Chapter 2 Origins of American Government Section 1Our

Chapter 2 Origins of American Government

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Identify the three basic concepts of government that influenced government in the English colonies. • Explain the significance of the following English documents: the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, the English Bill of Rights. • Describe three types of colonies that the English established in North America.

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Why it Matters: – Our system of government has its origins in the concepts and political ideas that English colonists brought with them when they settled North America. The colonies served as a school for learning about government.

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Political Dictionary: – – – – – Limited government Representative government Magna Carta Petition of Right English Bill of Rights Charter Bicameral Proprietary Unicameral

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Did not begin in 1776 or 1787—It started with the first colonies. • French, Dutch, Spanish, Swedes, and others. • English was most influential

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Basic Concepts of Government • English were influenced by: – Romans – Babylonians—Hammurabi’s Code, 1750 B. C. • 282 laws • Influenced the Hebrews • Old Testament

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Basic Concepts of Government (cont) – Ordered Government • Words=sheriff, coroner, assessor, justice of the peace, the grand jury, counties, townships, etc. – Limited Government—restraint on actions of government. – Representative Government—”government of, by, and for the people. ”

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Landmark English Documents – The Magna Carta • Runnymede in 1215—to restrain King John – Trial by jury – Due process of law – Protection against arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property. – First intended only for the privileged classes. – Established the principle that the power of the monarch is NOT “absolute. ”

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Landmark English Documents (cont). – The Petition of Right— 1628, to limit the power of King Charles I when he asked Parliament for more taxes. • Limited the power of the king • Could not imprison or punish without judgment of peers or law of the land. • Could not impose martial law. • Require housing of the king’s troops in homes.

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • Landmark English Documents (cont). – The Bill of Rights— 1688 • Restored monarchy with William and Mary in the Glorious Revolution. • Prohibited a standing army in peacetime. • That parliamentary elections be free. • That taxation without the approval of Parliament was prohibited. • Guaranteed right to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail, and no cruel and inhuman punishment.

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • The English Colonies – Came about over a 125 year period—Virginia first in 1607, Georgia last in 1733. – Created by “charters” which were later withdrawn. – Royal Colonies (8) • New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. • Evolved the “bicameral” or two-house legislature. – Governor + governor’s council + lower house

Section 1—Our Political Beginnings • The English Colonies – Proprietary (3) A grant to a person—Lord Baltimore in Maryland, William Penn in Pennsylvania and Delaware. • Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. • Pennsylvania had a “unicameral” or one-house legislature. – The Charter Colonies (2)—quite liberal • Connecticut and Rhode Island

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • Explain how Britain’s colonial policies contributed • • to the growth of self-government in the colonies. Identify some of the steps that led to growing feelings of colonial unity. Compare the outcomes of the First and Second Continental Congresses. Analyze the ideas in the Declaration of Independence. Describe the drafting of the first State constitutions and summarize the constitutions’ common features.

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • Why It Matters: – Changes in British colonial policies led to resentment in the colonies and eventually to the American Revolution. Ideas expressed in the early State constitutions influenced the development of the governmental system under which we live today.

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • Political Dictionary: – Confederation – Albany Plan of Union – Delegate – Boycott – Repeal – Popular Sovereignty

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall hang separately. ”—Benjamin Franklin, July 4, 1776. • Britain’s Colonial Policies – Controlled separately by Privy Council and the Board of Trade under the King— • Parliament not much involved. – London was 3, 000 miles away – Almost “federal”—allowed a lot of self-rule

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • Britain’s Colonial Policies (cont. ) – King George III in 1760 • More restrictive • Additional taxes – Taxation without representation – To support troops stationed in North America after French and Indian War of 1754 -1763 • King’s ministers were poorly informed and stubborn. • Choice was to submit or revolt.

