Дистанційне навчання 01/04/2021 6- D Pace Work ( Social Studies)

 Theme: The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Paine advocated the independence of the American colonies from Britain. The writings of Paine, Samuel Adams, and others convinced Americans to set up their own state and democratic government.

As tensions between Britain and the American colonies increased, a series of meetings were called, including that of the SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS (1775-1776.) On July 4, 1776, the delegates approved the Declaration of Independence, the event that marks the birth of the United States. Thomas Jefferson, a delegate from Virginia, drafted the document primarily as a list of grievances against the king. His most important words, however, clearly shaped the philosophical basis of the new government. The famous introduction clearly reflected John Locke's SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY: "...to secure these rights [Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Jefferson further reasoned that since the British government had abused these rights, the colonists had the right "to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government."

Shay's Rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. When the central government couldn't put down the rebellion, the first stirrings of federalism began to gather strength.

The British, of course, did not recognize the Declaration and continued to send troops to contain the rebellion. The war continued until 1783, so the new government had to be put in place in a wartime atmosphere. The Articles of Confederation, a compact among the thirteen original states, was written in 1776 but not ratified by the states until 1781. The loose "LEAGUE OF FRIENDSHIP" that it created reflected the founders' reaction to the central authority of King George III.

The government gave most powers to the states, and the central government consisted only of a legislature. Above all, the colonists wanted to preserve their liberties, but the central governments' lack of power proved to be disastrous. It could not regulate trade or keep the states from circulating their own currency. No chief executive could make real decisions, and no national court could settle disputes among states. And perhaps most importantly, they could not efficiently conduct a war nor pay the debts incurred once the war was over.

2.Writing

T.: You have some cards (card#2). Please, fill in the blanks with the right answers:

1. The first plan of government agreed upon by the colonies was called the________.

2. In the Articles of Confederation, the confederation of ______ states was called the United States of America.

3. Under  the Articles of Confederation, the government of the thirteen states was operated by ________.

4. The Articles of Confederation guaranteed the ___________ to be sovereign and independent.

5. Congress asked for a convention in __________ to work on the problem of establishing a stronger confederation.