Chapter 2: Our Political Beginnings

Concepts of government Colonists brought the English political system with them to North America, including three key ideas:

3 key ideas 1) Ordered Government: Means o government's rules should help people get along. 2) Limited Government: Government has restricted powers 3) Representative government: Government should serve the people

Landmark (important) English Documents

Magna Carta Signed in 1215 Declared that the king did not have total power Protected the rights of trial by jury Protected due process

Petition of Right 1628 Said the king could not use the military to rule during peacetime Soldiers could not live in people's homes during peacetime

English Bill of Rights Forbade keeping an army during peacetime Guaranteed a fair and speedy trial Parliamentary elections were free

How the colonies were ruled Each colony was based on a charter. A charter was a written grant of authority from the king to form a colony. Royal colonies were ruled directly by the Crown. Proprietary colonies were organized by an owner to whom the king had granted land. Most colonies bicameral (2-house) or unicameral (one- house) legislatures.

Articles of Confederation

Governmental structure Government was unicameral (one branch of government). Congressional committees would handle executive and judicial functions. Congress would choose the the president of the legislature. This title was not the same as the President.

Powers under the Articles of Confederation 1) Make war and peace 2)Send and receive ambassadors 3) Make treaties 4) Borrow money 5) set up monetary system

Powers under the Articles of Confederation 6) establish post offices 7) Build navy 8) Raising army by asking states for troops 9) Fix uniform weights and measures 10) Settle disputes between states

State Obligations Permit open travel and trade Submit disputes to congress Surrender fugitives Treat citizens equally

State obligation to citizens To protect life and property of the citizens of the state To promote general welfare of the people of that state.

Problems with Articles

Virginia Plan 1) 3 Branches 2) Bicameral legislature 3) Representation based on population/ wealth 4) Congress chooses Judiciary & Executive 5) Veto over Congress ~States that benefited ~Large states ~Wealthy states

New Jersey plan 1) Unicameral legislature 2) States equally represented 3) limited power to tax & trade 4) more than one executive chosen by legislature 5) judiciary chosen by executive ~States that benefited: ~Small states

Connecticut Plan 1) Bicameral congress 2) Membership in House based on population 3)Membership in Senate based on equal numbers for each state ~States that benefited: ~All states

Three-Fifths Compromise 1) Northern States: Both taxes and representation were based on population 2) Southern states could add 3/5 of the enslaved toward representation (had to count them toward taxes) ~States that benefited: ~Southern states for population count ~Northern states for taxation

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise ~Congress was forbidden to tax exports and to pass laws against slave trade for at least 20 years ~States who benefited: ~Southern states

Federalists ~ Federalists were the ones who favoured ratification of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists ~ Anti- Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution

5 issues involved in Ratification 1) Weakness of government under Articles of confederation 2) Ratification process itself 3) Absence of mention of God in the Constitution

Ratification debate 4) Denial of states of the right to print money 5) lack of a Bill of Rights

2 states that were being difficult

Inaugurating the Government ~The first capital was located in New York City ~First President: George Washington ~First Vice President: John Adams