1. Why Study Civics?

2. Why study Civics? To know the following:
Your rights and responsibilities
The role of government in everyday lives
Our economic system and decisions you make and others that effect your life
What is our relationship to other nations and world affairs

3. What is Civic life? Politics Government The political process
What government institutions are in our daily lives
The processes by which groups with different interests and opinions reach and enforce decisions

4. What is the foundation of the American Political System?
The Constitution
Explains how power is shared among the different branches of government and on the federal and state level

5. Unit One- Foundations of American Citizenship
Government of the People, by the People, for the People

6. What is Government in America?
Government is the ruling authority in a community
Citizens agree to follow a set of rules and accept government authority
Three levels of government in America:
Federal
State
Local

7. Functions of Government
Provide services, protection that individuals could not supply independently
Keeping order and providing security- laws prevent and settle conflicts, armed forces defend citizens against outside forces
Providing public services- services aimed at keeping public healthy and safe
Guiding the community- formation of public policy to achieve community goals
To collect and spend money
Communication and cooperation with other countries

8. Types of Government
Dictatorship- government control by small group or one person
Democracy- all citizens participate, share in governing and being governed
Direct democracy- all citizens participated, had right and responsibility, and had equal voice
Began in ancient Greece 2500 yrs. ago
Not practical in US because of large, diverse population

9. Democratic Government
US has a representative democracy- citizens choose smaller group to represent them, make laws, govern
Citizens source of government authority
U.S. oldest representative democracy in the world

10. Fundamental Principles of American Democracy
Rule of Law- All people are bound by law
Limited Government- Can only do what people give it power to do
Consent to be Governed- citizens are source of power
Individual Rights- protected by government
Representative Government- people elect leaders to govern, make laws
Free, fair competitive elections
Candidates have right to freely express opinion in public
One person one vote
Legal requirements to vote kept to a minimum
Majority Rule

11. American Diversity and Citizenship

12. Nation of Immigrants US great ethnic, religious diversity
American culture is a blend of many influences
Until mid 1900’s most immigrants from Europe
Latin Americans, Asians account for most newcomers
African slavery was immigration by force
American population grew because of immigration and natural growth
Migration- Population moved from rural areas to cities beginning in late 1800’s (manufacturing jobs)
Manufacturing is being replaced by service economy (jobs that provide a “service” for others)
American population is aging
Hispanics fastest growing ethnic group
By 2050 Hispanics will make up a majority of the population

13. Aliens in America Millions enter America only 675,000 accepted
5-6 million illegal aliens live in U.S.
Many come for economic opportunity
Do not have full political rights, can’t hold government jobs
Can have public services (school, health care), own property and hold jobs

14. Who are America’s citizens?
Two way to become a citizen- birth, naturalization
Birth
born in U.S.
parents are citizens
born on U.S. soil (exception: children of foreign diplomats)
Naturalization
Aliens come to U.S. for work, school, etc. eventually leave
Immigrants come to U.S. to settle
Steps to become a citizen
Sign statement to become citizen
Live in U.S. for at least 5 years
At least 18 and then file paperwork, apply for citizenship
Interview and citizenship exam
Sworn in as citizen
Children become citizens also

15. Privileges of Citizenship
Lost for criminal behavior
Stripped by government
Voluntarily give it up
Once you lose it you can’t regain it

16. What unifies us as Americans?
Bound by common civic and political heritage
Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights (documents)
Ideas of liberty, popular sovereignty, equal justice under the law, majority rule (ideals)
English language creates unity

17. Chapter 2-Roots of American Democracy

18. Influences from English Government
Influenced by English government, settlers brought history of limited government
English Traditions
1215 Magna Carta- placed limits on kings power, right to jury trial, equality under law
Advisors to king eventually became Parliament (a representative, lawmaking body)
1689 English Bill of Rights

19. English Bill of Rights Parliament supreme power
Monarch had to summon Parliament regularly
Parliament had power over money
Monarch could not interfere with Parliament
Guaranteed trial by jury
Principle of habeas corpus- person could not be held in jail unless charged with specific crime

20. Other English Traditions
Common Law
No written laws in early England
Custom had force of law
System based on custom- common law
Precedent
Courts decisions became basis of laws
Judges decided cases, used precedent (ruling from an earlier case that was similar) to make consistent ruling

21. Other English Traditions
Equity Law- system of rules to resolve disputes on fairness
Statutory Law- based on laws made by legislative bodies

22. Bringing English Heritage to America
Representative Government
1600’s, 1700’s English settlers bring political traditions to colonies
Charters- gave colonists right to est. governments, guaranteed colonists rights of Englishmen
1619 House of Burgesses 1st representative assembly in America
1620- Mayflower Compact set up government with majority rule, established direct democracy in America

