Origins of American Governement Unit 1 Origins of American Governement

Basic Concepts of Government Ordered Government – The colonists saw a need for regulation and created many of the government offices that had they had used in England. Examples: Sheriff, Coroner, Grand Jury, Assessor

Basic Concepts of Government Limited Government – Citizens have certain individual rights. Government does not have absolute power.

Basic Concepts of Government Representative Government – Citizens elect representatives to make decisions for the people and are responsible to the people.

Landmark English Documents Magna Carta (1215) – “The Great Charter” - Limited the power of the King (Rule of Law) - Protected the right to trial by jury and due process of the law

Landmark English Documents Petition of Right (1628) - King could not imprison subjects without the lawful judgment of his peers - King could not use military to rule during peacetime or let soldiers live in people’s homes

Landmark English Documents English Bill of Rights (1689) expanded the powers of the people and the English parliament while limiting the rights of the King: - Forbade keeping an army during peacetime - Required all parliamentary elections be free - Guaranteed a fair and speedy trial - Forbade cruel and unusual punishments and excessive bail

Discussion What similarities do you notice between the landmark English documents and our laws today?

Government in the Colonies Royal Colonies were governed with a BICAMERAL (two-house) legislature. These colonies were under direct control of the King. The upper house was the governor’s council (named by the king) and the lower house was elected by property owners that were qualified to vote.

Government in the Colonies Royal Colonies were controlled by the King. Laws passed by the legislature had to be approved by the Governor and the Crown.

Government in the Colonies Proprietary Colonies were governed with either a bicameral legislature (Maryland and Delaware) or a UNICAMERAL (one-house) legislature (Pennsylvania). Proprietary colonies were governed by the owner, whom had been granted the land by the King.

Government in the Colonies Charter Colonies were self-governing. White, male property owners elected the governors. Laws made by the legislature did not have to be approved by the king. Examples of charter colonies before the Revolution were Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Discussion If all of the colonies had been charter colonies, do you think there still would have been a revolution?

Colonial Unity “Taxation without representation” led many colonists to begin a BOYCOTT of English goods, or a refusal to buy or sell their products and services. A new set of laws meant to punish the colonists, known as the Intolerable Acts, led to a meeting of the colonies.

Colonial Unity Representatives, or DELEGATES, from the colonies met in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. This was known as the First Continental Congress. They wanted the colonies to continue the boycott until the taxes and regulations from England were REPEALED. “Repealed” is to be withdrawn.

Colonial Unity The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, after the Revolution had begun. This became the nation’s first national government. They drafted and adopted the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, announcing their independence.

Colonial Unity Congress needed to find a way to unite the colonies…

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION In 1777, the Americans wrote their first plan for government in a document called the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

The Articles of Confederation Each state was _________________ and had its own ________________. Each state would send _______________ to the “Congress of the Confederation.” The Congress was the only ____________ government. There was no ___________. In Congress, each state got _______ vote. independent government representatives central President one

The Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation created a weak central government and gave sovereignty to the States. It took four years for the RATIFICATION, or formal approval, of the Articles of Confederation to take place. The last State to ratify it was Maryland.

The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation gave Congress 10 powers: Make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors Make treaties Borrow money Set up a monetary system

The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation gave Congress 10 powers: 6. Establish post offices 7. Build a navy 8. Raise army by asking States for troops 9. Fix uniform standards of weights and measures 10. Settle disputes among States

The Articles of Confederation Hey, this sounds great! Wait! Not so fast… States get to keep their ______ and ____________ No _____________ telling the states what to do Congress had the power to create a _________ to ________all the states Congress had no way to __________ its _______! Congress had no power to collect _________ to pay for the military! The Articles could only be _________ if ______ the states agreed! power independence enforce laws government taxes military protect changed ALL

The Articles of Confederation Wait! Not so fast… States got one vote, regardless of their size A 9/13 majority needed to pass laws Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce No national court system The Articles were only a “firm league of friendship”

The Articles of Confederation People began to recognize the need for a stronger CENTRAL government and began meeting in 1785 seeking to change it. In 1786, only FIVE of the thirteen states sent representatives to the convention to discuss a federal plan. In February 1787, Congress called upon the States to send representatives to Philadelphia for the CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

The Articles of Confederation The delegates that attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia are known as the FRAMERS. The Framers agreed early on that they were creating a NEW government and began writing a new Constitution over the next 116 days.

Battle of the Plans The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan Legislative branch has ___ “chambers” Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s ___________ ________ states would have more power Three branches of gov’t 2 Legislative branch has ___ “chamber” Each state gets ___ vote ________ states would have more power No strong and separate branches of government 1 1 population Smaller Larger (Virginia was a large state, and New Jersey was a small state. Surprise!)

Battle of the Plans 2 Houses Representation based on population The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan 2 Houses Representation based on population 3 branches of government 1 House Equal representation 3 branches of government Wanted to central gov. to be weaker than the state governments (Virginia was a large state, and New Jersey was a small state. Surprise!)

Connecticut Compromise Legislative: Makes laws Divide Congress Into Two Houses Senate House of Representatives Each state gets 2 votes. The more people the state has, the more votes it gets! Executive: Carries out laws Judicial: Interprets laws

Three-Fifths Compromise This was all about how the people of the states would be counted towards population. North wanted only voting citizens who paid taxes to be counted towards the population. South wanted slaves to be counted to bump up their numbers. Remember: The most people gets the most votes in the House of Representives!

Three-Fifths Compromise Solution Every 3 out of 5 slaves would be counted towards population (made South happy) These 3 out of 5 slaves would also be counted for taxes (made the North happy)

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress needed the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade, but the southern States were afraid Congress would tax their agricultural exports. Translation: Congress wanted to put tariffs (taxes) on imports to help make money and protect American businesses South was worried about giving the national gov. that much power...they might look into other things...

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Solution Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise – Congress was given the power to tax Congress couldn’t tax a State’s exports Congress couldn’t take action against the slave trade for 20 years.

Constitution The Constitution was often called a “Bundle of Compromises”.

Ratification Remember: How many State legislatures had to agree to make amendments to the Articles of Confederation?

Ratification For this reason, the Framers saw the Constitution as a replacement for the Articles of Confederation, not as an amendment.

Ratification Those that favored ratifying the Constitution were known as Federalists. Examples: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Marshall

Ratification Those that opposed ratifying the Constitution were known as Anti-Federalists. Examples: Patrick Henry, James Monroe, Sam Adams, John Hancock