Origins of American Government Basic Concepts of Government
Origins of American Government
Basic Concepts of Government 1. The need for an ordered social system, or government. 2. The idea of limited government, that is, that government should not be allpowerful. 3. The concept of representative government—a government that serves and is responsive to the will of the people.
The Magna Carta Signed by King John at Runnymeade in 1215 § Sought protection against arbitrary acts by the king § Fundamental rights like ØProtection against taking life, liberty, property ØInitially only for the privileged Ønew taxes only with permission §
THE MAGNA CARTA This was a list of do and do nots for the king. It established the idea of limited government – the power of the monarch was limited not absolute.
The Petition Right § 1628 when Charlesof I asked Parliament § § for more money in taxes Limited king’s power Demanded king no longer imprison or otherwise punish person without lawful judgment of his peers (Due Process) No imposition of martial law during peace No housing of king’s troops without consent
The Petition of Right § No man should be “compelled to make or yield any gift, loan, benevolence, tax, or such like charge, without common consent by act of parliament. ” 2
English Bill of Rights § § § § 1689 Glorious Revolution William & Mary to throne Free Parliamentary elections Parliament’s approval needed for ending laws, and passing new taxes Subjects right to petition king Fair trial, no excessive bail, nor cruel or unusual punishment
13 Original Colonies 1. The royal colonies were ruled directly by the English monarchy. 2. The King granted land to people in North America, who then formed proprietary colonies. 3. The charter colonies were mostly self-governed, and their charters were granted to the colonists.
13 Original Colonies ROYAL COLONIES PROPRIETARY COLONIES DIRECTCONTROL-KING GRANTS LAND –PROPRIETOR -King appoints governor as Chief Executive -King appoints council as advisory body to Governor -Also became highest court -Overtime, developed into BICAMERAL structure -King grants land to a proprietor -Proprietor appoints Governor -Some were UNICAMERAL -Citizens could appeal to King (Governor/representative). -they could tax citizens -all laws approved by Governor and King. New Hampshire, Mass, N. Y. , N. J. , Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia Maryland, Pennsylvania And Delaware CHARTER COLONIES CHARTERS GIVEN TO PEOPLE -King give Charters to a Group of People -People elected governor yearly -largely self-governing -BICAMERAL -Judges were appointed by Leg. -Appeals could still go to King -largely for religious freedom -King did not approve laws. Rhode Island Connecticut
2: Uniting for Indepen dence
MAYFLOWER COMPACT The Mayflower Compact (1620) is the first example of colonial plans for self government. The Pilgrim leaders realized they needed rules to govern themselves if they were to survive. They also agreed to pick their own leaders and make their own laws, which they would design for their own benefit.
Britain’s Colonial Policies § King separately controlled the 13 colonies, mainly through the Privy Council and the Board of Trade in London. § Parliament, while involved in matters of trade, took little part in managing the colonies.
Britain’s Colonial Policies 2 § Salutary Neglect: Colonies got used to being left alone by England (3, 000 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean). § Things changed after the French and Indian War. § England needed revenues (tax money).
Growing Colonial Unity § New England Confederation § Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Haven, Connecticut § 1643 league of friendship § Defense against Native Americans § 1696: William Penn offered a plan which was not accepted.
Growing Colonial Unity 2 § The Albany Plan of Union 1754 7 colonies and the Iroquois § Problems with colonial trade and danger of attacks by French and their Indian allies § Ben Franklin’s Plan but plan was rejected by colonies. § Power to raise military, make war/peace with Indians, regulate Indian trade, collect customs duties. §
Stamp Act § § Stamp Act of 1765: required use of stamps on all legal documents, business agreements, newspapers, and playing cards. Created lots of colonial anger
The Stamp Act Congress § October 1765 § All colonies except Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia § Declaration of Rights and Grievances against new British policies and sent it to the king.
Repeal & Recourse § Parliament § Repealed the Stamp Act § Created new laws causing even more colonial resentment § Boycotts by colonials § Boston Massacre 1770
Committees of Correspondence § Carried out organized resistance against property § Formed by Samuel Adams in Boston in 1772 § Boston Tea Party-1773 § Committees spread through out the colonies
First Continental Congress § In response to the Intolerable Acts, Spring 1774 § Delegates from all colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia on 9/5/1774 § Sent Declaration of Rights to King George III § Urged boycott of British trade until taxes repealed
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION April 19, 1775, “the shot heard ‘round the world” was fired beginning the American Revolution. British redcoats clashed with American minutemen at Lexington and Concord.
