HIS 405 Week 2 Revolution: From Rebellion to Jeffersonian Democracy

HIS 405 Week 2 Revolution: From Rebellion to Jeffersonian Democracy

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Chamberlain University

HIS-405 US History

Prof. Name

Date

Revolution: From Rebellion to Jeffersonian Democracy

The American Revolution

The American Revolution was a transformative period in which British colonists evolved from loyal citizens into revolutionaries, ultimately composing and supporting the Declaration of Independence. The causes of the American Revolution can be traced back to several key factors, beginning with the French and Indian War. This conflict between French and British forces over territorial claims in North America ended in British victory, but at a great financial cost. King George III imposed various tax-collecting measures on the colonists to relieve war debts, asserting British authority in ways that increasingly angered the colonists (Keene, 2019, p. 96).

Among these measures was the Sugar Act, which taxed sugar and other imports, and allowed for the prosecution of violators without jury trials. Colonists viewed this as both a burden and a violation of their rights (Keene, 2019, p. 98). The British Parliament responded to this resistance with the Stamp Act, which required the purchase of special stamps to be affixed to legal documents and printed materials. The colonists retaliated with riots, assaults on tax collectors, and the drafting of the “Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonies,” which reasserted their belief that “taxation without consent was a violation of their rights” (Keene, 2019, p. 100).

The passage of the Townshend Acts, which taxed imported goods such as tea, led the colonists to boycott British goods in favor of domestic products. The Boston Tea Party became a prominent act of rebellion, where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act. Britain’s response came in the form of the Coercive Acts, which closed Boston’s port and annulled Massachusetts’ colonial charter, as well as the Prohibitory Act, which banned all trade with the colonies. These policies pushed the colonists further toward declaring their independence from Britain (Keene, 2019, p. 96).

Confederation and Constitution

The Articles of Confederation, adopted during the early years of the newly independent United States, attempted to create a functional system of government while avoiding the concentration of power that had characterized British rule. However, the Articles had several key weaknesses, including the lack of authority to levy taxes and reliance on voluntary state contributions for funding (Keene, 2019, p. 121). The result was a weak central government, with an unstable economy, limited military power, and little ability to enforce treaties or manage national issues.

The inability to impose taxes or secure adequate funding led Congress to print unbacked paper money, contributing to inflation and currency devaluation. The lack of a strong navy left mercantile ships vulnerable to piracy, which further undermined the economy. Congress also struggled to enforce the conditions of the 1783 Treaty of Paris, resulting in British forces continuing to occupy forts in the Great Lakes region as retaliation for unpaid debts. These issues culminated in events like Shays’s Rebellion, which highlighted the need for a stronger federal government (Keene, 2019, p. 142).

In response to these challenges, the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to create a new framework for governance. The Constitution established a bicameral legislature, an executive branch, and a system of checks and balances, in contrast to the unicameral legislature and lack of central authority under the Articles of Confederation. The new Constitution also granted the national government the power to levy taxes, regulate trade, and amend laws with the approval of three-fourths of the states, addressing the weaknesses of the previous system.

HIS 405 Week 2 Revolution: From Rebellion to Jeffersonian Democracy

Table: Key Differences Between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

References

Keene, J. D. (2019). A People and a Nation: A History of the United States. Cengage Learning.