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America Political Beginnings
Colonial Period & The Colonial Mindset: Ordered Government Organized government institutions/roles Limited Government Government is NOT all powerful. Representative Government Government served the will of the people The English colonies are going to fall into three of the following caterarogies. Many of their theories are going to come from their experiences and relationship with the British government: Ordered Government: Used what they knew from England. For example these governments would have institution that could also be found in England during this time. Shariff Justice of the Peace Coroner Grand Hury Assessor Township Limited Government The idea that government was not all-powerful Another English Idea ( will see how this idea form through different documents we are looking at during class today) Representative Government The thought that the government served the will of the people
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The Road to Independence
King George take the British throne in 1760 New taxes & more taxes on the colonies Colonists feel as if they are being mistreated Taxation without representation! Protests, organized resistance, etc. (Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party). Before 1760 Parliament took little part in the management of the colonies Left matters of colonial administration almost entirely to the crown. Technology colonist were governed from London but since it was so far away colonist used a measure of self-governing . Legislative assumed lawmaking powers Colonial Unity An early attempt in trying to unify colonist was first tried in 1643 to form a conferdeship Many new England settlement joined in orde r to form an defense against the Native American. Dissolved in 1684 George III Come to the throne in 1760 Begins to rule the colonies firmly new taxes restrictive trade acts Colonist felt they were being treated badly The Stamp Act Congress Stamp Act of 1765 Law required the use of tax stamps on all documents (legal) Taxation without Representation All colonist except for Georgia sent delegates to NY for the stamp act Congress Created the Declaration of rights and Grievances against the policies and send to the king Boycotts against English goods and mob violence Parliament repealed the stamp Act but new laws still came Boston Massacre (March 5th 1770) Organized resistance formed Protests multipled Boston Tea Party (December 16th 1773) The First Continental Congress 1774 Parliament passed the intolerable acts in response to the troubles in Boston Delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia in September 5th 1774 for the first continental congress Discussed the situation Sent the declaration of rights to the crown protesting the colonial politics The Second Continental Congress British government refused to compromise Revolutionary war had began Second continental congress met in Philadelphia in may 10th 1775 All 13 colonies sent representatives Hancock chosen as president Army created and Georgia Washington appointed commander in chief First national Government The second continental congress became the first national government. No continental base Served as the government for 5 years Exercised both the legislative and executive power. Declaration of Independence Written by Benjamin Franklin Roger Sherman John Adams Robert Livingsten Thomas Jefferson Signed July 4th 1776 2/3 of the document talks about what lead to the revolution Proclaimed existence of a new nation
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The Road to Independence
The First Continental Congress – 1774 in Philadelphia 1774 British Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts in response to the troubles in Boston Delegates from every colony except Georgia Discussed the situation Boycott British goods Sets up the Second Continental Congress
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The Road to Independence
The Second Continental Congress – 1775 in Philadelphia British government has refused to compromise Revolutionary War had already begun All 13 colonies sent representatives Army is created and Georgia Washington appointed commander in chief Adopts the Declaration of Independence in 1776
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After Declaring Independence
First State Constitutions Articles of Confederations The First State Constitutions 1776 New Hampshire adopted a constituiom to replace it’s royal charter Drafting state consitutions Wrote their own constitutions setting out Principles Strcutures Process of government Massachusesst constitution was signed in 1780 and is the oldest present-day constitution Common features Popular sovereignty Limited government Civil rights Liberties Separation of powers and check and balances Most powers were given to state legislatures not governors Impact the US constitution The Critical Period First and second Constitutional Congress had no legal base The Articles of Confederation In the second continental congress worked for 17 mouths to create the articles of confederation Approved on Nov 15th 1777 Established a firm league of friendship among states States kept their sovereignty freedom and independence States come together for their common defense and security of their liberties and general welfare. Had to be approved by all states MD last state 1781
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Problems with the Articles of Confederations
Powerless to lay and collect taxes Powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce Couldn’t enforce act of congress No national court system 9/ 13 required to pass laws Shay’s Rebellion is the last straw for the Articles of Confederation Powers of Congress Make war or peace Make treaties Borrow money Build a navy Set up a money system Raise an army by asking the states for troops Settle disputes between states State obligation By signing states agreed to obay the articles Surrender other states fugitives Give full and faith credit to other states Problem Economic and political problems are caused by the articles States argue among them States refused to support the centrol gov. States made arrengement w / foreign gov. Shay rebellion Danila shay –lead an uprising b/c small farmers losing their land because of economic problems
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Need for a Stronger Government
Constitutional Convention (May 1787) Virginia Plan Population-based representation in Congress Bicameral Congress 3 Branches New Jersey Plan Equal representation in Congress Unicameral Congress Consitutional Convention Philidelphia May 25th 1787 74 deledages total Meet in independence hall Worked in secret Decided to start from the beginning James Madison Floor leader Virginia Plan Called for 3 branches Legislative branch – 2 houses lower house – represented bu the population Upper hpuse- chosen by state legistature representation based by population and amount of money they give to that state Congress choose a “national executive and judicial” Executive-general authority to executive the national laws New Jersey Plan One house congress Each state equally represented “federal executive” of more than one person chosen by congress Connecticut Compromise two houses Senate-equally represented House- by population “ the great compromise” 3/5th compromise Over slaves and if they should count as population Slave”no-free ppl” would be counted as 2/3th of a person Also used to fix the amount of money that should be raised by the states Slaves states had to also pay for them Abolished in 1865
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The Great Compromise The Great Compromise leads us to what we have today: Bicameral Congress, 3 Branches of Government. House of Representatives: Population Senate: Equal Representation 3/5th’s Compromise: Slavery. Slaves count as 3/5’s of a person towards population.
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Ratifying the constitution
Federalists Anti- federalists Federalist for the constitution Madisdon and Hamiliton Stressed the weakness of the articles Anti-federalist Patrick Henry, Richard Henry-le, John Hancock and Samual Adams Icresed power of the central government Lack of bill of rights
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“Supreme Law of the Land”
The Constitution “Supreme Law of the Land” Outline of the Constitution Sets out the basic principles & framework of government Preamble Introduction Articles Outline basic organization and powers Relationship w/states Requirement for ratification
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Six Principles Popular Sovereignty Limited Government
Separation of Powers Check and Balances Judicial Review Federalism Popular Sovereignty Gov. must have the consent of the people Pple giver the power through the constitution Limited Government No gov. is all-powerful Can only do things that ppl have given it the power to do Separation of powers Distridution of power between the 3 branches Each branch has a different purpose Congress makes the laws Executive-executes and enforces the laws Judicial-judges the laws Check and Balances Each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks by other branches Judicial Review The power of the courts to determine wether what government does is in accord with what the constitution provides Federalism Division of power among a centrol gov. and severla regional gov.
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Amendments A change to the constitution
Four methods of adding an amendment. 1st proposed by 2/3 in congress, ratified by ¾ of states 2nd proposed by congress, ratified by convention in ¾ of states 3rd proposed by a national convention called by congress at the request of ¾ of the states, ratified by ¾ of state legislatures 4th proposed & ratified by a national convention in ¾ of the states 1st method used for 26 out of the 27 amendments have been added this waqy 3rd never happened 4th the constitution was ratified in the way
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