2 nd Continental Congress § § § Met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 Lexington & Concord had already occurred Each colony sent reps John Hancock president Served as first government of the US
Declaration of Independence § Proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia § Committee of 5 (Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson) to draft the declaration
Declaration of Independence § 7/2: Delegates agreed to Lee’s proposal § 7/4: Delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence § First paragraph announces independence § Rest gripes about the king
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Section 4 Creating the Constitution
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Could do’s: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Make war & peace Receive ambassadors Make treaties Borrow money Set up a money system Post offices Raise an army –navy Settle disputes between states Could not do’s: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. No taxes Raise money by borrowing and begging the States No regulating trade between the states No power to make states obey the Articles Needed unanimous consent
Who were the Framers? § Leaders who were there: § James Madison § Governor Morris § Alexander Hamilton § George Washington § Ben Franklin
Who were the Framers? § Leaders who were NOT there: § Patrick Henry - “smelled a rat” § Samuel Adams & John Hancock – not elected § Thomas Jefferson & Thomas Paine – in Paris § John Adams – In England 2
The Virginia Plan § 3 branches of Government § Bicameral Legislature § National Executive and Judiciary § Advantageous to large states § Introduced by Richard Henry Lee
The New Jersey Plan § Unicameral Legislature § Equal representation for states of different sizes § More than 1 federal executive § Advantageous to small states § Presented by William Patterson
The Connecticut Compromise Delegates agreed on a bicameral Congress, one segment with equal representation for States, and the other with representation proportionate to the States’ populations.
The Three-Fifths Compromise § The Framers decided to count a slave as three-fifths of a person when determining the population of a State. § How many representatives should each State have in House of Representatives
The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise § Congress was forbidden from taxing exported goods, and was not allowed to act on the slave trade for 20 years. § Slavery not otherwise addressed.
Influences on the Framers § Political writings of people like Locke and Rousseau § Experience with: § Second Continental Congress § Articles of Confederation § Individual State governments
THE CONSTITUTION James Madison was a strong advocate of a strong national government. He is called “the father of the Constitution” because he was the author of the basic plan of government that was eventually adopted.
The Preamble
Reactions to Finished Job § George Mason § Of Virginia § Disappointed § Opposed Constitution until his death in 1792
Reactions to Finished Job 2 § Ben Franklin “From such an assembly [of fallible men] can a perfect production be expected? It…astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does…”
Section 5 Ratifying the Constitution
Not Necessarily a Done Deal § The Constitution was very controversial at first, with some groups supporting it, and others attacking it. § Particularly concerned about how New York would vote.
RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION Two opposing viewpoints arose about the Constitution: Anti-federalists and Federalists. The Anti-federalists said the Constitution was drafted in secrecy and was extralegal, not sanctioned by law. They were against it. They thought state gov. should have more power and Con. didn’t have a bill of rights. The Federalists argued that a strong national government was to stop anarchy, political disorder. They were for ratification of the Constitution. They promised a Bill of Rights added to it.
FEDERALISTS VS. ANTIFEDERALISTS
Anti-Federalists Objected to the Constitution for many reasons § Thought State governments should have more power § The lack of a bill of rights and potential for elected monarchy. Famous Anti-Federalists were Ø Patrick Henry (smelled a rat) Ø Samuel Adams Ø Richard Henry Lee Ø George Mason Ø Thomas Jefferson (absent) Anti-Federalists Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Richard Henry Lee
Federalists § § Ø Ø Ø Thought that the Articles of Confederation were weak Supported a strong national government Argued for the ratification of the Constitution. Famous Federalists Alexander Hamilton James Madison John Jay
Ratification § Nine States ratified the Constitution by June 21, 1788 § Concerned because lacking New York and Virginia § Great debates were held in both States § Virginia: June 28, 1788
New York § Supporters of the Constitution published a series of essays known as The Federalist. § 85 articles by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay § Published anonymously under name of Publius
The New Government § The new Congress met for the first time on March 4, 1789. § Congress finally attained a quorum (majority) on April 6 and counted the electoral votes. § George Washington was unanimously elected President. § Inaugurated on April 30.
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