To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions American Government: Roots and Reform, 10th edition Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato  Pearson Education, 2009  Chapter 2 Part 1 Revolution & Colonial Government

The Roots of a New Nation  Distance from England meant a need for local governing  House of Burgesses established in Jamestown in 1619  General Court of Massachusetts Bay colony in 1629  Worked well for 140 years  Colonists were starting to be less English, more American

The Roots of a New Nation  Tensions begin to build in 1760s.  Mercantilism was the dominant economic system in Europe, and governed their colonial actions  American colonies left on their own until French and Indian War in 1760s  England decided colonies needed to pay for this war and could not move further west

Figure 2.1- British Land Claims, 1763  Back

British Taxation  Sugar Act of 1764 was first tax on colonists  Stamp Act and Quartering Act passed in 1765  Stamp Act Congress in 1765 is first colonial expression of anger  Discussed the need for representation in Parliament in exchange for being taxed

British Taxation  Stamp Act Congress meets in 1765  Townshend Acts pass in 1767, met with boycotts  Tea was a major component of this  In 1772, Committees of Correspondence form.  Tea Act passed in 1773, lowers tax, but hurts American merchants  Result is Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

First Continental Congress  Colonists call these taxes the Intolerable Acts  England Blockades Boston Harbor  Stronger Quartering Act & Sent more soldiers  British officials were exempt from trial in MA  Held in Philadelphia in September  Colonists want to iron out differences with king.  Adopt Declaration of Rights and Resolves.  Would meet again in 1775 if demands not met

Second Continental Congress  King George instead attacks the colonists  Battle of Lexington & Concord on April 19, 1775  Held in Philadelphia beginning in May  Adopt Olive Branch Petition; it is rejected by the king.  Thomas Paine issues pamphlet Common Sense.  Delegates call for independence in June 1776.call for independence  Write and adopt Declaration of Independence.  Document draws heavily on the ideas of John Locke.

Declaration of Independence  5 Chosen for committee to write it  John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman and Benjamin Franklin from North  Lone Southern representative was Thomas Jefferson  Jefferson was chosen to write  Heavily influenced by Locke’s Second Treatise on Government  References Social Contract and how King George violated it  Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence

The Articles of Confederation  None of the states wanted a strong central government.  In a confederation, states are most powerful.  Articles are first attempt at independent government.  Create a loose “league of friendship”.  Congress has limited power, states are strong.  No executive or judicial branches, no power to tax.  Got us through war, but not helpful in peacetime.

Problems with The Articles of Confederation  One vote per state, ¾ vote to pass federal laws.  Could not tax or raise money to pay debts  Could not regulate any trade  No executive or judicial branches  States did not abide by laws or the Treaty of Paris  States passed high taxes on own citizens  Shays Rebellion showed the danger of this in MA  Call was made to revise the articles in May 1787

Shays’ Rebellion  Massachusetts had to adopt high property taxes to pay war debts  1786 new law requires all debts to be paid in cash  Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays is about to lose his farm, leads 1500 farmers to Springfield  Plan is to take the arsenaltake the arsenal  No states will pay for a new militia  Private army is finally raised  Other states begin to worry

The Constitutional Convention  Held in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles.  Fifty-five delegates from across the colonies attend.  Refer to delegates as “Founding Fathers” or Framers.  Two competing plans of government are proposed, the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan

Virginia Plan  Plan favored by the large states.  Three-branch government.  Two-house legislature, both based on population.  One house chosen by people, one by legislatures.  Legislature can choose executive and judiciary.

New Jersey Plan  Plan favored by the small states.  Sought to strengthen Articles, not replace them.  One house legislature with one vote for each state.  Representatives chosen by state legislatures.  Congress can raise revenues from duties on imports.  Supreme Court with life terms appointed by executive.

Great Compromise  3 Branches  Two-house legislature: House and Senate.  House based on population, two per state in Senate.  Revenue bills originate in the House.  Chief executive appoints Supreme Court Justices.  Divided powers between federal and state governments, but federal government is supreme.  Appeases both large and small states.

Other Compromises  Three-Fifths Compromise regarding slavery.  Slave Trade Compromise does not deal with slave trade for 20 years, and allows federal government to control interstate commerce, but not tax exports  Committee on Unfinished Portions handles executive.  President with four-year term, Electoral College.  President can be removed from office by Congress.  Impeachment: House Impeaches; Senate votes (2/3 needed)

Table 2.1- Articles and the Constitution  Back