the Constitution
18
IV. A New Constitution
  • The Constitution created a federal republic, with
    power divided between the federal government and
    the states

19
IV. A New Constitution
  • The federal government had a separation of powers
    among the legislative, executive, and judicial
    branches

20
IV. A New Constitution
  • Each branch of government was provided with
    checks and balances on the other branches

21
IV. A New Constitution
  • The Bill of Rights recognized the idea that
    people had basic rights the government must
    protect

22
IV. A New Constitution
  • 1789 - the Constitution became the supreme law of
    the land
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