1. Important Documents of American Democracy August 22-September 9, 2013 US Government – Ch. 2

2. Magna Carta Group of barons decided to force King John to sign. Also called Great Charter 1215 Seeking protection against heavy-handed and arbitrary acts by the king Included fundamental rights –Trial by jury –Due process of law –Protection against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property

3. Protected against the absolute power of the king. Over time these became the rights of all English people and were incorporated into other documents Established that the power of the monarchy was not absolute.

4. Tenets or principles of the Magna Carta –Government should be based on rule of law –Certain basic rights may not be denied by government –Government should be based on an agreement or contract between the ruler and the people to be ruled. Did not solve the problem of how to make sure the king would continue to comply with the law.

5. Robin Hood – 2010 – –http://youtu.be/if34bKbBqXIhttp://youtu.be/if34bKbBqXI Robin (aka Crowe speaks about how a true king should govern) Robin Hood (8/10) Movie CLIP – Power from the ground up (2010) HD –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTvu8CBw OdI&feature=player_detailpagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTvu8CBw OdI&feature=player_detailpage King John refuses to sign declaration Oscar Isaac: “Outlaw”

6. Petition of Right Limited the kings power –No longer imprison or punish any person but by lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land. –Not impose martial law (rule of the military) in time of peace –Not require homeowners to shelter the king’s troops without their consent –No person is compelled to make any gift, loan, or tax without consent of parliament

7. 1628 Basically challenged the idea of the divine right of kings, declaring that even a monarch must obey the law of the land. King Charles I sought to raise money with out the consent of Parliament. Strengthened the idea that English subjects enjoyed certain fundamental rights that no government could violate.

8. English Bill of Rights 1689 Before William and Mary could take the throne of England, Parliament (lawmaking body of Britain) came up with a list of provisions to which William and Mary had to agree. Prohibited a standing army in peacetime, except with the consent of Parliament All parliamentary elections be free

9. Monarchy was not allowed to suspend laws or execution of laws without consent Monarchy couldn’t take up money for own use without consent The right of subjects to petition the king and prosecutions for petitioning is illegal. Guaranteed the right to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

10. Parliament had the dominant power. Important principles –Rule of law –Parliamentary supremacy –Government by contract and consent

11. Road to Declaration of Independence Colonists made several attempts to come together and govern themselves –New England Confederation – defense against Native Americans –Albany Plan of Union – many gov duties – raise military – tax – trade – war –Stamp Act Congress – list of protest against British policies – Stamp act repealed

12. After Stamp Act things continued to get worse for the colonists (think back to 8 th grade) 1 st Continental Congress – 12 colonies sent delegates –Sent declaration to king of grievances –Refused trade with England until repeal of taxes

13. 2 nd Continental Congress –1775 during American Revolution –13 representatives from all colonies –Created army, led by Washington –1 st government of US (5 years) –Unicameral (1 house) –Legislative and executive duties –Adopted the Declaration of Independence

14. Declaration of Independence Written by a committee, mainly by Thomas Jefferson Adopted on July 4, 1776 (sound familiar?) Basically announced the independence of the US States the grievances the colonies had with Great Britain that led to revolution.

15. Declaration of Independence Activity “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political hands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” -Declaration of Independence

16. Articles of Confederation Document establishing a firm league of friendship among the newly created States. Each state kept its own power, but would come together for defense. Became effective 1781

17. Structure –Governing body was Congress Unicameral Delegates chosen yearly by the state Each state had one vote –No executive or judicial branch – these duties were handled by selected committees. –A member of Congress was chosen each year as the President and presiding officer.

18. Powers –Make war and peace –Send and receive ambassadors –Borrow money –Establish a money system –Build a navy –Raise an army –Settle disputes among states

19. Obligations of the states –Obey the Articles and acts of Congress –Provide funds and troops –Treat citizens fairly and equally –Open travel and trade between states –Promote the general welfare of people

20. Weaknesses –Did not have the power to tax –Did not have the power to regulate trade between the states –Lacked power to make the states obey the Articles or the laws it made –Need the vote of 9 out of the 13 delegates to pass any legislation No amendments were every added to the Articles

21. The Critical Period States began fighting after the War and many openly refused to support the new central government. States went off and did their own things –Taxing goods –Banned trade –Printed their own money

22. Demand began to grow for a stronger government –Meeting between Maryland and Virginia (states) took place at Mount Vernon (Washington’s Home) Went well enough a second meeting was called for all the states would attend 2 nd meeting had a poor turnout 3 rd meeting held in Philadelphia, better turnout

23. Creating the Constitution The 3 rd meeting held in Philadelphia became the Constitutional Convention. Framers –74 delegates –George Washington was elected president of the convention. Deliberations were kept secret

24. VA Plan –3 separate branches – legislative, judicial, and executive –Legislature - bicameral. –Representation would be based on either population or the amount of money it gave for the support of the central government –House membership – popular election –Senate membership – chosen from nominations by state legislatures.

25. –Congressional powers Veto laws in conflict with national laws Use force if necessary to make states obey –Executive branch made up of a National Executive Chosen by Congress –Judicial branch made up of a National Judiciary Chosen by Congress –Both National Executive and Judiciary could veto any acts of Congress –Not supported by smaller states – radical, population issues

26. NJ Plan –Unicameral congress –States equally represented –Limited taxation powers and regulation of trade between states –Federal executive More than one person Chosen by Congress –Federal judiciary – tribunal appointed by the executive

27. The Compromise(s) Connecticut Compromise –Congress composed of two houses –Senate – states represented equally –House – representation based on population –Combined features of VA and NJ Plans –Called Great Compromise 3/5ths Compromise – Slaves status Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

28. Constitution was signed in 1787 by the delegates who supported the final draft. Ratification of the Constitution –Federalists – favored ratification of the Constitution Madison, Hamilton Stressed weaknesses of the Articles

29. Anti-Federalists – opposed ratification of the Constitution –Hancock, Samuel Adams –Objections Ratification process No mention of God States can’t print money Etc… The debate between Federalist and Anti- Federalist gave rise to The Federalist –Collection of 85 essays supporting the Constitution. –There is also a collection of Anti-Federalist essays in response.

30. Constitution was ratified after Virginia voted in 1788. The new government –New York – temporary capital –Election of President – February –Inauguration – March George Washington – 1 st President John Adams – 1 st Vice President