Political Beginnings Early Beginnings English Settlers Brought a
Political Beginnings
Early Beginnings • English Settlers • Brought a knowledge of political systems – Greece, Rome, Babylonia etc… • Three specific ideas focused on by the Colonizers • Ordered Government • Cultural Baggage – stuck with what they knew • Must be order; to run efficient respectable relationships • Created offices to govern relationships – Sheriff, Coroner, Assessor, Justice of the Peace, Townships
Early Beginning • Limited Government • Government is not all powerful – Individuals have rights – inalienable rights • Planted in colonists mind for centuries – Religious Freedom; English had to pay taxes to support the Church of England • Repressive Press – English controlled the press • Representative Government • Government serves the people; people have a voice • 1200 s End of Renaissance change of political belief – Exploration of Physical World led to Greek & their knowledge » Creators of Direct Democracy; people sat and discussed changes to Gov’t – In 509 B. C. Romans created elected posts –create law – Executive post –Caesar who worked with elected senate to rule and govern the Empire • English people came to see Greek & Romans as the true forums of Government – Prevent Tyranny in Government
Landmark Documents • Magna Carta • 1100 -1200 English Monarch expands powers – Kings Establishes Courts – Royal appointed judges made law to Kings approval – Placed taxes on the Nobility • Nobility disliked the expanded powers – Took away traditional powers – 1215 Forced King protected Nobility rights and Privileges – Created a Great Council (Parliament) » King seeks Council approval first » King could not place taxes on Nobility without consent » No free person imprisoned without a jury trial • Monumental Achievement – Monarchs power could be limited by citizens
Landmark Documents • English Bill of Rights • 1600 s English Civil War; King vs Parliament – Parliament forced out King James II – Selects Successor; places new King – Exchange for throne new king must sign Bill of Rights » Monarchs could not make or suspend law without consent » Needs approval to raise taxes & maintain army » Monarch can not participate in parliamentary elections » Monarch would protect freedom of religion, rights to petition
Enlightenment 1600 -1700 s • Natural Rights of Man – John Locke – Two Treatises on Gov’t • Representative Government only reasonable government – Government exists to serve the people – Government arises from a contract; between ruler and ruled – A ruler has power only as long as he or she has the consent of governed – Ruler cannot deny people their basic rights (life, liberty, property)
Enlightenment 1600 -1700 s • Jean Jacques Rousseau – Ideal society – Social Contract • People/communities make contracts with each other – Order and organize society; better relations • People give up individual freedoms in favor of the whole • People/community vote on all decisions – Everyone lives by the communities decisions
Enlightenment 1600 -1700 s • Separation of Powers – The Spirit of Laws • Practical suggestions for creating government – Promoted a checks and balance system of government – Promoted separation of powers » Individuals in one branch of government do not hold power in another – Best protection of the natural rights of citizens is through limits – The best way to limit government is; through separation • Guard against tyranny and oppression
Coming of Independence • Habit of Self-Government • Colonies begin with different authorities & powers – Colonies retained powers not shared by the King (Power of Veto) » Colonial Governors held power of absolute veto » Power to make courts, power to remove officials, power to dismiss council/parliament • Wielding prerogatives that King did not have • Parliament Expands power • Elected officials; held power of purse; power to initiate legislation • All this with out help or approval from England
War for Empire • French & Indian War • 1754 – English go to survey land west of Appalachians – George Washington sent to warn French of building forts & battle ensure – England begins to take notice of the conflict and calls for a delegation • Albany Plan – Colonies meet to discuss a plan of action & formulate week confederated gov’t (denied) • War wages for 9 years – French & Indians vs British & Colonies – British & Prussia fighting, France, Austria & Russia • 1763 War ends with Peace of Paris treaty – British America took all of French possessions in North America – American colonies share in victory » Gain a new sense of importance in the empire
Heritage of Conflict • British face new problems • How to manage new lands? How to pay new debt from war? What is the colonies parts in this? – 1763 War breaks out in Ohio Valley; new settlers and Indian allies of the French – All British settlers wiped out of Ohio Valley » British not prepared to deal with such conflict with other issues to way. – 1763 Proclamation – all settlers forbidden beyond Appalachians » No surveys, no land grants » Angered Colonists who wanted more land to settle » Give England a chance to decided what to do with new land • 1763 British Finances – Large debt & loss of military man power • George Greenville (Lord of Treasury) – Heavy tax burden at home – light burden in colonies – American colonies obligated to assist in up keep of frontier
Greenville Policies • Problems in Colonies • American customs services inefficient • Took a hard liners approach – Evasion of taxes; bribery & corruption rampant » Set up coastal patrol to & prosecute evasion of taxes – Sugar Act 1764 » Cut taxes in half on sugar; reduce smuggling of sugar » New taxes on imports (textiles, wines, coffee, and indigo) – Currency Act 1764 » Colonies issued paper money to regulate their economy » British creditors considered this depreciated money & Parliament made paper money illegal tender » Paper money value plummeted – money worth less
Greenville Policies • Stamp Act – 1765 • Stamps created to be placed on all printed material & legal documents • Quartering Act – 1765 • Colonies provide all supplies & barracks to British troops • Colonist reactions • “Loosed upon them the very engines of Tyranny” – Sought the “lamp of experience” Traditions & Rights – Standing armies? There is no war! – Naval Courts? No direct trial by jury » Burden of proof placed on defendant • Parliament was out to usurp the power of purse! • Barrage of Protests, meetings, debates & resolutions – “No taxation with out Representation” • Mob reactions – sacking stamp houses & burning effigies • Created colonial unity
