Unit 2 Flashcards
Second Continental Congress
-Philadelphia, May 1775-1776 (becomes a government in 1776)
-Delegates from all colonies
-Command of the Continental Army given to George Washington
-Most colonists still hope to remain a part of Britain without paying taxes
Olive Branch Petition
-John Dickinson (PA) wrote to the King of England
-Pledged colonies loyalty to the King, but not Parliament
-No taxes!
-King rejected the petition
-Sent more troops from Britain
Northwest Ordinance
-Established how a new state would join the nation
-Prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory
Federalism
-Division of power between the central gov’t and the states
Popular Sovereignty
People are the source of power
Declaration of Independence: Who, What, When, Where, Why
Who - The five members were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson, but Thomas Jefferson was chosen as the author.
What - Like a break-up letter to Great Britain. The US declared themselves independent from England.
Where - Representatives from each colony were in Philadelphia
When - Written during the 2nd Continental Congress after Lexington & Concord
Why - England was taxing the US without representation in congress and not giving them rights.England “fell deaf” to their voices; therefore it was necessary for the colonists to take it to the next step.
John Locke
-“Enlightenment” thinker - new ideas about the rights of people and their relationship to their rulers
-John Locke’s ideas → American belief in self-government
-Locke wrote the following:
-All people are free, equal, and have “natural rights” of life, liberty, and property
-All power resides in the people, and they consent to a “social contract” to form a government to protect their rights
-In return, the people promise to obey the laws established by the government
Thomas Paine
-English immigrant to America
-Wrote Common Sense = challenged the rule of the American colonies by the King of England
-Was read by many colonists during the mid-1700s and led to more people wanting independence from Great Britain
-Jefferson then went on to detail many of the grievances against the King of -England that Paine had earlier described in Common Sense.
Structure of the Declaration:
-Preamble
-Explains the reasons for writing the Declaration & why it is necessary to separate
-Statement of Beliefs
-All men are created equal
-Rights given to them by their Creator not by the people running the government
-Life, liberty, happiness
-List of Complaints = description of the events the King has done against the colonists, such as:
-Called for meetings to break people down in order to sign agreement
-Kept soldiers ready to fight against America
-Cut off trade with others
-Taxation without representation
-No jury during a trial
-Destroyed property and lives
-This is not right for a free people
How did England react to the Declaration of Independence?
England “fell deaf” to their voices. They wouldn’t let them break a part from England.
How did the colonies react to England’s reaction to the Declaration of Independence?
Because England wouldn’t listen, it was necessary for the colonists to take it to the next step. Later, the colonies became independent from England and they became free, independent states.
Purpose of the Articles of Confederation:
To combine the “various sentiments and interest of a continent divided into so many sovereign and independent communities”
“To maintain and defend our common liberties.”
How and when were the Articles of Confederation formed?
-Created by the Second Continental Congress
-Drafters were reluctant to create another oppressive, centralized government
-Adopted after 16 months of debate on November 15, 1777
What the AOC could do:
-Makes Treaties
-Declare war
-Receive ambassadors
-Establish freedom of movement, excluding “fugitives from justice”
-Allocate one vote in Congress per state regardless of population
What the AOC could not do (weaknesses):
-Congress had little power to enforce decisions, no executive branch, no power to raise an army, and no power to force states to comply.
-No single currency
-States could count their own money
-Confederation Congress could not tax the people directly - they had to ask states for funds
-Confederation Congress did not have money to raise an army without the consent of the states.
