Colonial and Revolutionary Impact on our Foundations of Government

Why does war happen?

Colonists in North America were British subjects. The French and Indian War imposed a large debt upon the colonists. 

King George III levies high taxes on the colonies to pay for the war, and the British tighten their grip on the colonies.

Stamp Act of 1765 imposed the first direct tax upon the colonists.

The Townshend Act of 1767 created duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea.

The Tea Act of 1773, which taxed tea, created the Boston Tea Party.

The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea party. It was meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance.

After these causes...

Stamp Act and Intolerable Acts cause Americans to feel more united in their hostility towards Britain.

It was initially only protesting and petitioning King George because no majority wanted independence early on.

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting in 1765 in New York to discuss the stamp act. Only 9 of the 13 colonies showed up and there was an initial division between the moderates and radicals.

They came together to discuss a solution for all colonies and was the first example of unity in action among the colonies and their respective delegates.

First Continental Congress

Mutually agreed upon imposing an embargo on Britain and agreed not to use British goods.

Second Continental Congress

In the summer of 1775, Congress is able to assume the powers of a central government. However, they still have no constitutional authority and little power over the other colonies.

State Constitutions

Second Continental Congress instructed states to form their own governments if they did not already have one after 1775.

Principles created:
  • They recognized people as the only source of authority in government.
  • Bill of Rights

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