A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1 Chapter 2 Foundations of Government Section 1:Why Americans Have Governments Section 2:The First U.S. Government Section 3:A New Constitution

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON2 Chapter 2 OBJECTIVES  What influences the form of a country’s government?  What distinguishes a democracy from other forms of government?  What are the roles of government? Section 1:Why Americans Have Governments

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON3 Chapter 2 Governments are influenced by:  The people’s beliefs and the country’s history  Dictators or absolute monarchs with authoritarian power  Ceremonial monarchs with separate governing bodies  The “rule of the people” in a democracy Section 1:Why Americans Have Governments

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON4 Chapter 2 Democracies  There is no absolute ruler or absolute ruling body  The people rule directly (direct democracy) or through elected officials (representative democracy or republic). Section 1:Why Americans Have Governments

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON5 Chapter 2 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

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON6 Chapter 2 OBJECTIVES  What is the significance of the Declaration of Independence?  What were the limitations of the Articles of the Confederation?  What was the effect of a weak national government on the United States? Section 2:The First U.S. Government

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON7 Chapter 2 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

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON8 Chapter 2 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

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON9 Chapter 2 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

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON10 Chapter 2 OBJECTIVES  What principles of Great Britain’s government influenced the ideas of 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 did they resolve their differences? Section 3:A New Constitution

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON11 Chapter 2 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

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON12 Chapter 2 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

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON13 Chapter 2 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