Lesson 1C: Confederation and Constitution
Think About It
Imagine that you lived in a North American English colony. You have a governing structure in your colony, but the decision-making power is supposed to be held by the king and Parliament. All major policy decisions must come from England. Learning what these decisions are could take many months, particularly if the request for the decision starts in the colony. While you wait for word from England, life in the colony goes on. You need to deal with whatever is going on while you wait. How would this type of situation influence the development of colonial beliefs and actions?
Steps Toward Independence
By the mid-1700s, clashes began to develop between colonists and the English government, mostly concerning policies about taxes. It is difficult to say exactly when the attitude of the British government toward colonial taxation began to change. The end of the French and Indian War (1763) is often taken as a reasonable place to start. With the Proclamation of 1763, a sequence of events began that led up to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.
In an effort to avoid conflict with Native Americans, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763. This act forbade the colonials from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. Most colonials ignored this order. Almost immediately after passing the Proclamation, two things started to happen. First, the British made a serious attempt to assert their control over the colonists. Second, colonial resistance to this control blossomed. From this point forward, the British attempted to assert control primarily through the collection of taxes, while the colonists began to resist in a more and more organized manner.
Following the Proclamation of 1763, five major laws were passed by Parliament. Try to match the description and the effect with the event. You may use outside resources to help determine your responses.
Think About It
Consider the actions taken by the colonists to resist the laws discussed above. How did these actions represent a movement toward independence and democratic governance?
Declaration of Independence
After the failure of all attempts to resolve the conflict with Britain, the colonists issued the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776. The concept stated that all men are created equal, and possess the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (Note: the concept of ‘all men” did not necessarily apply to all males living in the colonies, nor to women, Native Americans, or enslaved Africans.) In addition, the document indicated that governments existed in order to guarantee these rights, and that if governments ceased to do so, it was the duty of the citizens to change the government.
What began as protests in opposition to taxes levied and laws passed without colonial representation by the British monarchy and Parliament, led to the American Revolution, an epic political and military struggle waged between April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783. All 13 of Britain's North American colonies rejected its imperial rule.
At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, it was necessary to create a government to provide the guarantee. The new nation's leaders chose a form of government known as a Confederation, and adopted the Articles of Confederation as their governing document. When you think about the Revolutionary War, you know that it was a war fought by everyone. But who was left out of the Constitution?
Evaluate
As citizens of a new and independent nation, Americans had to create their own political system. Fighting the Revolutionary War gave the states a common goal, but they remained reluctant to unite under a strong central government–after all, the former colonials had just thrown off a strong government. Each of the now independent states was interested in preserving their own rights. Many Americans favored a republic--a government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives. However, the fear existed that a democracy--government directly by the people--placed power in the hands of the uneducated masses.
These fears and concerns deeply affected the planning of the new government. As a result, the colonists created a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were looked at as a “firm league of friendship” among the states.
Watch the video “The Articles of Confederation.” Then, consider the questions that follow.
Video transcript
- Identify the strengths of the Articles of Confederation.
- Identify the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
- Why do you feel it was necessary to make changes?
The Articles of Confederation established a confederation among the 13 states. Powers were divided between the states and the national or central government. But, not everyone worked well with the Articles.