Objective 4: Political Influences TAKS Success Camp 8 th Grade American History Coach Vega

Representative Government A representative government is a government where the people choose/elect individuals to make and enforce laws on their behalf.

Growth of Representative Government in the American Colonies The Magna Carta, 1215 and the English Bill of Rights, 1689, limited the power of the British King and granted some rights to the English people The Magna Carta, 1215 and the English Bill of Rights, 1689, limited the power of the British King and granted some rights to the English people Many colonists came in search of religious freedom Many colonists came in search of religious freedom The Enlightenment encouraged the use of reason to improve society and government The Enlightenment encouraged the use of reason to improve society and government Colonists were use to British government, where an elected legislature made laws Colonists were use to British government, where an elected legislature made laws Because of the distance between Britain and the colonies, a system of self-government was established Because of the distance between Britain and the colonies, a system of self-government was established

Colonial Government Most colonies established their own Most colonies established their own elected legislative assemblies Most colonies had a Royal Governor who with the colonial assemblies Most colonies had a Royal Governor who shared power with the colonial assemblies, 1619: First elected legislature in the colonies Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619: First elected legislature in the colonies, 1620: Agreement signed by the Pilgrims that created a government based on majority rule Mayflower Compact, 1620: Agreement signed by the Pilgrims that created a government based on majority rule

John Locke’s Natural Rights Philosophy Natural rights are rights that people are born with that cannot be taken away (unalienable rights) What did John Locke consider to be natural rights? What did John Locke consider to be natural rights? “The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it which obliges every one… No one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions…” ~John Locke

The Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 Written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 Announced the colonies’ independence from Great Britain and established the United States as a nation Announced the colonies’ independence from Great Britain and established the United States as a nation

Equality The Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal” The Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal” This means that all Americans have the same rights and should be treated equally by the government This means that all Americans have the same rights and should be treated equally by the government

Unalienable Rights Unalienable rights are the basic rights of all human beings and cannot be taken away Unalienable rights are the basic rights of all human beings and cannot be taken away The Declaration of Independence states that “all men” have unalienable rights and that “among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” The Declaration of Independence states that “all men” have unalienable rights and that “among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

Consent of the Governed Consent of the Governed means that the government should be based on the wishes of the people Consent of the Governed means that the government should be based on the wishes of the people The Declaration of Independence argues that British rule of the colonies was not the wish of the colonists and therefore the colonists had the right to form a new government The Declaration of Independence argues that British rule of the colonies was not the wish of the colonists and therefore the colonists had the right to form a new government

Articles of Confederation First plan of government First plan of government The colonist’s feared a strong national government because of the abuses of the British King and Parliament The colonist’s feared a strong national government because of the abuses of the British King and Parliament The Articles of Confederation created a weak national government with strong state governments The Articles of Confederation created a weak national government with strong state governments

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation No power to tax or raise money No power to tax or raise money No power to regulate trade No power to regulate trade No power to raise an army No power to raise an army Difficult to amend Difficult to amend

The Constitutional Convention, 1787 Also known as The Philadelphia Convention Also known as The Philadelphia Convention Purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation Purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation Instead, the delegates created a new plan of government, The U.S. Constitution Instead, the delegates created a new plan of government, The U.S. Constitution The new plan created a stronger national government divided into The new plan created a stronger national government divided into three separate branches

Legislative Branch MAKE LAWS

Executive Branch ENFORCE LAWS

Judicial Branch INTERPRET LAWS

Compare Articles and Constitution Articles of Confederation U.S. Constitution One house CongressTwo house Congress No Executive BranchExecutive Branch headed by President No Judicial BranchJudicial Branch headed by Supreme Court Each state issues its own money Only Congress can issue money Only states can pass taxes Congress and states can pass taxes

The Principles of the U.S. Constitution

1. Popular Sovereignty A government receives its authority to rule from the people

2. Limited Government Powers of the government are limited to those given to it by the people

3. Republicanism A form of government where the people rule through elected representatives A form of government where the people rule through elected representatives

4. Federalism Division of power between state governments and the national or federal government

Example of Federalism

5. Separation of Powers The division of the national government into three branches – legislative, executive, and judicial Each branch has different powers and responsibilities

6. Individual Rights Rights that the government must protect They are protected through the Bill of Rights and other Constitutional Amendments

7. Checks and Balances Ability to check, or control, the power of the other branches Purpose is to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful

Example of Checks and Balances Congress passes laws Congress passes laws The President can veto a law The President can veto a law Supreme Court can rule that a law is unconstitutional Supreme Court can rule that a law is unconstitutional

The Ratification Debate The Constitution was sent to the states for ratification… The Constitution was sent to the states for ratification…

Federalists Supported the Constitution They thought a STRONG national government would protect the people and improve the economy Leaders: Alexander Hamilton and James Madison Wrote The Federalist Papers to explain the benefits of the new Constitution

Anti-Federalists Opposed the Constitution Opposed the Constitution They wanted state governments to have more power because they feared a strong central government would lead to abuse of power They wanted state governments to have more power because they feared a strong central government would lead to abuse of power Leaders: Patrick Henry and George Mason Leaders: Patrick Henry and George Mason

The Bill of Rights An agreement was made to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution that would protect the rights of the people An agreement was made to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution that would protect the rights of the people

The Amendment… First Second Third Fourth Fifth Speech, press, religion, assembly, and to petition Bear arms No quartering of soldiers Unreasonable searches Rights of the accused, right not to testify against oneself

The Amendment… Sixth Seventh Eight Ninth Tenth Speedy jury trial Jury trial in civil cases Cruel and unusual punishment Rights reserved for the people Rights reserved for the states

How the Bill of Rights Addressed Grievances from the Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence Bill of Rights Illegal quartering of troops (Quartering Act) 3 rd Amendment Depriving colonists of the right to a jury trial 6 th and 7 th Amendments

Amending the Constitution Why do you think three fourths of the states must vote yes before an amendment can be added to the Constitution? Why do you think three fourths of the states must vote yes before an amendment can be added to the Constitution?

Supreme Court Case: Marbury v. Madison (1803) Established Judicial Review: that the Supreme Court had the right to review all laws made by Congress Established Judicial Review: that the Supreme Court had the right to review all laws made by Congress Effect: Made the Supreme Court more powerful Effect: Made the Supreme Court more powerful

Supreme Court Case: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens of the U.S. and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens of the U.S. and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional Effect: Increased the power of the national government Effect: Increased the power of the national government

Political Controversy: Slavery In 1860, Abraham Lincoln ran for president as a Republican In 1860, Abraham Lincoln ran for president as a Republican He did not want slavery to exist in any new territory He did not want slavery to exist in any new territory Southerners feared that he would abolish slavery Southerners feared that he would abolish slavery After he won the election, southern states seceded from the Union and created the Confederacy After he won the election, southern states seceded from the Union and created the Confederacy Result… THE CIVIL WAR

Reconstruction Amendments 13 th Amendment: Abolished slavery 13 th Amendment: Abolished slavery 14 th Amendment: Protected the civil rights of all Americans, including former slaves 14 th Amendment: Protected the civil rights of all Americans, including former slaves 15 th Amendment: Right to vote for African-American men 15 th Amendment: Right to vote for African-American men