...To understand where our government is at today we must first step back over 200 years and see where we started. In 1765, the American colonies were still under the control of Great Britain, and the French and Indian war had just ended. Britain created the Stamp Act of 1765, this was the first direct tax from King George on the American Colonies. In response to the Stamp Act we see the Stamp Act congress form to petition King George. This is the first time we see colonist form together to petition the king of Britain. The Stamp Act congress won, King George repealed the Stamp Act the same year. In June of 1767 the English parliament passes the Townsend Acts, which placed a new set of taxes of american colonies. Taxing things such as everyday goods like paper an tea. These taxes lead to many colonist boycotting British goods. Following the Boston massacre,...
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...regiments of British soldiers quartered in Boston. Their destinations were Lexington, where they would capture Colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, then Concord, where they would seize gunpowder Shots were fired that began the war Fort Ticonderoga served as a key point of access to both Canada and the Hudson River Valley during the French and Indian War On May 10th of '75, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, and the Green Mountain Boys brought it under American power for the first time. Second Continental Congress From 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies and later the United States. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress convened after the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) had already begun When the Second Continental Congress came together on May 10, 1775, it was, in effect, a reconvening of the First Continental Congress. Delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies were present when the Second Continental Congress convened. The Congress was to take charge of the war effort Bunker Hill The battle is named after the adjacent Bunker Hill, which was peripherally involved in the battle and was the original objective of both colonial and British troops, and is occasionally referred to as the "Battle of Breed's On June 17, 1775, early in the Revolutionary War (1775-83), the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts Quebec Took place on September 13, 1759. The French...
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...of the banned groups that directed the rebellious movement and carried on the functions of government at the local level in the period between the breakdown of royal authority and the establishment of regular governments. Minute Men- Different groups of militia formed in Massachusetts and else and other places beginning in late 1774. Second Continental Congress- Met again in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress called for the patchwork of local forces to be organized into the Continental Army, authorized the formation of a navy, established a post...
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...Goals of the war The goals of the war are to gain wealth and also to gain more authority, territory, and the influence of the states. First continental congress The first continental congress was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies that met on September 5 to October 26, 1774 at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. Breed's Hill The place which the battle of bunker hill took place and where they store the weapon for the battle. And going to cross of the boston harbor and fight their way up. The Battle of Bunker Hill On June 17, 1775, early in the Revolutionary War (1775-83), the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their...
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...The United States Congress: The Legislative Branch of United State’s Government Ilhan Abdi Class title: Date: 10/29/2012 To write anything about the history of the United State’s Congress, one must illustrate the entire formation of the American Republic. Because, this was the first branch of the US government, where the formation of the rest of the institutions will stem from. This is a big topic that requires much time and resources. However, in this essay, I will briefly look over the major events and milestones that led to the formation of the United States, as a nation, while at the same time focusing on the history, the role, and the transformation of the United States congress. In 1770, what has begun as a simple...
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...John Hancock John hancock was an american merchant, statesman and prominent patriot of the american revolution. He served as president of the second continental congress and was the first and third governor of the commonwealth of massachusetts. Born: January 23, 1737, Braintree MA. Died: October 8, 1793, Hancock manor. Buried: Granary burying ground, Boston MA. Spouse (wife): Dorothy quincy ( married 1775-1793). Children: Lydia Henchman hancock, John George washington hancock. Previous offices: Governor of massachusetts 1787-1793, Governor of Massachusetts 1780-1785, president of the continental congress 1775-1777. American Revolution leader John Hancock was the signer who wrote his name the largest on the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and Governor...
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...Political Science 101 Chapter 2 Notes The Road to Independence * Why was America so well suited to be the first nation to break with monarchy and embrace republicanism? * Geography * Distance limited Britain’s capacity to govern the colonies * Americans enjoyed home rule * The British had ceded to Americans responsibility for managing their own domestic affairs, including taxation * For more than a century colonists elected their own leaders and held them accountable for local policies and taxes * Legacy of self-government * Role of popularity elected legislature * Control of purse strings * Dominance of other institutions * Abundance of experienced polinticians * Knowledge of constitutional writing * Home rule * Experience with local affairs but not collective action between colonies * Strains during the French and Indian War * Albany Congress Limitations to Colonial Home Rule * Their Limited home rule did have some disadvantages: * Limited training for self-governance * Did not regulate their own commerce * Depended on Britain for military security * Incentive to free ride; Limited experience in collective action Franklin’s “Plan of the Union” * This plan called for an American army to provide for the colonies’ defense, a popularity elected national legislature with the power to levy taxes...
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...Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies who met from September 5 to October 26, 1774 at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the Intolerable Acts passed by the British Parliament, which the British referred to as the Coercive Acts, with which the British intended to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The Congress met briefly to consider options, including an economic boycott of British trade and drawing up a list of rights and grievances; in the end, they petitioned King George III for redress of those grievances. On this day in 1774, the First Continental Congress sends a respectful petition to King George III to inform his majesty that if it had not been for the acts of oppression forced upon the colonies by the British Parliament, the American people would be standing behind British rule....
