Chapter 4- America’s Political Heritage

A voice in the government Each colony was granted a charter from Britain but if they challenged English authority that charter could be striped from them. If that occurred Britain would then appoint a royal governor. Governors were usually appointed rather than elected and were most often concerned with pleasing British leaders instead of the colonists.

Citizenship in the Colonies Only white men owning a certain amount of land could vote During this time though the colonies were one of the few places in the world where citizens participated at all in government. Citizens participated in trials, volunteered in local armies, and militia. Puritans set up public schools and many citizens in the middle and southern colonies sent their children to private schools or taught them at home.

Religiously Puritans had been persecuted in England because they did not want to pay taxes towards the Church of England. In 1636 Roger Williams was forced from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for disagreeing with the Puritans. Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island where any person following any religion was welcome. (Back then freedom of religion is not what it is today, they were free to be a member of any Christian church not a non-Christian church)

As time goes on people continue to complain about the actions of royal governors and the tyranny begins to be used in the colonies. Tyranny The abuse of power. (Would Britain eventually strip citizens of their rights and silence their voice in government?)

John Peter Zenger Fought for freedom of the press after he wrote an article criticizing the NY royal governor. Zenger was found not guilty and it helped inspire the colonists to fight for freedom of the press.

Ancient Greece and Rome Ancient Greece- the 1st establishment of a direct democracy Ancient Rome- a government in which representatives were elected to make laws. Both of these were important examples that the colonists would eventually use in creating a new government free from Britain.

Magna Carta King John was forced by the nobles to sign this document, which established the king’s power had limits and that he too must obey the law. An English monarch would not have the power to rights away from “nobles” such as the right to a fair trial.

Parliament Developed out of a group of nobles and church officials who advised Henry III. The group became a legislature or law making body.

Glorious Revolution In a power struggle, Parliament removed the King from the throne. From then on, no ruler would have more power than the legislature

English Bill of Rights 1689- listed that rights for all English citizens, not just nobles, could not be limited by a monarch without the approval of Parliament. All people had freedom of speech, to not have to pay taxes without approval by Parliament, and that all people, including government leaders had to abide by the laws. The colonists in America treasured the protection of these right for themselves.

English Common Law A system of law based on precedent and customs Precedent- rulings consistent with earlier cases that were similar Examples?? Customs- unwritten laws Examples-??

John Locke Locke was an English writer who argued that representative government is the only reasonable kind. Governments exists to protect the rights of the people and that it’s purpose is to protect certain natural rights. Those natural rights were the rights to life, liberty, and property. Any government that abuses its power should not be obeyed according to John Locke.

Baron de Montesquieu Montesquieu was a French writer who proposed the need to have a separation of powers within government. He believed in dividing government into a executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Such a system would guard against tyranny because no government official or government could gain too much power.

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes was another English philosopher who for natural equality for men and that all legitimate political power must be “representative” and based upon the consent of the people.” What he referred to as a “social contract.”

English Colonial Governments House of Burgesses 1st Legislature in America 2 Representatives were chosen from each county They had very little power and solved few problems

Mayflower Compact Established “just and equal laws for the general good of the colony” Set up a direct democracy that is still evident today in New England (town meetings) As new settlements developed they formed similar governments Each colony had a governor (elected or appointed by the King) Each colony had a legislature (many modeled after the English Parliament)

Towards Independence After a costly war with France, Great Britain needed money to pay off it’s war debts. The King began to use mercantilism in addition to imposing heavy taxes. Mercantilism- squeezing out as much wealth out of the colonies as possible.

Stamp Act (1765) Required all colonists to attach expensive tax stamps to all legal documents and newspapers “No taxation without representation” Colonists began to boycott British goods and the taxes were repealed

Declaratory Acts Passed the same day the Stamp Act was repealed Stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions “in all cases” (Proclaimed authority)

Townshend Acts Taxes on imported items (basic necessities) that the colonists could not produce on their own Colonists boycotted as they had for the stamp act

The Tea Act 1773 Allowed direct sale of tea to shopkeepers by the British East India Company, which gave them an economic advantage. Colonists protested with the Boston Tea Party

Implemented in retaliation to the Boston Tea Party Intolerable Acts Implemented in retaliation to the Boston Tea Party Restricted the colonist’s rights to trail by jury and allowed British soldiers to search and even move into colonists’ homes

1st Continental Congress 1774, delegates from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia to attempt to convince the English government to respect colonists’ rights. They promised to meet one year later if conditions did not improve

Common Sense, Thomas Paine “To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more months to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness---- There was a time when it was proper, and there is a proper time for it to cease…England belongs to Europe, America to itself.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense

2nd Continental Congress A year later the delegates meet again and by this time there was already fighting in Massachusetts Many colonists feared independence but writings such as Common Sense, by Thomas Paine helped turn the public opinion.

Declaration of Independence (1776) The 2nd Congress appointed a committee to write a document that would officially announce America’s independence. Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson Jefferson was strongly influenced by English philosopher John Locke A passionate explanation of why Americans had the “right” to be independent Set forth democratic ideals 1. Governments purpose is to protect the rights of people 2. Government is based on the consent of the people 3. If the government disregards the rights of people than the people can overthrow it 4. All people should have the right to life, liberty, and property

State Constitutions New Hampshire became the first colony to become a state with a written plan of governments. Similarities between states evolved Bicameral legislature Governor Judges and court system Bill of Rights

Articles of Confederation To fight the war against Britain, the states needed a way to band together. The Articles of Confederation created a “league of friendship” among the independent states. Set up a one house legislature (each state got one vote) Had the power to control the army and admit new territories Northwest Ordinance and Land Ordinance outlined how new territories would be added to the US

How the original colonies were set up 3 distinctly different regions: New England (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut) Farming, ship building ,and fishing allowed these people to sustain themselves. Middle Colonies (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware) Agriculture and industry drove this area particularly the fabric industry. Southern Colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia) Heavily dependent on farming and fishing; rice, greens, and tobacco.

America’s First Constitution The Revolutionary War was fought under the Articles of Confederation, the first American Constitution. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris is signed officially ending the war. The Articles had several weaknesses which created serious problems for the nation.

Weaknesses of the Articles 1. Laws could not be passed unless 9 states voted to approve them 2. Amendments required approval by all 13 states 3. If laws were passed, there was no way to enforce them. 4. Congress had no power to tax citizens. (How would they pay for the war???)

Shay’s Rebellion Burdened with the war debts, the states began to heavily tax their citizens. Many farmers lost their farms and rebelled Daniel Shays (a farmer in danger of losing his land) led an armed uprising of about 1200 men He felt the state had no right to punish him for a problem the state had created The men marched on the federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts where they were quickly stopped by state troopers This even was a wake up call for the entire country