The First Government Chapter 2 Section 2 pgs

The First Government Chapter 2 Section 2 (pgs. 34 -37) Essential Question: What was America’s first government like?

The Declaration of Independence (pgs. 34 -35) � It was approved by the 2 nd Continental Congress at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4 th, 1776. � Thomas Jefferson wrote most of it. � Stated that the American colonists want to form their own independent country � Lists the reasons why the American colonists want to separate from Great Britain I. III. Colonists opposed being taxed without their approval Colonists believe the power the rule should be given by citizens consent Colonists opposed any government that ignores the majority of citizens requests � Used as a statement of American ideals and values � States the American’s belief of government was to protect human rights.

Human Rights (pgs. 35) Human Rights: the basic rights which all people are entitled as human beings “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. ”

Ideals of American Government �The government concepts that Americans believe in come from the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence

The Articles of Confederation �America’s first constitution �Approve by the all 13 states (all that existed then) in 1781 � America was a “firm league of friendship” �America was first a confederation then it switched to a union Confederation: a loose association rather than a firm union of states

Government under the Articles (pg. 36) �Each state had equal power and was largely independent of each other �Each state had only one vote in Congress regardless of population size �Very limited power for the central/ national/ federal government �States didn’t want a strong central government due to previous experiences and fear it would limit freedoms in each state �It was designed to save state sovereignty Sovereignty: a government’s absolute power or authority �The national government depended upon the states to enforce national law �No national police force or court system

The Need for Change (pg. 36) �The national government didn’t have legitimate rule over states �National government was unable to resolve state disputes or prevent new ones �States had limited interactions with each other which made it increasingly difficult to establish common goals for government �States fought over boundary lines �States disputed over interstate trade �Many leaders began to favor a strengthen national government �Didn’t collect taxes

Weaknesses of the Articles (pg. 37) �States had more freedom which encourage them to fight more for their own states needs not national needs �Each state acted more like small, separate nations than a confederation �Relations worsened between the states and the national government �States often refused the laws of congress/ the national government �Congress 9 out of 13 states to approve new laws which require a higher percentage than now