HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1 CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT Chapter 2 Foundations of Government Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments Why Americans Have GovernmentsWhy Americans Have Governments Section 2: The First Government The First GovernmentThe First Government Section 3: A New Constitution A New ConstitutionA New Constitution
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON2 Section 1:Why Americans Have Governments The Main Idea Government plays an essential role in every country. A country’s government affects the lives of its people. Often, it affects people around the world. Reading Focus What are two main types of government? What are the purposes of government? How does the U.S. government guarantee freedom to its citizens?
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON3 Types of GovernmentsCharacteristics of Governments Democracy People rule directly or indirectly MonarchyRuled by a king or queen Dictatorship A person or small group has absolute power and does not answer to the people. Absolute Monarchs have total control. Direct Representative All voters make decisions together. People elect representatives. Section 1:Why Americans Have Governments
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON4 Roles of Government Provides a means for cooperation and unity among people Enables groups of people to achieve large goals Provides protection, security, transportation, monetary assistance, education, and health related services Provides laws and a Constitution Section 1:Why Americans Have Governments
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON5 The Main Idea The American ideals that people should rule themselves and that government should protect human rights are clearly set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Reading Focus Why is the Declaration of Independence so important? What were the Articles of Confederation, and what were their weaknesses? What was the effect of a weak national government on the United States? Section 2:The First U.S. Government
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON6 The Declaration of Independence Upholds the philosophy on which the United States is based Is a statement of the American ideals Declares that the purpose of government is to protect human rights Stresses equality among individuals Section 2:The First U.S. Government
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON7 Section 2:The First U.S. Government WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION difficult to change Articles because unanimous vote was needed no means to regulate trade with foreign countries no execu- tive branch to enforce laws difficult to pass laws because 9 out of 13 states’ approval was needed no judicial branch to interpret laws lacked power to collect taxes
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON8 Effects of a weak national government: Had no power to operate effectively or settle disputes The country lacked a national identity. The states quarreled over boundary lines and trade. The country looked weak to other nations. Section 2:The First U.S. Government
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON9 Limitations of the Articles of the Confederation: Congress had difficulty passing important measures. There was no executive branch to ensure that new laws would be carried out. There were no national courts to interpret the laws and uphold them. A unanimous vote was required to make changes to the Articles of the Confederation. There was no money to pay for expenses or services. Each state regulated its own trade and had its own currency. Conflicts between the states and Congress developed. Section 2:The First U.S. Government
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON10 The Main Idea The framers of the U.S. Constitution drew upon a history of democratic ideals while developing a document that would establish a new, stronger federal government. Reading Focus What historical principles of government influenced the delegates to the Constitutional Convention? How did the U.S. government become stronger under the Constitution? How did the viewpoints of Federalists and Antifederalists differ, and how were these differences resolved? Section 3:A New Constitution
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON11 Principles of Great Britain’s government that influenced the delegates: Magna Carta—free people cannot be arrested without a trial by jury of their peers; Parliament’s rights are protected; English citizens only judged by English laws English Bill of Rights—right to petition a change of laws; right to a fair punishment Parliamentary government—a bicameral body; a prime minister administers the government and can be replaced by a majority vote Section 3:A New Constitution
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON12 The U.S. government became stronger under the Constitution. A federal system was established. Powers included the coining and printing of money, raising armed forces, trade regulations, and levying taxes. Provisions for an executive and a judicial branch were established. Section 3:A New Constitution
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON13 Section 3:A New Constitution A STRONGER U.S. GOVERNMENT Powers Dealing with LawsPowers of the National Government Print money Raise armed forces Regulate trade Set taxes Provide a president to carry out the country’s laws Establish the Supreme Court and other national courts to interpret laws
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON14 Differences among Federalists and Antifederalists: Federalists—strong national government would keep the country united Antifederalists—strong national government would not protect the people’s freedoms and would take power from the states A bill of rights was proposed to outline the rights of the people under the Constitution. Section 3:A New Constitution
CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON15 1.What are two of the major factors that shape a country’s government? 2.How are a democracy and other types of governments different? 3.What were the key purposes of the Declaration of Independence? 4.What were some of the problems the country faced after independence was declared? 5.In what ways did the colonists’ English political heritage influence American ideas about government and individual rights? 6.What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention? 7.What were the arguments of the Federalists and Antifederalists? 1.What are two of the major factors that shape a country’s government? 2.How are a democracy and other types of governments different? 3.What were the key purposes of the Declaration of Independence? 4.What were some of the problems the country faced after independence was declared? 5.In what ways did the colonists’ English political heritage influence American ideas about government and individual rights? 6.What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention? 7.What were the arguments of the Federalists and Antifederalists? Chapter 2 Wrap-Up