Chapter 2: A Nation Emerges

Origins of Our Governmental System Limited Government Limited Government –Magna Carta – protected citizens’ rights Representative Government Representative Government –People choose a limited number of individuals (representatives) to make decisions for all citizens

Political Philosophy Political Philosophy Locke (d. 1704) Locke (d. 1704) –“natural rights of life, liberty, and property” Hobbes (d. 1679) Hobbes (d. 1679) –People give up complete freedom in exchange for security and safety Rousseau (d. 1778) Rousseau (d. 1778) –People have the right to determine how they should be governed Montesquieu (d. 1755) Montesquieu (d. 1755) –Three separate branches of government

The Beginnings of Self- Government Jamestown (1607) Jamestown (1607) –Representative assembly - a group of individuals to represent the population Pilgrims (1620) Pilgrims (1620) –Mayflower Compact – agreement that set up a government and made the people promise to obey its laws

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) –America’s first written constitution –Called for a representative assembly Legislatures – lawmaking groups Legislatures – lawmaking groups

The Colonies

The Colonies Rebel Navigation Acts (1651) Navigation Acts (1651) –Only English ships could be used for trade Sugar Act (1764) Sugar Act (1764) –Placed a tax on imported sugar Stamp Act (1765) Stamp Act (1765) –Taxed legal documents, newspapers, etc. “Taxation without representation” “Taxation without representation”

The First Continental Congress The First Continental Congress –Philadelphia (Sept 5, 1774) –Send a petition to King George III, organize boycott of British goods, require each colony to start an army –British response: Even more repressive –April 19, 1775: Battle of Concord

Second Continental Congress Second Continental Congress –Became central government for the colonies –Establish an army –Commander in Chief: George Washington

Independence Independence –Thomas Paine, Common Sense –July 2, 1776: Resolution of Independence –July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence is adopted Signed on August 2 by members of the continental congress Signed on August 2 by members of the continental congress –Weak central government, strong state governments

The Articles of Confederation The Government The Government –Confederation - voluntary association of independent states –November 15, 1777: drafted a plan, signed by all 13 states on March 1, 1781

–Enter into treaties –Establish and control armed forces –Declare war and make peace –Regulate coinage –Borrow money from the people –Create postal system –Regulate Indian affairs –Set standards of weights and measures –Create courts for problems related to ships at sea –Settle disputes between states –Guarantee that citizens visiting other states would have same rights as citizens of state Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation

AofC Accomplishments AofC Accomplishments –Northwest Ordinance - established a basic pattern for how states should govern new territories north of the Ohio River –Won the Revolutionary War ( ) Weaknesses of AofC Weaknesses of AofC –Made up of independent states –p. 47

Shays’ Rebellion (1786) Shays’ Rebellion (1786) –Farmers angry about loans and debts –Shays farmers attack national government –Wake up call for a strong national government

The Annapolis Convention The Annapolis Convention –September 11, 1786 –5/13 states sent delegates –Alexander Hamilton (NY) and James Madison (VA) favored strong federal government –Nationalists - favor strong central government –Decide to meet in May, 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation

Creating the Constitution Who Were the Delegates? Who Were the Delegates? –55 delegates, relatively young –33 in the legal profession –Half were college grads (1% of the nation) –7 former chief executives of their states; 8 businessmen; 6 large plantation owners; 3 physicians –116 days

Virginia Plan Virginia Plan –Bicameral legislature Lower house chosen by people, upper house chosen by lower house Lower house chosen by people, upper house chosen by lower house –National Executive Branch –National Court System –Favored large states

New Jersey Plan New Jersey Plan –Congress able to regulate trade and impose taxes –Each state has one vote –Congress is the supreme law of the land –Executive office elected by Congress –Executive office appoints a national supreme court –Favors small states

Great Compromise Great Compromise –House of Representatives is made up of representatives based on a states population –Senate is made up of 2 members from each state regardless of population

Slavery Slavery –Southern delegates wanted to count slaves toward their population –Northern delegates did not think slaves should count –3/5 Compromise – Three/Fifths of the slaves would be counted toward population

The Final Document The Final Document –The final draft of the Constitution was approved on September 17, 1787

Ratifying the Constitution Federalists vs. Anti- Federalists Federalists vs. Anti- Federalists –Constitution was not automatically put into effect, it needed to be ratified by a majority of the states –Federalist Papers were published to convince people of the advantages of a strong federal government James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay

–Anti-Federalists supported the status quo, the way things were –Responded by publishing papers that attacked the Federalist Papers –Argued that citizens would lose their rights Patrick Henry Samuel Adams

Constitution is Ratified Constitution is Ratified StateDateForAgainst Delaware December 7, Pennsylvania December 11, New Jersey December 18, Georgia January 2, Connecticut January 9, Massachusetts February 6, Maryland April 26, South Carolina May 23, New Hampshire June 21, Virginia June 25, New York July 26, North Carolina November 21, Rhode Island May 29,

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The New Government The New Government –April 6, 1789, George Washington elected first president; John Adams – vice president –Constitution just as important today as it was 200 years ago –Imitated by over 170 countries