Origins of American Government Our Political Beginnings n
Origins of American Government
Our Political Beginnings n The Origins of United States – Mid 16 th century • Explorers, traders, settlers • French, Dutch, Spanish, Swedes, • Domination of Native Americans • English- largest numbers and controlled 13 colonies
Basic Concepts of Gevernment n Colonists influenced by English laws, customs, practices, and government institutions n Three ideas that shaped the government of the Unites States: – Ordered Government – Limited Government – Representative Government – These notions are traced to landmark documents in English History
Landmark English Documents n Magna Carta-1215 – Barons seeking protection forced King John to sign Magna Carta – Fundamental rights: trial by jury, due process of law, life-libertyproperty – Power of monarch is not absolute • These protections were originally intended only for privileged classes
Magna Carta and Limited Government? ? ? What’s my wifi password ?
Landmark English Documents n Petition of Right- 1628 n P of R challenged idea of Devine right of kings n Further limited King’s Power – No arbitrary imprisonment or punishment – No martial law during peacetime – No Quartering troops during peacetime – Monarch must obey the law of the land
Landmark English Documents n The Bill of Rights- 1688 to prevent absolute power – King could not suspend laws – King could not levy taxes without consent of Parliament – Fair trial, no excessive bail – No cruel and unusual punishment
Types of English Colonies n. All colonies charteredauthority from the King n. Royal Colonies n. Proprietary Colonies n. Charter Colonies
Royal Colonies (8 total) n Direct control of the Crown n King named governor & council or advisory body (upper house) – Bicameral legislature- two houses Lower house elected by property owners qualified to vote – Laws passed had to be approved by governor and Crown. Veto Power – New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
Proprietary Colonies (3 total ) n. King had given land grant –Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware n. Governments much like Royal Colonies n. Unicameral legislature
Charter Colonies (2 total) n Mostly self-governed n Connecticut and Rhode Island n Governors elected by white, male, property owners n Bicameral legislature – Not subject to veto or Crown approval – Liberal for their time – Had Britain allowed the other colonies the same freedoms and self-government the Revolution might never have occurred.
Growing Colonial Unity n 1643 New England Confederation or League of Friendship for defense n 1754 The Albany Plan- Colonial trade and protect against attacks by French and Native Americans n Stamp Act Congress 1765 – 1 st significant opposition to British Government and Stamp Act – “Taxation without Representation” – Dec. of Rights & Grievances – Boycott of British Goods
Benjamin Franklin’s Albany Plan
Stamp Act Protest and Boycott
First Continental Congress n 1774 - Delegates from Colonies debated plans for actions n Delegates urged boycotts until taxes and trade regulations were repealed. – Sam Adams (Sons of Liberty) , John Adams, George Washington, Patrick Henry
EHS Prom 2018 “Boston Tea Party”? ? ? Once an Aztec, always an Aztec!
Toward Independence n 1775 Second Continental Congress or 1 st National Government – Declaration of Independence (1776) – Articles of Confederation (1781) n New States write own constitutions • Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Civil Rights and Liberties, Separation of powers and Checks and Balances – later influenced US Constitution
56 signers of the DOI were considered traitors to England a bounty was placed on their heads…. . Approved July 4 th, officially signed Aug. 2 nd, 1776 Thomas Jefferson, “Father of DOI”, part of the 2 nd Continental Congress—part of a committee Ultimate goal: King George would view the DOI as an illegal document… The Declaration of Independence • To generate support for American cause • Propaganda • Audiences: • Loyalists and other American Jefferson introduces a new theory of government: who didn’t care. Statement of intent--why Americans wanted • Social Contract theory • British people • Power of govt. comes from the people to separate from England…. . • Lists grievances against King George • King George and Parliament • Govt. must protect certain rights • People can alter or change the govt. • Lists rights and freedoms violated by • Other European countries England • Democracy—people rule
Toward Independence n State constitutions divided power – executive, legislative & judicial – system of checks & balances – Popular sovereignty – Civil rights & liberties – Est. principle, structure, & process of govt.