Time of Action • Stamp Act Congress • June 1765 – Massachusetts called for a general assembly – Declaration of Rights & Grievances » A petition to King & Parliament; repeal the stamp act » Parliament has no power to levy (place) taxes; power of the people • 1765 – 1772 – Colonies unite; through councils, town meetings, committees, organizations » Son’s of Liberty, Demonstrations (Boston Tea Party, Wearing of home spun clothing) • Coercive Acts / Intolerable Acts – 1774 Four acts (Quartering Act, Impartial Act, Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Act) – Imply Force; make an example of Boston for other colonies
First Continental Congress • Sept. 5, 1774 • Decide how to deal with British atrocities – 55 delegates sent to Philadelphia to debate – Functioned as a congress/ » Vote and create policies » Adopt resolutions of how to work together to deal with British – Congress decided: » Intolerable acts null & void » Boston must arm themselves » Boycott British goods » Decided (dominion theory) parliament had not authority; colonies subject to crown only – Wrote the King for relief from the atrocities • King declares the colonies in rebellion • Calls for immediate action and blows to be taken
Second Continental Congress • May 1775 – Second Congress convenes (war already started) • No legal authority, no resources; assume command – Elect generals – Allocated money for war budget • Possible Compromise? – Created Olive Branch petition » Refrain from hostilities; declared allegiance to the Monarch » Olive branch failed to impress – Declaration of Causes & Necessity » Just cause’s; fighting for rights » King declared colonies to be “open and avowed enemies” • Congress further assumes command – Negotiate peace treaties with Indians – Organizes a Post Office – Authorizes and builds a Navy
Independence 1776 • June 1776 • Richard Henry Lee “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states” • “We have no other alternative than independence…” – Congress approves measures to break ties with England » Thomas Jefferson drafts the document – July 2 nd Declaration of Independence is introduced » Adopted by Congress July 4, 1776 • Jefferson’s Declaration • Restatement of Locke’s theory on government – “Gov’t powers derived from Consent of people” – “Unalienable rights” – Appeal to the broader laws of Nature
Articles of Confederation • Continental Congress’s • Meant to be temporary; but some kind of government needed – Delegates Fearful of abuse; » Solution: create a weak government – 1777 Congress approved the Articles of Confederation • Outline of Ao. C: – National government had no control over people in the states » State laws were supreme to national law – National gov’t no power to levy taxes » States asked for contributions – Each state had one vote in congress – 9 of 13 states needed for ratification of any action by congress • The Central Government; given some power – Declare War; Conduct Foreign Affairs, Coin Money, Postal System, Army of State Militia • Problems with Ao. C – No power to tax – U. S. had 40 million in debt – State trade wars » Massachusetts banned English goods; give new business a chance to establish » Neighboring colonies imported goods and shipped them to Mass. (No gov’t to monitor the commerce) » Mass. Retaliated by banning importation of good from other states
Articles of Confederation • • Problems with Ao. C • States printed own money – Printing press’s printed money to pay off debt (huge sums) » Created inflation • 1786 Shay’s Rebellion – Farmers/laborers/merchants attack Mass. Courthouse – Burn documents of debt » Elites controlled price wages and debt over the farmers/laborers Feb. 1787 Framing Constitution • Delegates sent to revise the articles of confederation • Virginia Plan proposed by Virginia Gov. Randolph – Representation based on population (size) – Three branches of government – Bi-cameral legislature » All power to make states obey and follow the government – President, National Court System, & Supremacy over states • Smaller states feared the plan – large states too much control
• New Plans of Attack New Jersey Plan • Simple revision of Ao. C; keep basic principles (one state – one vote) – Retain unicameral congress (all states represented) – Limited Congressional powers » Only add – powers to tax & regulate trade – Executive branch with several executives – Main division – how representation in congress would be handled • Connecticut Compromise (Roger Sherman) – Government is about compromise (largest compromise) – *Keep all the Virginia plan has to offer » Give concessions on basing representation in the House of Reps on population (Lower house of Legislature) » Senate (Upper house) equal 2 senate basis » President chosen by electoral college – The Compromise passed Congress by a narrow margin • Ratification of Constitution – Special ratification conventions were held to pass constitution » General public never voted on the Constitution – Many state legislatures ratified the constitution – Considered a social contract (John Locke) » People give up freedoms to protect the common good (Tragedy of the Commons) – According to theory – government derives power from the people; people define the powers of government
Constitution • Contract of ruling elites? • Shay’s rebellion – mass’s rise up against the elite • Constitution is a fulfillment of elites taking control – State legislatures ratified the Constitution; not the common people – Constitution framed by politicians asserting power » Motives of the framers hard to ascertain » Constitution is political compromise (Connecticut Compromise) – The constitution is not just a holy document; but it isn’t a hedonistic doc. Either » Constitution & framers must be examined as is: » A document that traded, compromised, and bargained to make a functional government » Created out of necessity; less idealistic creation • Many historians argue that popular vote would have stopped the ratification of constitution
Legacy of Constitution • What are the legacies? • Representative Democracy – Citizens vote for individuals – represent interests • Created federalism – power shared among Nation, State, Local • Separation of powers - powers divided between branches of government • h
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