Chapter 2 – Origins of American Government Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5

Basic Concepts Brought by English Settlers The need for an ordered social system, or government. The idea of limited government, that is, that government should not be all-powerful. The concept of representative government—a government that serves the will of the people. legitimacy

English Documents Magna Carta – “Great Charter” (1215) – protected barons from arbitrary acts by the king (power is not absolute) Trial by Jury Due Process of Law Basic rights of life liberty and property

English Documents Petition of Right (1628) – Charles I asks for tax increase, Parliament requires him to sign Petition of Right Jury of peers No housing of soldiers in peace time Eliminated martial law Rule of Law – even leaders must follow the law

English Documents English Bill of Rights (1689) – James II thrown out and replaced by William and Mary, who were forced to sign bill of rights. no standing army in peacetime Free elections Fair trial No cruel and unusual punishment No excessive bail

Meanwhile in the Colonies 3 types of colonies The royal colonies were ruled directly by the English monarchy. (Mass.,NY, NJ,Va, NC, SC, Ga.) bicameral legislature The King granted land to people in North America, who then formed proprietary colonies. (Maryland, Penn., Delaware) The charter colonies were mostly self-governed, and their charters were granted to the colonists. (RI, Conn.) unicameral

British Colonial Policies Colonies were treated largely as a confederation. Then came George III. George liked power (restricting trade) and money (new taxes). George III wanted the colonists to help pay for war (French and Indian War).

Attempts to Unite New England Confederation (1643) – several settlements formed a “league of friendship” for defense against Native Americans Albany Plan of Union (1754) – plan for a yearly meeting of delegates from each colony to create policy (war/military). Stamp Act Congress (1765) – organized in protest to Stamp Act - a tax on all paper goods sold in the colonies (first opposition to Britain)

Growing Tensions Organized boycotts – refusal to buy certain products Boston Massacre (1770) Boston Tea Party (1773)

Colonists Unite 1st Continental Congress (1774) – response to the Intolerable Acts (Dec. of Rights), and repealed British taxes. Shot Heard Round the World (April 19, 1775) Lexington and Concord (start of revolution) 2nd Continental Congress – served as gov’t during Revolutionary War, and wrote the Declaration of Independence July 4th, 1776.

Declaration of Independence People have individual rights. If a government doesn’t provide those rights, the people have the right to rebel. Justification for the war and separation from England.

John Adams

Articles of Confederation (Nov. 1777) 2nd national government for America Required ratification (formal approval) of all 13 colonies Created a unicameral (one-house) legislature Each state has one vote

Weaknesses

America Falling Apart States making their own money. Creating their own armies. Taxing each others goods. Shay’s Rebellion is the last straw.

Constitutional Convention 55 delegates from 12 states (all but RI) Met to amend the Articles of Confederation Some called the convention illegal. Working in secrecy to avoid outside pressure James Madison (father of the Constitution)

Different Constitutional Plans The New Jersey Plan Unicameral Congress Equal representation for States of different sizes More than one federal executive The Virginia Plan Three branches of government Bicameral legislature “National Executive” and “National Judiciary”

Constitutional Compromises The Great Compromise Delegates agreed on a bicameral Congress, one segment with equal representation for States, and the other with representation proportionate to the States’ populations. The Three-Fifths Compromise The Framers decided to count a slave as three-fifths of a person when determining the population of a State. The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress was forbidden from taxing exported goods, and was not allowed to act on the slave trade for 20 years.

Constitutional Compromises The Three-Fifths Compromise The Framers decided to count a slave as three-fifths of a person when determining the population of a State. The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress was forbidden from taxing exported goods, and was not allowed to act on the slave trade for 20 years.

Weaknesses of the Constitution No Bill of Rights Not Completely Democratic Senators elected by state legislatures President elected by electoral college Slavery not abolished Slave trade would end in 1808, slavery in 1865 Did not include universal suffrage African-Americans could not vote until 1869 (15th) Women in 1919 (19th)

Joe

The Great Debate Anti-Federalists – opposed ratification No bill of rights Powerful central government Federalists – supported ratification Articles were too weak States had their own bill of rights Separation of Powers limited the government

Ratification 9 states required New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify in June of 1788 Inauguration of the government did not happen until Virginia and New York ratified two months later.