GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 2 Early Documents Magna Carta 1215

GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 2

Early Documents � Magna Carta (1215) – Limited Government � English Bill of Rights (1689) – fair trial, no excessive bail � Mayflower Compact (1620) – Representative Government

Events leading up to Revolution � French & Indian War � Proclamation of 1763 � Stamp Act � Boston Massacre � Tea Act � Boston Tea Party � Intolerable Acts � British Redcoats � John Adams � John Hancock � Samuel Adams � Patrick Henry � Paul Revere � King George III Events People involved

Steps taken by the Founding Fathers � First Continental Congress – 1774 ◦ Patrick Henry ◦ They met to send communications to King George to outline their issues and demands � Lexington April 1775 & Concord – ◦ Paul Revere ◦ British were going to confiscate colonial arsenal � Second Continental Congress – May 1775 ◦ Elect a Congress President – John Hancock ◦ Choose a leader for the army – George Washington ◦ Announce their independence & grievances – Thomas Jefferson ◦ Create a constitution

Declaration of Independence �

Articles of Confederation � America’s first constitution � Limits the power of the government � 1781 -1788 � Had many weaknesses � Was unable to control certain issues � Shay’s Rebellion broke out over the government’s inability to repay military vets � FF met in a constitutional convention to discuss “fixing” the Articles

Constitutional Convention � James Madison – “Father of the Constitution” � Proposed new constitution � Fixed weaknesses � Ratified June 1788 � Bill of Rights – in effect Dec. 1791