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...The American Revolution started in 1775 after the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1774. The First Continental Congress was a meeting of the people of the 13 colonies that wanted independence from King George III. Two of the main people in the First Continental Congress were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Before the First Continental Congress, the Boston Tea Party happened in 1773. The Boston Tea Party was an act of anger because of the unreasonably high taxes on the tea that king George shipped over to the 13 colonies. In result, the colonists shipped back to Britain and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. The colonists received consequences from the King which were called The Intolerable Act. This Act included not having a jury in court. This violated the 5th amendment nowadays. During the First Continental Congress, the people sent a letter to King George III of Britain, asking if they could become their own nation because the King wasn’t protecting their natural rights. The colonists made a plan if the King said no, to meet again in 1775. The King said no and sent over troops because of the Intolerable Act/the letter and the troops were allowed to live in your home and you had to provide them with food and a bedroom. This made the colonists angry...
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...HIST101 American History to 1877 A Man of Honor George Washington was the first president of the United States and is known as “the Father of Our Country. He was a man with much conviction, humility, and integrity. George Washington trusted in God, was willing to sacrifice much, and he was selfless. All of these qualities were important to his success as a military leader and as the leader of the nation. It is apparent by how revered Washington is today that he was a man of honor. George Washington begin life in Virginia in 1732. He was the son of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. The tale of him cutting down the cherry tree, is just a tale created by author Mason Locke Weems. Weems wanted Washington's life to appear more interesting in the biography he wrote. The biography, A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits, of General George Washington, “supplied the American people with flattering (and often rhyming) renditions of the events that shaped their hero”. Lawrence Washington was George's older brother. Lawrence was a great influence on George's life. After the death of their father, George spent a lot of time with Lawrence at his home, Mount Vernon. Washington learned the gentlemanly ways and manners of the time from Lawrence. One of the things George enjoyed most was fox-hunting. When Lawrence died, Mount Vernon was left to George. Washington received little formal education. This was due to his father dying when he was a boy...
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...originally drafted the Declaration was Thomas Jefferson, and the four other main authors include John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson was one of the original Founding Fathers of the U.S. as well as the third U.S. President. He was a proponent of the Continental Congress under the state of Virginia as well as the first U.S. Secretary of State. Adams, the second President of the U.S., was an influential public leader in Boston, Massachusetts as well as the Continental Congress. He played a major part in pushing independence for the colonies. Livingston was a Chancellor, which is the highest judicial officer in the state, as well as a Recorder from New York. Several years after the Declaration was written, he took office as the U.S. Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Sherman was the first mayor of New Haven, a town in Connecticut. Once the Declaration was written, he became a representative and senator in the new republic. Franklin was one of the original authors who wore the most hats. Besides for his inclusion in the Declaration, he was best known as being an inventor. Some of his political positions included “First American”, the first U.S. Ambassador to France and governor of Pennsylvania at one point. All of these men led influential lives, and therefore were very well suited to be the Declaration authors. The Declaration of Independence was originally drafted by...
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...Under the Articles of Confederation, America’s first national government was too weak, which had serious ramifications. Congress could not tax its citizens, which caused severe financial problems, and the power of the states hindered Congress from effectively controlling rebellion and averting tension between America and other countries. Congress’s weakness has roots in America’s experience with British rule. The Articles of Confederation prevented Congress from collecting taxes, which caused financial problems. Since the colonies experienced tyranny from the English monarchy, Americans were wary of placing too much power in the hands of a single ruler. They favored a weak central government. Consequently, they desired a republican government. As a result, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the...
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...and he entered Harvard in 1751, a year earlier than most. John graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and he graduated 15 in a class of 24. When he graduated, John planned to practice law, however his first job was a school teacher in Worcester, Massachusetts. Throughout Adams’ teaching career, John loved to make his mark on the world. John learned to adjust to becoming a teacher in the town, he would socialize in the evenings, meet with old school friends or take trips home on breaks. While teaching, John wondered if he was...
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...colonists to war. Colonies wanted to be independent from Britain and the colonists felt they deserved to be living better than the condition they were already in with the British. There were many outbreaks that led to the colonies for independence and causes of why the American Revolution broke out. The causes of the American Revolution were the Treaty of Paris, war debt, new taxes, the First Continental Congress, and the seization of Bunker Hill. After the French and Indian War, France had to leave North America because they signed the Treaty of Paris. The British got rid of the French and gained more land. Colonists in 1763 wanted to move west up the Appalachian Mountains. English people wanted to expand, but Native Americans were already living there. So the British passed the Proclamation of 1763, which stated that all colonist must stay east of Appalachian Mountain and not move west. This really benefit...
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...government to raise income by taxing the colonies. The Stamp Act of 1765 was one of many reasons why the colonists were getting furious. Some colonists demanded the same rights as other British citizens. King George III sent British soldiers to Boston, Massachusetts, to force them to pay taxes. Colonial residents did not agree to allow British troops to be in there towns. Therefore, colonist started a riot by throwing sticks and stones at the British soldiers. Violence led to British soldiers opening fire on a riot of colonist. During the riot, five men that were killed. One of the first men to be hit was an African American by the name of Crispus Attucks. The First Continental Congress was the government before the American Revolution began. There were fifty-six delegates from each of the thirteen colonies. They met in 1774 in reactions to the Coercive Act. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress came together after the American Revolutionary War had already begun. A couple years before any major battles happened was the Boston Tea Party. The evening of December 16, 1773, 3 vessels are docked at the Boson Harbor each holding 342 chest of tea is worth about 9,000 Euros. The same night about 6:00 p.m., there were around thirty to sixty men, calling themselves “Mohawk Indians.” These so-called “Mohawks” were actually colonists. Many onlookers stood silently on the docks as they watch these three groups of men enter the three vessels. The men cracked open the chest full...
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