American Govt Origins of American Government Towards Independence

American Govt. Origins of American Government Towards Independence Coach Kirkwood 1

American Govt. Objectives • Discuss the American colonists’ reaction to British taxes • Discuss the roles of the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress in the movement toward independence • Explain the basic ideas found in the Declaration of Independence Coach Kirkwood 2

American Govt. Mercantilism • The theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys • British felt this would make them wealthy • Needed cheap raw materials to do so • Viewed America as the best source to obtain these raw materials Coach Kirkwood 3

American Govt. British Taxes (1 of 4) • Forced American colonists to sell their goods to England at cheap prices • Forced American colonists to buy British products at high prices • Situation deteriorates in 1763 – England has just fought a major war with France – Is in great debt from the war Coach Kirkwood 4

American Govt. British Taxes (2 of 4) • To pay its debts, Britain levies taxes on the American Colonists – 1765 Stamp Tax • Expensive tax stamps to be attached to all newspapers and legal documents • Colonist believed that parliament had no right to tax them. – They had no representation in parliament – “No taxation without representation” Coach Kirkwood 5

American Govt. British Taxes (3 of 4) • Americans boycott – Refused to buy British goods • The boycott achieves its goal – British repealed the Stamp Tax and other taxes • The boycott will tick off the British government Coach Kirkwood 6

American Govt. British Taxes (4 of 4) • British pass new laws – The Intolerable Acts • Restricted the right to trial by jury • Allowed British soldiers to search and even move into colonist homes Coach Kirkwood 7

American Govt. Movement Toward Independence • 1774, 12 colonies send delegates to Philadelphia • Know as the First Continental Congress – Congress is the formal meeting at which delegates discuss matters of common concern Coach Kirkwood 8

American Govt. 1 st Continental Congress • Last seven weeks • Send a document to King George III – Demand their rights back – State they will continue boycotting • King George responds by sending troops – 2 battles take place • Lexington and Concord Coach Kirkwood 9

American Govt. 2 nd Continental Congress • • Meet in 1775 at Philadelphia Spend many months debating about independence Finally decide to seek independence in 1776 Draft a document to state their intentions Coach Kirkwood 10

American Govt. Declaration of Independence • Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson • Many of the ideas contained within the were from other people – Rousseau – Locke • Approved by congress on July 4, 1776 • War begins Coach Kirkwood 11

American Govt. Assignment • Read pgs. 46— 48 Coach Kirkwood 12

American Govt. What You Have Learned Today • Discuss the American colonists’ reaction to British taxes • Discuss the roles of the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress in the movement toward independence • Explain the basic ideas found in the Declaration of Independence Coach Kirkwood 13