FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT #2

Basic Concepts of our Government The United States used to be a colony of England and many of our political ideas came from there. Basic Concepts – Ordered Government: Officials, structure, etc. – Limited Government: Government is not all- powerful. There are restrictions on what it can do. People have rights. – Representative Government: Government serves the will of the people and people have a voice in government.

Documents that influenced our Government From England Magna Carta: trial by jury, due process, protections from King, King’s power not absolute Petition of Right: No prison except by jury trial, no martial law, no quarter troops, no taxes without Parliament, King must obey laws The English Bill of Rights: Elections be free, fair trial, no excessive bail

Before the Revolution- 1 There were 13 British colonies (GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CN, RI, MA, NH)- each established separately. Some were more directly controlled by England than others but King had final say in all. Prior to colonies were largely self-governing and only relied on crown for defense, foreign affairs, and trade. King George III was firmer. Imposed new taxes (to support troops, pay for French & Indian War) and restricted trading. Colonists mad about “Taxation without Representation”

Before the Revolution- 2 Colonists had to work together before they could revolt. Stamp Act Congress- 9 colonies got together because mad about tax stamp in Sent King a Declaration of Rights and Grievances. Parliament repealed act, but passed new ones. Colonists boycotted British goods. Boston Massacre in Committees of Correspondence was organized way to spread information among patriots. Boston Tea Party in December 1773 to protest Tea Tax. First Continental Congress To discuss “Intolerable Acts”.

Second Continental Congress started after Revolutionary War began in Lexington & Concord. Each 13 colonies sent representatives. Hancock chosen President and Washington was commander in chief. Truly became our first government for 5 years (Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation 1781). Fought a war, raised military, borrowed money, created money, made treaties, etc. One vote per state.

Declaration of Independence Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. Adopted on July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress Full on Enlightenment ideas, mostly from John Locke Three things – Announced independence from England – Listed “unalienable rights” of “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” – Listed grievances against the King (reasons)

After the War States wrote their Constitutions including ideas of: Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Civil Rights and Liberties (Bill of Rights) and Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances Articles of Confederation was written and adopted in – Simple government where State powers were strong and national government week. – No executive or judicial branch – Congress could make war and peace, make treaties, set up money, but could NOT regulate trade, collect taxes or enforce acts – States were supposed to obey Congress, treat citizens fairly etc. – Weaknesses: no taxation power, no power to regulate trade, no way to enforce. Problems with Articles soon emerged and states decided to meet in 1787 in Philadelphia to REVISE the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention Philadelphia, Men there known now as Framers. Worked in secrecy to protect from outside pressure. James Madison kept record and is known as the “Father of our Constitution” Original purpose: revision; decided to rewrite a new Government. Issues: Representation in Legislative Branch, Executive Power, Slavery, Regulating trade

Compromises Representation/Structure – VA Plan: 3 branches, bicameral legislature based on population. Popular with larger states. – NJ Plan: unicameral congress with equal representation, plural executive. Popular with smaller states Connecticut Compromise: Congress bicameral- Senate represented equally, Representatives based on population. Slavery: Should they be counted in population. South said yes, north said no. Decided to count slaves as 3/5 a person. (Disappeared with 13 th Amendment) Commerce/Trade: Southern states wanted protections. Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise said Congress cannot tax exports or act on slave trade issue for 20 years.

Constitution Influences: Ancient Greece & Rome, Blackstone, Montesquieu (3 branches), Rousseau (Social Contract), Locke, etc. Needed 9 of 13 to ratify to make official. But really needed NY and VA because they were biggest.

Federalists v Anti-Federalists Federalists: Led by James Madison & Alexander Hamilton. Supported ratification of Constitution. Stressed weaknesses of Articles. Anti-Federalists: Led by Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Sam Adams. Against ratification. Objected to absence of God, States can’t print money, National Government too strong, NO Bill of Rights to protect people from strong National Government. Held debates and wrote letters to newspapers, etc. “Federalist Papers” were collection of 85 essays published in newspapers to persuade New York to ratify. Federalists won! Constitution ratified in Washington elected first President. – Anti-Federalists won a major point though- new government had to create a Bill of Rights!