Origins of American Government Chapter 2

Our Political Beginnings Basic Concepts of Government – Ordered Government – colonists wanted order in their lives – Limited Government – they felt the government should NOT be all-powerful – Representative Government (popular sovereignty) – the government should serve the people

Landmark English Documents – Magna Carta – established the principle of limited government and basic rights of English citizens. Signed by King John at Runnymeade in 1215King John – Petition of Right – limited the king’s power and gave Parliament more power and citizens more rights – English Bill of Rights – redefined the rights of Parliament and the rights of people.

Government in the colonies – Royal Colony – controlled by the king who appointed a governor to run the colony for himgovernor Example: Virginia – Proprietary Colony – owned by wealthy people who appointed a governor to run the colony Example: Pennsylvania – Charter Colony – controlled by the people who elected a governorgovernor Massachusetts

Independence Royal Control – Federalistic – In the beginning, England left the colonies alone because of the distance between the two – Legislative Powers – because of the distance, colonists basically were able to make their own laws – Post 1760/French and Indian War – this caused England to see how prosperous the colonies were so they wanted to tax them to make them help pay off war debts

Colonial Unity – 1600s – the colonies did not see the need to permanently band together – Albany Plan – Ben Franklin suggested representatives from all colonies meet annually. Failed to catch on. – Stamp Act Congress – organized boycotts and protests. Got the Stamp Act repealed.

First Continental Congress – Intolerable Acts, 1774 – caused the colonists to send representatives to form the First Continental Congress. – Declaration of Rights – sent to the king protesting the taxes and restrictions.

Second Continental Congress – 1775 Revolutionary War Begins – Second Continental Congress formed and became our governing body – George Washington was appointed head of the Continental Army – Declaration if Independence signed July 4, 1776July 4, 1776 Announced our freedom from Great Britain Proclaimed equality for all men

First State Governments wrote and approved their own state constitutions once the Declaration of Independence was signed. Common Features of the first State Governments: – Popular Sovereignty – Limited Government – Civil Rights/Civil Liberties – Separation of Powers – Checks and Balances

The Critical Period Articles of Confederation were our first national constitution passed in 1781 Articles of Confederation were our first national constitution passed in 1781 – Formed a friendship between the states Formed a friendship between the states – Had only one branch of government Had only one branch of government – Had only a unicameral legislature Had only a unicameral legislature – Legislative powers related mainly to defense Legislative powers related mainly to defense – States agreed to follow the rules, but could not be forced/coerced into doing so States agreed to follow the rules, but could not be forced/coerced into doing so – National government had no power to tax, regulate trade, or make the states follow the rules! National government had no power to tax, regulate trade, or make the states follow the rules!

The 1780s – Disputes between the states showed the need for a stronger national government – Economy was in chaoschaos Meetings – Mount Vernon – 1785 – Annapolis – 1786 – Philadelphia – 1787 – became the Constitutional Convention

Creating the Constitution The Framers – Age – most were young – Education – most were well educated Organization and Procedure – President of the Convention was George Washington – Secretary of the Convention was James Madison He would later become the Father of the Constitution – Voting would be one vote per state, majority rule

The decision – Supposed to fix the articles – Decided to throw them out

Virginia Plan – National government Strong Three branches – Legislature Representation would be based on population New Jersey Plan – National government Weak, like under the Articles of Confederation – Legislature Representation would be equal

Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise) – Legislature would be bicameral Upper House would have equal representation Lower House would have representation based on population Other Compromises – Three-Fifths Compromise To count the slaves or not???? – Yes every five slaves counted as three people – Counted for representation AND taxation – Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Forbade Congress to – Tax exports – Act on Slave Trade for 20 years

Constitution – Known as a bundle of compromises – Came from History Current political thought – Locke – Hobbs – Montesquieu – Rousseau The delegates own experience Convention Completed its work – Approved the Constitution – All agreed – it wasn’t perfect, but it was the best they could do.

Ratifying the Constitution Ratification – Formed the first two political parties in the United States of Americapolitical parties Federalists – Favored the Constitution – Primary leader was Alexander Hamilton Anti-Federalists – Initially opposed the Constitution – Primary leader would soon become Thomas Jefferson – Opposed the Constitution because » Lack of a Bill of Rights » Increased power of the National government » Ratification process Only needed 9 of the 13 states to ratify it before it became law » Lack of a mention of God in the document

Ratification occurred – 1 st state to ratify was Delaware – 9 th state was New Hampshire – Constitution became official AFTER the 9 th state once the two largest states, New York and Virginia, ratified it.