Chapter 4 Foundations Background to American History Washingtons

Chapter 4 Foundations: Background to American History

Washington’s Militia & Army • Militiamen served as home guard and as supplement to the Continental Army • The Continental Army was by contrast trained and more reliable • None were battleharden & ready to see the horror of war Continental soldier

During the Revolution 1775 -1783 • Jonathan Trumbull was the only British Governor that sided with the Americans • John Peter Muhlenberg was a Protestant minister who recruited soldiers and rose to the rank of general

The Emergence of an American Culture • The Revolution helped excite a sense of common nationality • Celebration of Independence Day • The American Consciousness and the idea of America’s Destiny • Signers of the D. Of I. John Hancock, Ben Rush, Charles Carroll, & John Witherspoon

The Articles of Confederation • The period between 17811787 was a “critical period” • During this period the national government was weak for fear of a Britishlike central government • The Confederation Congress dealt with the westward land distribution and it established three executive departments: Foreign Affairs, Finance, & War Dickinson & the Articles of Confederation

Calls for a Stronger Government • Americans were losing their fear of a strong central government • Bankers, Merchants, and Mechanics now called for strong gov. • James Madison called for a meeting in 1786 but not all the states came • Alexander Hamilton called for a national convention the next year James Madison

Adopting the Constitution • The delegates who met included many participants from the Revolution • James Madison & The Virginia Plan • New Jersey Plan • Roger Sherman & The Great Compromise Signing the Constitution, September 17, 1787

Other Battles at the Convention • The battle between the Northern & Southern delegates over slavery • 3/5 compromise • Women’s rights left out of constitution • In regard to citizenship it gave Congress authority over naturalization • American Indians would not be given citizenship until 1924

The Separation of Powers • The Founding Fathers viewed the House as the most democratic • The Senate would be chosen by the state legislatures • The President could veto acts of Congress, appoint diplomats & judges, recommend legislation to Congress, & act as commander-in-chief of the armed forces

Checks & Balances • The Separation of the three branches of gov. • The President’s veto • The congressional power of impeachment • The Courts right of judicial review • The Senate’s power to approve or reject treaties & appointments • Amendments

The First Supreme Court • The Congress setup the structure of the federal court system • Congress set the number on the high court a six and created thirteen federal district courts • Members of the Supreme Court were required to serve on circuit courts as well The First Chief Justice John Jay

The Bill of Rights • B/C MA, NY, VA, & NC had all requested a “bill of rights” James Madison wrote a list of amendments and presented them to congress in 1789 • In the late 1700 s the US was alone in the world b/c the constitution prevents Congress from establishing an official religion • The 10 th Amendment said that powers not given to the national Gov. remained w/ the states or the people James Madison

Freedom of Religion • One of the 1 st Amendment Rights is religion • The Anglican Church suffered b/c of its association with the British, it changed its name to the Episcopal Church • The Methodist, Baptist, & Presbyterian churches grew bigger • Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statue of Religious Freedom • We also got freedom of speech, press, and assembly in the 1 st amendment Jefferson & the Virginia Statue

More Amendments • 2 nd Amendment – the right to bear arms • 3 rd Amendment – we don’t have to quarter soldiers • 4 th Amendment – we are protected from unreasonable searches • 5 th Amendment – protects us from double jeopardy, from incriminate yourself, and gives the government eminent domain.

More Amendments • 6 th Amendment - right to public trail, jury, & lawyer • 7 th Amendment – right to jury in some civil cases • 8 th Amendment – court can’t inflict cruel and unusual punishment • 9 th list rights but doesn’t deny other rights • 10 th gives power to the states if not in the constitution

Alexis de Tocqueville • A French man that visited the United States in 1831 believed America was great b/c of five values: • Liberty – freedom, rule of law, and religious faith • Egalitarianism – we are a society of equals • Individualism – we are free to flourish w/o government • Populism – common man free to participate in politics • Laissez-faire – gov. has a “hands-off” approach to the economy