1. CHAPTER 2
Origins of Government

2. Constitutional Underpinnings
Timeline of Events:
1754 – Albany Plan
Proposed by: Ben Franklin
1760’s – King George’s taxes
Ex: Stamp Act
led to the Boston Tea Party
1774 – 1st Continental Congress
12/13 Colonies
Main issue:
1775 – Revolutionary War

3. COMING OF INDEPENDENCE
1774 – 1st continental Congress – meeting of America’s greatest minds to discuss the Intolerable Acts
Composed a declaration of Rights
Sent the declaration to the King
Soon, every colony gave support to the Congress

4. COMING OF INDEPENDENCE CON’T
2nd Continental Congress – 1775 – Served as America’s 1st government for 5 years
The Declaration of Independence – transformed America into a United group that was willing to fight for a common purpose.
Written by: Thomas Jefferson
Revolutionary War – 1775 – 1781, ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783

5. COMING OF INDEP. Con’t 1777 – Articles of Confederation
Effective – 1781
BUT……. They were not very good…

6. Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses
One vote per State
No taxation
No power to regulate foreign/interstate trade
No executive
No court system
Amendment only with consent of all States
9/13 Majority to pass laws
Only a “firm league of friendship”

7. Philadelphia Convention
Independence Hall is, by every estimate, the birthplace of the United States. It was within its walls that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. It was here that the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed. That document is the oldest federal constitution in existence and was framed by a convention of delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies. Rhode Island did not send a delegate. George Washington presided over the debate which ran from May to September The draft comprising a preamble and seven Articles, was submitted to all thirteen states and was to take effect when ratified by nine states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire, the ninth state, approved it and it became effective in March 1789.

8. Who? – 55 delegates from 12 States
What? – Meeting
When? – Summer of 1787 (May – Sept)
Where? – Independence Hall, Philadelphia
Why? – To remodel the Articles of Confederation
How? – Completely restructured the government

9. Convention Debates Representation: 2 different plans:
1. The Virginia Plan:
- Three branches
-Bicameral Legislature – based on
population or taxes
-Popular election of House, not Senate
-Interstate Powers for Congress

10. 2. The New Jersey Plan:
- Unicameral Congress
- Equal Representation
- Power to tax
- Trade Regulation
- Executive & Judiciary
The Connecticut Compromise (aka)
The Great Compromise:
- Created 2 houses: Senate with equal rep. and the House with rep. based on pop.

11. More Compromises Slavery and Commerce: 1. The Three-Fifths Compromise:
- 3/5 of “all other persons” will be counted
South
People
North
Property

12. 2. Commerce and Slave Trade:
-Congress is forbidden to tax exports
-No act on slave trade for 20yrs