EARLY AMERICA NOTES EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1 Basics

EARLY AMERICA NOTES

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1. Basics of Government There are 195 countries in the world today, each with their own Governments are created to maintain safety and protect the rights of citizens.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1. Basics of Government All Governments must have: 1) Sovereignty - power to rule. Ex. . Constitution 2) People to rule. Citizens have full legal rights. Subjects do not have full legal rights. 3) Territory - land with defined borders to rule over.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT NOTES 1. Basics of Government Democracy means to “rule by the people”. Two types of democracies – 1) Direct Democracy – citizens vote directly on issues. 2) Representative Democracy – citizens choose representatives in the government to act in their behalf.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1. Basics of Government Types of Government The most common type of government is a Republic. (80% of all governments) A Republic has: *a higher law Ex… Constitution *members are elected by the citizens. *laws are made through the citizens.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1. Basics of Government Democratic Republic a republic in which all citizens can participate in the government. Ex…United States In an Aristocratic Republic only certain citizens participate in the government. Ex… Greeks, Romans, Iran

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1. Basics of Government Monarchy is a type of government where the head of family line holds and maintains power. A Constitutional Monarchy is a government that has a family line that power is limited by a higher law or Constitution. The United Kingdom today is a Constitutional Monarchy. An Absolute Monarchy is when a Monarch has absolute power to rule.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1. Basics of Government A Dictatorship is a form of a government where one person seizes control of a government and maintains power through the use of the military. A Totalitarian government is a form of government where a group has total control of all aspects of citizens lives, using the military to maintain power.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 1. Basics of Government A Theocracy is a form of a government controlled by religious leaders, claiming power from a higher source. Ex… Iran

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 2. Philosophers John Locke (1632 - 1704), English philosopher. Locke wrote that governments should have limits on their power and protect citizens natural rights the basic rights that people are born with like life, liberty, and property. Locke said if a government misuses its power, people have the right to overthrow it, this is called his Theory of Revolution.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 2. Philosophers Baron de Montesquieu (1689 1775), French philosopher. Montesquieu had ideas on how a Republican form of government should work. He wrote about Branches of Government, Separation of Powers, and Checks and Balances.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 2. Philosophers Branches of Government is when you divide power among different parts of the government. Legislative Branch makes laws. Executive Branch enforces laws. Judicial Branch interprets laws. Separation of Powers is having a government in which the power is divided equal among the branches with no one branch having all the power. Checks and Balances is a way for each branch to keep the other branches in line. By stopping the other branches from misusing their power.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 3. England’s Government The United Kingdom's government today is a Constitutional Monarchy. England's constitution (supreme law) is an "unwritten constitution". It includes the Magna Carta, Parliament, and Common Law.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 3. England’s Government MAGNA CARTA In 1215, King John signed the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta limited the powers of the monarchy. The Magna Carta put limits on the kings power, including respecting the rights of citizens.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 3. England’s Government PARLIAMENT Parliament is the lawmaking body in England created in 1265. Parliament is a bicameral legislature or two house lawmaking body. House of Lords and House of Commons Parliament was given power over the Monarchy in the English Bill of Rights of 1689

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 4. Colonial America The Jamestown Colony (Virginia) was founded in 1607; it became the first permanent European settlement. In 1619 the colony created a bicameral legislature based on Parliament. The House of Burgesses became the first elected lawmaking body in the colonies.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 4. Colonial America In 1620, the Mayflower Compact was written. The Mayflower Compact was a Social Contract created by the Pilgrims, an agreement between people and their government

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 4. Colonial America Between the 1600's to the 1750's the colonies began to rule themselves and make their own laws. The colonies were using a simple form of Branches of Government. With the end of the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763). Parliament began to pay more attention to the colonies by passing laws limiting expansion, limiting trading partners, forced colonist to house British soldiers (Quartering) and placed taxes on goods. Ex… Navigation Act, Sugar Act, Tea Act Stamp Act (1765) required a stamp or tax on legal documents.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 4. Colonial America Patrick Henry spoke against the British in a famous speech about the idea of “No Taxation without Representation” (1765) No taxes without a fair representation in Parliament. Historical events such as the Boston Massacre (1770), Boston Tea Party (1773), and the Intolerable Acts (1774) demonstrated the tension between the colonies and the British.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 5. American Revolution April 19, 1775, American Revolution begins at Lexington and Concord. In May 1775, the Second Continental Congress began meeting in Philadelphia. The Congress selected George Washington as leader of the Continental Army. The Second Continental Congress will help to maintain a loose structure of government during the American Revolution.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 5. American Revolution DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE In June 1776, a committee wrote a document declaring our independence and the reasons behind the colonist desire for freedom from Great Britain. The main writer was Thomas Jefferson "Father of the Declaration of Independence". On July 4, 1776 the final draft was approved.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 6. Articles of Confederation After the D of I, the writing of the Articles of Confederation started, finishing on November 15, 1777. The Articles of Confederation were approved by the states on March 1, 1781. It became our first national constitutional government of the United States of America. The Articles created a loose association of the 13 states under one government. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania created the original draft of the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 6. Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation had one branch government, a Legislative Branch, it was a unicameral (1 house) lawmaking body. The Articles contained many weaknesses : * The Federal Government was weak - the States had all the power. (Federalism) * No power to tax. * No power to enforce trade between states. (Interstate)

