Transcript AP_US_Government_files/1 Rebellion

Independence
The Declaration of Independence was
adopted on July 4, 1776.
Independence
The First Continental Congress met in
Philadelphia in September of 1774. Twelve
colonies agreed to seek a peaceful
settlement with Great Britain over policies
concerning taxation, trade, rights of English
citizens, and representation in the British
government.
Independence
The Second Continental Congress met after
the battles of Lexington and Concord. It
was during this meeting that colonial
leaders decided to declare independence
from Great Britain. But not all colonists
supported independence.
Independence
The Declaration of Independence was
adopted on July 4, 1776. Most of the
document was written by Thomas Jefferson,
with input from colonial leaders. The
philosophy used to justify the Declaration
of Independence was inspired by Two
Treatises of Government, written by John
Locke (1690).
The Influence of John Locke
John Locke argued that people do not
get their rights from rulers; instead,
people are born with rights.
The Influence of John Locke
The concept of natural rights was written into the
Declaration of Independence. According to
Locke, governments get their power to rule from
the people. The concept of the consent of the
governed was also written into the Declaration of
Independence. Finally, Locke said that legitimate
governments exist to protect the rights of the
governed; when government fails to protect the
rights of the people, the people have the right to
rebel against that government.
The Articles of Confederation
The first national constitution for
the United States was the Articles
of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation
As the Revolutionary War raged, states developed
constitutions. Seeking to protect the rights of
individuals against government tyranny, many
state constitutions included a bill of rights. State
constitutions also limited what they believed to be
the source of tyranny-executive power. The
Continental Congress also adopted a national
constitution- The Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation
But the Articles were not approved by all
thirteen states until 1781. By then, many
Americans had developed a deep loyalty to
state and local government, and a deep
suspicion of national government.
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation created a
unicameral (one house) legislature. There
was no national executive and no national
judiciary. Delegates to Congress were
selected by state legislatures, and each state
had one vote in Congress regardless of the
number of delegates the state sent to
Congress.
The Articles of Confederation
Congress had the authority to do the following:
I. Declare war
II. Develop foreign policy
III. Run the post office
IV. Coin money
V. Borrow money
VI. Appoint military officers
VII. Regulate Native American affairs
The Articles of Confederation
However, all powers not specifically delegated to
Congress were reserved to the states.
Even expressed powers were limited at the
national level. Congress had no direct power to
tax or regulate foreign trade. Congress also lacked
the authority to raise an independent army.
Instead, Congress had to ask the states to approve
a tax or foreign policy. Congress could only ask
states to help them raise a national army.
The Articles of Confederation
In fact, all major policy issues required the
approval of nine states before they could become
official policy. Without an executive branch, the
states were effectively on the honors system.
Disputes between the states began. The value of
currency, responsibility for national debts,
contributions to the army, trade agreements, and
border disputes threatened the security of the
nation. The British army maintained a presence
west of the Appalachian Mountains, and the
United States were far from united.
Shays’ Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion confirmed the
need for a stronger national
constitution.
Shays’ Rebellion
The middle class began to grow under the Articles of
Confederation. Some of the members of the elite
class became concerned as the middle class expanded
in number and political power. Alexander Hamilton
and James Madison were among the people who
expressed the need for a stronger national
government as the middle class increased their
political influence. But, Thomas Jefferson supported
the ability of educated, agrarian people to rule. As an
ambassador to France, Jefferson was supportive of
the growing movement of the French people to
overthrow their king and queen.
Shays’ Rebellion
Farm foreclosures in western Massachusetts
highlighted the class struggle emerging in the
United States. Among other issues, demonstrators
protested high taxes, the governor's high salary,
and the state government’s refusal to issue paper
money. They also opposed the state policy of
putting debtors in jail (a punishment formerly used
by Great Britain to keep some people in jail
indefinitely).
Shays’ Rebellion
Daniel Shays, a Revolutionary War veteran, lead
about 1,000 rioters on a march to Worcester where
they closed down the state supreme court. Then
the mob went to Springfield where they freed
imprisoned debtors. Barns of some government
officials were burned, and wealthy Bostonians
raised money for soldiers to put down the
rebellion.
Shays’ Rebellion
The rebels were routed by some cannon
shots in January 1787. Shays escaped to
Vermont and was later pardoned. Over 100
rebels were captured, and several were
sentenced to death. George Washington and
others urged compassionate treatment of the
rebels and pardons were eventually granted.
Shays’ Rebellion
By then many people in the elite class were
convinced that a stronger form of national
government was necessary. Even Samuel
Adams, once a defender of revolution and
opposition to strong government authority,
appeared to support the execution of the
rabble who revolted in Shays’ Rebellion.