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • Growing Colonial Unity – Early Attempts • New England Confederation in 1643 • 1696—William Penn’s plan – The Albany Plan • Offered by Benjamin Franklin – The Stamp Act Congress • 1765—stamps on all legal documents • Later repealed

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • Growing Colonial Unity (cont. ) – The Stamp Act Congress (cont. ) • New laws stimulated a “boycott. ” – March 5, 1770, Boston Massacre • Committees of Correspondence led by Samuel Adams organized resistance (1772). • December 16, 1773—Boston Tea Party

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • The First Continental Congress – Parliament passed more laws to “punish” the colonies in 1774 • Intolerable Acts – Met on September 5, 1774 in Philadelphia • For 2 months • Issued a Declaration of Rights-a protest • Adjourned on October 26 calling for a second meeting.

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • The Second Continental Congress – May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia • Battles of Lexington and Concord—”the Shot Heard Round the World”—April 19 – Representatives from all 13 colonies—John Hancock as president. – Our First National Government • From July 1776 -March 1, 1781

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • The Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776, adopted. • “We hold these truths. . . ” • “. . . our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. ”

Section 2—The Coming of Independence • The First State Constitutions – Popular Sovereignty – Limited Government – Civil Rights and Liberties – Separation of Powers – Checks and Balances – Governors Had Little Power

Section 3—The Critical Period • Objectives: – Describe the structure of the government set up under the Articles of Confederation. – Explain why the weaknesses of the Articles led to a critical period for the government in the 1780 s. – Describe how a growing need for a stronger national government led to plans for a Constitutional Convention.

Section 3—The Critical Period • Why It Matters: – The Articles of Confederation established a fairly weak central government, which led to conflicts among the States. The turmoil of the Critical Period of the 1780 s led to the creation of a stronger National Government.

Section 3—The Critical Period • Political Dictionary: – Articles of Confederation – Ratification – Presiding Officer

Section 3—The Critical Period • Articles of Confederation—Nov. 15, 1777 – “A Firm League of Friendship. ” – Ratification— 13 colonies must approve. • 11 did so within a year • Delaware in 1779 • Maryland—March 1, 1781

Section 3—The Critical Period • The Articles of Confederation (cont. ) – Governmental Structure • One body of Congress—members chosen annually – Each state had one vote. – No Executive or Judicial branch. v Handled by committees of Congress. v A presiding officer was chosen.

Section 3—The Critical Period • Articles of Confederation (cont. ) – Powers of Congress • Make war and peace • Send and receive ambassadors • Make treaties • Borrow money and set up a money system. • Establish post offices • Build a navy • Raise an army by asking the states to send troops • Fix uniform standards of weights and measures • Settle disputes among the states.

Section 3—The Critical Period • Articles of Confederation (cont. ) – State Obligations • To obey acts of Congress • Provide funds and troops requested. • Regard citizens and acts of other states as binding • Provide for open travel among the states.

Section 3—The Critical Period • Articles of Confederation (cont. ) – Weaknesses • No power to tax—could only borrow • No power to regulate trade among the states. • No power to enforce laws. • Needed the consent of 9 of 13 states for laws to pass. • Could not amend without 9 states – (No amendment was ever passed)

Section 3—The Critical Period • The Critical Period, the 1780 s – War ended October 19, 1781. – Treaty of Paris in 1783 – Jealousy and bickering among the states increased. – Taxed goods from other states. – Debts went unpaid. – Shay’s Rebellion in the fall of 1786.

Section 3—The Critical Period • A Need for Stronger Government – Mount Vernon • Invited by George Washington • To settle trade problems between Maryland Virginia. • Stimulated a call for a meeting of all states to regulate commerce. – Annapolis—September 11, 1786 • Only 5 states attended but a call went out for another meeting the next year in Philadelphia.

