BEGINNINGS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT From Colonies to Constitution

English Influence Limited Government: the power of the monarch was limited, not absolute Representative Government: Parliament is divided into two houses: House of Lords and House of Commons Documents: Magna Carta (1215); Petition of Right (1628); English Bill of Rights (1689)

The Thirteen Colonies Colonial gov’t: most colonies got a charter from the king which allowed them to exist –Royal Colonies: under direct control of the king (GA, MA,NH,NJ,NY,NC,SC,VA) –Proprietary Colonies: controlled by a proprietor (owner), not the king (PA, DE, MD) –Charter Colonies: almost self-governing (CT, RI)

Colonial Discontent  After 1763, many colonists upset by stricter laws passed by Parliament  Stamp Act 1765  Townshend Acts 1767  First Continental Congress 1774  Second Continental Congress Colonists BOYCOTTED British goods as a form of protest!!!

Colonial Discontent Declaration of Independence (1776): –Listed the many grievances (complaints) the colonists had against Britain –Called themselves “The United States” –“…all men are created equal….with inalienable rights…life, liberty, pursuit of happiness…” –Revolutionary War fought until 1781

Ideas in the Declaration of Independence Many ideas Jefferson included were from the writings of Englishman John Locke 1. Natural Rights: life, liberty, property 2. Consent of the Governed: people must agree on who their rulers will be Jefferson also included the idea that all men are “equal”

Articles of Confederation : first written plan of gov’t in the United States Confederation: weak or loose union of more powerful states The Confederation gov’t only had one branch (legislative) and no successful way to either raise money or enforce laws A special convention was held in 1787 to fix these weaknesses …………

Why do you suppose the Americans who created the Articles of Confederation made them so weak??????????

Constitutional Convention Philadelphia, 1787: Secret meetings of 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states Delegates argued over many topics and soon they decided to scrap the AOC and write a new plan of gov’t

Issues and Compromises Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan: big states favored the Virginia Plan, which said that the number of representatives in Congress should be determined by a state’s population small states favored the New Jersey Plan, which said each state should have an equal number of reps. in Congress

Issues and Compromises “The Great Compromise” offered by Roger Sherman of Connecticut: –A bi-cameral (two-house) Congress –House of Representatives: number of reps. according to state population –Senate: each state would have the same number of reps. (2)

Issues and Compromises Three-Fifths Compromise: Southern states wanted to count their slaves as people to get more reps. in the House; the Northern states disagreed The compromise: three-fifths of the slaves would count as people

THE CONSTITUTION The Constitution was finally drafted and it included a very strong central (federal) gov’t It also included THREE branches of gov’t: –Legislative: to make the laws –Executive: to enforce the laws –Judicial: to interpret the laws

R A T I F I C A T I O N After the Constitution was written, each state had to ratify it As soon as 9 out of 13 states ratified the document, it could take effect Arguments erupted in some states between those who favored the Constitution (Federalists) and those who opposed it (Anti-Federalists)

Federalists Anti-Federalists A strong central (federal) gov’t is necessary The new gov’t will not abuse individual rights and liberties The states would lose too much power under the new gov’t A Bill of Rights MUST be added to insure people’s rights are protected

Constitution Takes Effect The Constitution was finally ratified by the 9 th state (NH) in 1788 George Washington was inaugurated (sworn in) as the nation’s first President in 1790 A Bill of Rights was added (first ten amendments) in 1791 in order to satisfy the Anti-Federalists

S U M M A R Y The United States government evolved from its English colonial heritage Colonial governments: practicing self- government Declaration of Independence stated the birth of the USA The Articles of Confederation: our first government The Constitution: a strong federal gov’t with three branches