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 6. Articles of Confederation In September 1786, a meeting was suggested to be held in May 1787, to fix the Articles. SHAYS REBELLION Massachusetts raised taxes, many farmers could not pay and were losing their farms. Daniel Shays, organized farmers to protest. From August 1786 to February 1787, Shays and his rebels destroyed legal records and court houses. The rebellion was eventually put down. Shays Rebellion proved once and for all the need for a stronger federal government.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 7. Constitutional Convention May 14 th, 1787 was the scheduled starting date. The convention actually began on May 25 th, 1787 when a quorum arrived. A quorum is a necessary number of people for an official meeting. The Convention met in Philadelphia's Independence Hall. 74 delegates were selected. Rhode Island did not participate. 55 delegates actually attended.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 7. Constitutional Convention FAMOUS AMERICANS George Washington was elected unanimously to preside (lead) over the meeting. James Madison "Father of Constitution”. When everyone votes the same.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 7. Constitutional Convention FAMOUS AMERICANS Ben Franklin oldest delegate at 81. Jonathan Dayton youngest delegate at 26. Gouverneur Morris responsible for the Preamble and much of the wording of the Constitution. Jacob Shallus is known as the "Penman of the Constitution", he actually wrote the final draft. Thomas Jefferson was an ambassador to Someone who represents a France. country in another country John Adams was an ambassador to Great Britain.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 8. Compromises at the Convention Compromise means give and take in order to reach an agreement. Different levels of Government Federalism Federalists (strong Federal Government) and the Anti-Federalists (strong State Government) disagreed over how much power to give each level. The U. S. Constitution gives the Federal government power (delegated) over the State governments. States were given certain powers (reserved) and share certain powers with the Federal Government.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 8. Compromises at the Convention REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS How to structure the Congress and how representation in it would be determined lead to a major compromise. The two major plans were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, out of these plans came the Great Compromise.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 8. Compromises at the Convention REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS The Virginia Plan was written by James Madison but proposed in the convention by Edmund Randolph. The Virginia Plan or large state plan would favor the larger states in population by creating a bicameral legislature with both house based on or proportional in population.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 8. Compromises at the Convention REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS The New Jersey Plan was suggested by William Paterson. The New Jersey Plan or small state plan was the smaller states attempt to maintain the power they had under the Articles. The Plan would have created an unicameral legislature. Representation in Congress would have been equal.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 8. Compromises at the Convention REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS The Great Compromise suggested by Roger Sherman of Connecticut parts of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans together and created our U. S. Congress is a bicameral legislature. The Senate is the upper house, it would have equal representation with two Senators per each state. The House of Representatives lower house, representation would be based on a states population. The larger a states population the more Representatives it would have.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 8. Compromises at the Convention PRESIDENT The compromise over the powers to give the President included: * A strong Executive Branch with many powers and limits. Checks and Balances * The President would be elected by the Electoral College, changed and improved by the 12 th Amendment (1804). * Serving a term of 4 years, with no term limits. Changed by the 22 nd Amendment (1951) which placed a two term limit on President.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 9. End of the Convention At the end of the Convention many were concerned it lacked a Bill of Rights. Some did not sign the Constitution over this issue. The Bill of Rights (1 st Ten Amendments) was ratified (approved) on Dec 15, 1791.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 9. End of the Convention SIGNING OF THE CONSTITUTION The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. 39 of the 55 delegates signed the Constitution. The Constitution was then sent to the states to be ratified.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 9. End of the Convention The Constitution must be approved or ratified by 9 out of the 13 states before it would go into effect. (Article 7) The struggle for ratification was not easy.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 9. End of the Convention Delaware was the 1 st state to ratify on Dec 7, 1787. New Hampshire was the 9 th state on June 21, 1788. This is the historical day the U. S. Constitution went into effect. George Washington was elected President and sworn in April 30 th, 1789. (NY)

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 9. End of the Convention THE FEDERALIST PAPERS The Federalist Papers written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay included 85 essays to help convince the states to approve the Constitution.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 10. Parts of the Constitution The three parts of the Constitution are the Preamble, Articles, and Amendments. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form. Preamble a more perfect Union, establish Justice, The is the introduction to the insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the Constitution. The Preamble states the common defense, promote the general Welfare, purpose of the our. Blessings country of and the ideas we and secure Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this stand for. Constitution. Tranquility for the Unitedmeans States of America”. Domestic peace within our country. Posterity means for future generations.

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 10. Parts of the Constitution The Articles describe how our government is structured and details how it will work. The Constitution is broken up into 7 Articles are broken up into sections Sections are broken up into clauses. Articles 1, 2, and 3 discuss the 3 branches of government. Article 1 Legislative Branch Article 2 Executive Branch Article 3 Judicial Branch

EARLY AMERICA NOTES 10. Parts of the Constitution The third part of the Constitution are the 27 Amendments are additions or changes to the Constitution. James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights, 12 Amendments were written 10 were ratified. Dec 15, 1791 Madison is called the “Father of the Bill of Rights”.