United States History and Geography Continuity and Change

United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century Declaration to Succession Coach Johnson’s Eleventh Grade Lecture 11. 1. 3 -- Understand the history of the Constitution after 1787 with emphasis on federal versus state authority and growing democratization.

Quick Review �Everyone get into your groups of six and, on your notes, write down the three most important reasons the Founding Fathers had to validate their call of independence from Great Britain.

My Five Most Important Reasons for Independence � He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. � He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. � For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: � For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: � He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

The War of Southern Secession: The American Civil War

Reason One: � He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. � Did the federal government forbid Southern states from passing laws and dealing with its own political issues? � No legislation was ever passed to disallow state government out side of the normal process. � There was a lot of abolition harassment toward Slave states, primarily the South. � Most legislation passed on the Federal level often went in favor of Slavery � Fugitive Slave Act � 3/5 rule � Dred Scott Decision

Reason Two: � He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. � Did the federal government ever dissolve a state or its legislation for opposing its will? � There South Carolina’s attempt to nullify a tariff and the Federal Government went to enforce it. � The right to nullify was part of the Articles of Confederation that got did not exactly transfer over to the Constitution. � Statehood was denied or postponed a few times on the grounds of Free or Slave status. � This was resolved relatively quickly when a counter state entered the Union to keep the balance.

Reason Three: � For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: � Did the Federal Government cut off trade to the states? � Trade was not eliminated, but the restrictions placed on trade did have a had affect on some states. � Protective tariffs aide domestic goods and markets by keeping foreign markets and goods more expensive. Tariffs Hinder Exports, because it makes domestic goods more expensive in foreign markets Industry Agriculture Tariffs Hinder Imports, because it makes foreign goods more expensive in domestic markets � Trade was not cut off, but the tariffs put in place had a severely polarized affect on Northern Industries and Southern Plantations.

Reason Four: � For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: � Did the Federal Government issue taxes without the consent of the taxpayers? � We just discussed how Tariffs had an unbalanced affect on different states. � If they voted against those taxes, yet they were still enacted, is it still a democratic decision? � Get back in your groups and discuss why this may or may not have been democratic

Reason Five: � He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. � Did the Federal Government declare war on the South? � War was a result of the states succeeding, not the reverse. � Individuals of the North had been attacking the Southern Slave states both in words and with violence. � Debates in Congress, Abolitionist newspapers, Uncle Tom’s Cabin � Bleeding Kansas, Slave theft, John Brown � So far it had just been individuals who were attacking the South, but now the elected President was a Republican. � The same hostility dealt with on an Individual basis was now sitting in the Executive Chair of the Federal Government.

What does this mean for us today? There has been a lot of talk, lately, about people and states being very disgruntled with what is going on in Washington. The South has often chanted how they will rise again, and Texas has been boasted to be the forerunner. Can Texas secede from the Union again?

Final Thought Seceding From a Democracy �The rulers are the ruled, leaving a government created by people, at the consent of people, for the use of people. � Treason is against fellow citizens, humans, of which one no longer consents to rule with or be ruled by… Seceding From a Monarchy � The ruler is a sovereign Monarch, leaving the Divine Right of Kings to protect and govern their subjects. � Treason is against a master of state and culture who is ordained by God…