Articles of Confederation n Created by Second Continental Congress in Nov. 1777 n “A firm league of friendship” among the States – Each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence n States came together- – Common defense, secure liberty, and mutual and general welfare n No executive or judicial branch
Power of Articles Had n. War n. Treaties n. Military n. Monetary System Didn’t Have n. Power to tax n. Regulate trade
Problems with Articles n Limits made it difficult for govt to deal w/ the country’s problems n States disobeyed n Discussions on how to meet needs of new nation led to 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
Major Problem Could not tax, regulate trade or enforce its laws because the states held more power than the National Government. Why? Feared a government like King George
Need for Stronger Government n Articles unable to deal with nation’s troubles n Biggest threat to Political and Economic Instability n Annapolis Convention (1786) only 5 of 13 states attended, call for another meeting in 1787 – “sole and expressed purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation” – Meeting became Constitutional Convention
Creating the Constitution n The Framers- 55 attended Convention – Wide range of experience and wealth n Madison “Father of the Constitution” – George Washington’s attendance was necessary to insure credibility/success – Washington was presiding officer over Convention n Working in secrecy 89 days
Facts 2
Facts 3
The Compromises n Virginia Plan– – – n 3 branches (Leg/Exec/Judicial) Bicameral Legislature Representation based on Population Lower House Popularly elected Upper House chosen by lower house New Jersey Plan- unicameral Legislature – Limited power to tax and regulate trade – Equal representation in Unicameral Legislature – Federal Executive (Plural Exec- more then 1) n Connecticut Compromise – The Great Compromise – Bicameral (House-Population & Senate-Equal)
Issues of representative government would be argued at Constitutional Convention n Virginia Plan proposed by the larger states – Establish a national government with 3 branches. – Establish a bicameral Congress. • People elect 1 house • That house elects 2 nd house – Representation in both houses based on state population n New Jersey plan proposed by small states – Establish a unicameral Congress • Each state to have 1 vote • Equal representation – States equally represented similar to the Articles of Confederation Vir vs NJ
The Compromises n 3/5 Compromise – 3/5 of “other persons”/Slaves – 3/5’s repealed by 13 th Amendment in 1865 n Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise – Conflict between agricultural South & industrial North – Forbid power to act on slave trade for 20 years n “Bundle of Compromises” – Structure of Congress – Method to chose the President – Practical limits on Central Government
Inspiration for Constitution n Baron de Montesquieu – The Spirit of the Laws n William Blackstone – Commentaries on the Laws of England n Jean Jacques Rousseau- – Social Contract n John Locke – Two Treatises of Government
The Fight for Ratification n Federalists- pro-Constitution – Madison, Hamilton, Jay – The Federalist- 85 essays • Federalist #10 - Factions and insurrection • Federalist #51 - Checks and Balances • Federalist #78 - The Judicial Branch n Anti-Federalists – – – feared strong central government lack of bill of rights No mention of God Denial for state power to print money Henry, Hancock, S. Adams
Maybe these Federalist Papers will get me a Broadway play someday…nah no one would ever spend $$$ on that idea
Nine States Ratify n Constitution ratified – June 21, 1788 New Hampshire #9 – Still needed Key states • Virginia • New York – This gave rise to The Federalist n Congress met in New York (temporary capital) 1789 – George Washington- first President • April 30, 1789 - took the oath of office and added phrase “so help me God” – John Adams – Vice President
Ratif y strug gle In order for the new Constitution to become the “law of the land”, 9 of 13 states had to ratify the Constitution. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Delaware 30 – 0 Pennsylvania 46 – 23 New Jersey 38 – 0 Georgia 26 – 0 Connecticut 128 – 40 Massachusetts 187– 168 Maryland 63 – 11 South Carolina 149 – 73 New Hampshire 57 – 47 Virginia 89 – 79 New York 30 – 27 North Carolina 194 – 77 Rhode Island 34 - 22
The Three Wise Men Yah…but I’m the one with a Broadway Hit
Ready to Rumble? ? ? Is this on the Final ? ? ?
Facts 5 • In order to ratify or approve the Constitution, the Framers voted to send it to the states to ratify. 9 of the 13 states needed to ratify. Absent and opposed • The vote was 39 supporting the Constitution (Federalists) and 16 opposing the Constitution (Anti-Federalists) • Would later agree to a Bill of Rights
The Russian hacked my twitter account…
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