POLITICAL BEGINNINGS

English Dominated Colonies A. Basic concepts Colonists brought with them 1.Ordered government 2.Limited government 3.Representative government

Landmark English Documents 1. Magna Carta 1215: Document limiting the king’s powers and protecting subjects’ privileges 2. Petition of Right: Constitutional doc. that sets out specific liberties of the subjects that the king is prohibited from infringing

3. English Bill of Rights: An act declaring the rights and liberties of the subject and settling the succession of the crown King James I

Other Documents 1. Iroquois League: ceremonial and cultural institution embodied in the Grand Council 2. Mayflower Compact: first governing document of Plymouth Colony written by the colonists first governing document of Plymouth Colony written by the colonists

Articles of Confederation 1 st constitution of the United States 1 st constitution of the United States How the federal government would run How the federal government would run – States enter into a “friendship” with each other to secure liberties, provide for common defense, etc.

Weaknesses 1. Unicameral: having only one legislative body (no separation of powers) 2. Congress powerless: –no power to tax –failed to act on petitions or foreign policy

Weaknesses 3. No executive: No president over the nation, just over congress 4. No national court: No judges

Weaknesses 5. Amendments had to have a unanimous approval from all 13 states 6. Articles- Congress did not have the power to regulate commerce

Critical Period Revolutionary War ended 1781 Revolutionary War ended No central government- Articles of Confederation too weak, need something new 2.Shays Rebellion- rebels march on federal arsenal 3.CHAOS- there was no authority/laws to govern the people

Constitutional Convention A. Federalists v Nationalists -Federalism is smaller entities that are joined together the purpose of making available to them privileges they did not have as smaller entities. -Nationalism is a group of people joined together as a whole for the purpose of making available to them privileges they did not have as individuals.

James Madison Father of the Constitution Father of the Constitution Wrote 1/3 of the Federalist Papers Wrote 1/3 of the Federalist Papers Helped organize the Republican Party Helped organize the Republican Party Opposed Federalist views Opposed Federalist views 3 Branches of govt. 3 Branches of govt. Virginia Plan Virginia Plan

Virginia Plan 1. Bicameral legislature 2. Population-weighted representation 3. 3 branches of government -Executive -Legislative -Judicial

New Jersey Plan 1. One vote per state 2. Unicameral legislature 3. Gave power to regulate trade and raise money by taxing foreign goods

Connecticut Compromise An agreement between large and small states An agreement between large and small states Bicameral legislature Bicameral legislature –U.S. Senate (2 per state) –House of Representatives (based on population)

3/5 Compromise Compromise between southern and northern states in which 3/5 of the population of slaves would be counted towards the population count Compromise between southern and northern states in which 3/5 of the population of slaves would be counted towards the population count –Used for the distribution of taxes and number of representatives in the House

Final Draft of the constitution approved on September 17, 1787