23. Bringing English Heritage to America
Town Meetings
Tradition of direct democracy
Citizens held meeting to discuss problems and issues
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Americas first written constitution
Called for an assembly of elected leaders to make laws, called for the election of judges and governor

24. Bringing English Heritage to America
Philosophical Influences
Locke’s idea of natural rights- life, liberty, property
The idea of the social contract
Agreement among the people of a society to give up some of their freedom in exchange to have their natural rights protected by a government
Separation of Powers
government was divided into three branches so one group or person could not have too much power
Ideas of the Enlightenment
Human reason and universal laws (i.e. natural rights) applied to human government and society

25. Birth of a Democratic Nation
Colonial Resistance to Rebellion
Separated from Great Britain by an ocean, American developed tradition of self government
By 1733 all 13 colonies had own government
Governor, legislature
Colonies began to make more of their own decisions w/o help from Britain
Mid 1750’s British policies change, took a more active role in lives of American colonists

26. Birth of a Democratic Nation
After French & Indian War, Britain places taxes on colonies to pay for war
Stamp Act
“No taxation without representation!”
Colonies boycotted, led to beginning of end to British rule
Declaratory Act (1766) British could make all decisions for colonies
Townshend Acts (1767) Glass, tea, lead, paper
Colonists boycott
Tea Act of 1773 led to Boston Tea Party
1773 Coercive or Intolerable Acts- restricted legal rights, allowed British soldiers to search homes

27. Birth of a Democratic Nation
Movement Toward Independence
Colonists band together against Intolerable Acts
First Continental Congress
1774, 12 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia
establish political body to represent American interests and challenge British control
Sent a document to King George III demanding rights of colonists be restored, extend boycott

28. Birth of a Democratic Nation
King George responded with force
War begins in Mass.
Colonists question British loyalty
People talk about independence
1775 Second Continental Congress
Common Sense by Thomas Paine published, provided rationale for independence
January 1776 called for complete independence

29. Birth of a Democratic Nation
Congress appoints committee to write a document to announce the colonists independence
Thomas Jefferson main writer
Declaration of Independence –
rights of individuals
purpose of gov’t to protect people’s rights
Gov’t based on people’s consent
People entitled to overthrow gov’t
Abuses of King George III
July 4, 1776 approved by Continental Congress
1782 Americans defeat British

30. Inspiration for Ideas of Declaration of Independence
Inspired by Enlightenment ideas, questioned traditional roles of government and society
John Locke
People had natural rights- life, liberty, property
Gov’t has obligation to people
Best government is limited
Idea of popular sovereignty- freely elected government

31. The Nation’s First Governments
States started to prepare new constitutions to replace their colonial charters
All states established similar governments
Most had a bicameral legislatures
Like Parliament
Membership of the houses selected differently
All states had a governor
Elected by legislature or citizens
Job was to carry out laws
Judges and courts
To interpret laws
Most had a Bill of Rights
Guaranteed basic freedoms and protections

32. The Nation’s First Government
Loosely unified under the Articles of Confederation, first constitution of the US
Why?
States could not do everything individually, needed a national government
Established a system of cooperation among the independent states
How it was set up
Unicameral legislature, one vote per state
Congress controlled the army, dealt with foreign countries – all with limited power
Congress could ask states for money, but could not enforce anything
States afraid to give Congress the power to enforce laws or tax

33. Weaknesses of Articles
Lack of ability to raise money
Congress had no power to collect taxes.
no power to regulate trade
no power to enforce its laws
Lack of Central Power
No single leader or group directed government policy.
No national court system existed.
Rules Too Rigid
Congress could not pass laws without the approval of 9 states.
The Articles could not be changed without the agreement of all 13 states.

34. The Nation’s First Governments
1781 all 13 states had ratified the A of C
US able to work through these weaknesses and win the Revolutionary War
After the war U.S. had a large debt
Borrowed money to fund war
States had a large debt
States taxed goods from other states and countries to raise money
States taxed citizens
Congress could do nothing about this

35. The Nation’s First Governments
1786 & 1787 – riots broke out b/c people afraid for their safety and property
Shays Rebellion
Farmer in debt due to heavy taxes
Courts wanted to take farm
Felt state should not be able to take or tax his farm
Led an armed uprising of farmers
Quick rebellion; yet noticed by the country
Demonstrated weakness of articles, no federal or central power to deal with crisis
1787 – delegates sent again to Philadelphia to revise the A of C