Section 3—The Critical Period • A Need for Stronger Government (cont. ) – Annapolis (cont. ) • “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation and reporting to Congress and the several legislatures such alterations and provisions therein as shall when agreed to in Congress and confirmed by the States render the [Articles] adequate to the exigencies of Government and the preservation of the Union. ” v The United States in Congress Assembled, February 21, 1787

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Objectives: – Identify the Framers of the Constitution and discuss how the delegates organized the proceedings at the Philadelphia Convention. – Compare and contrast the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan for a new constitution. – Summarize the major compromises that the delegates agreed to make and the effects of those compromises. – Identify some of the sources from which the Framers of the Constitution drew inspiration. – Describe the delegates’ reactions to the Constitution as they completed their work.

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Why It Matters: – The Framers of the Constitution created a document that addressed the major concerns of the States attending the Philadelphia Convention. By reaching compromise on items about which they disagreed, the Framers created a new National Government capable of handling the nation’s problems.

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Political Dictionary: – Framers – Virginia Plan – New Jersey Plan – Connecticut Compromise – Three-Fifths Compromise – Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Started May 25, 1787 • The Framers – – – 12 States represented (none from Rhode Island) 74 designated— 55 attended Outstanding backgrounds Young—average of 42 Many big names were missing—Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry “Smelt a rat”, John Hancock

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Organization and Procedure – Independence Hall – George Washington as president – One vote per State—majority rules – Working in Secrecy • James Madison’s Notes— – Father of the Constitution – A Momentous Decision • Throw out the “Articles, ” write a new constitution

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • The Virginia Plan—created by Madison – Three branches of government – Bicameral legislature – Power to overrule States – Congress to choose executive and judiciary – State officers must take an oath of support – Smaller States found it too “radical”

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • The New Jersey Plan – Unicameral legislature – States equally represented. – Added powers to tax and regulate trade – A Federal executive of more than one person – A single supreme judiciary appointed by the executive. – Fundamental disagreement on representation in Congress.

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Compromises – Connecticut Compromise (the Great Compromise) • Two houses of Congress---one based on equality of States---one based on population. – The Three-Fifths Compromise • “Three-fifths of all other persons” – The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise • Could not tax exports from any State • Could not act on the slave trade for 20 years (1808).

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Compromises (cont. ) – A “Bundle of Compromises” – Fundamental Values were not disputed: • Popular Sovereignty • Limited Government • Representative Government • Separation of Powers • Checks and Balances

Section 4—Creating the Constitution • Sources of the Constitution – Greece, Rome, Great Britain, others in Europe – William Blackstone, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Locke and many others. • The Convention Completes Its Work – September 17, 1787 – 39 signed— 3 refused

Section 5 --Ratifying the Constitution • Objectives: – Identify the opposing sides in the fight for ratification and describe the major arguments for and against the Constitution. – Describe the inauguration of the new government of the United States of America.

Section 5 --Ratifying the Constitution • Why It Matters: – The Constitution could not take effect until it had been ratified by nine States. The battle between those who supported and those who opposed the Constitution was hard fought in all the States.

Section 5 --Ratifying the Constitution • Political Dictionary: – Federalists – Anti-Federalists – Quorum

Section 5 --Ratifying the Constitution • The Fight for Ratification – Unanimous approval NOT needed – Federalists and Anti-Federalists emerged • Federalists—who favored ratification – Led by Madison and Hamilton • Anti-Federalists—who opposed ratification – Led by Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Hancock and Samuel Adams – Concerns about increased central power and no Bill of Rights

Section 5 --Ratifying the Constitution • The Fight for Ratification (cont. ) – Nine States Ratify • Delaware first, New Hampshire was 9 th but without Virginia or New York. – Virginia’s Ratification • Washington’s support was crucial • Very divided 89 -79 – New York, The Last Key State 30 -27 • 85 essays called: The Federalist by Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay

Section 5 --Ratifying the Constitution • Inaugurating the Government – Quorum assembled on April 6, 1789, in Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York (the temporary capital) – April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in as president. – North Carolina first failed to ratify. – Rhode Island was last more than a year later.

Section 5 --Ratifying the Constitution