1. Origins of American Government
Chapter 2
Origins of American Government

2. Our Political Beginnings
When Europeans first came to the Americas they brought many ideas from their homeland
3 ideas they brought
Ordered Government
Regulate their relationships with one another
Limited Government
Government is restricted in what is may do, and each individual has certain rights that government cannot take away
Representative Government
Government should serve the will of the people

3. Our Political Beginnings
These 3 notions trace back from landmark documents in English history
The Magna Carta 1) 2)
The Petition of Right
The English Bill of Rights

4. Our Political Beginnings
Our nation has built on, changed, and added to those ideas but much of the American government and today is based on early English ideas
13 English Colonies
Established separately over a span of some 125 yrs

5. Royal Colonies
Proprietary Colonies
Charter Colonies

6. Our Political Beginning
3 different kinds of colonies: royal, proprietary, and charter
Royal: colonies were subject to the direct control of the Crown
King named a governor and a council
Governors council – upper house of the colonial legislature
Lower house – legislature elected by property owners who could vote
( Bicameral – two houses)

7. Our Political Beginnings
Proprietary: colony organized by a proprietor
A person to whom the King had made a grant of land
Governor of colony appointed by proprietor
Unicameral (one house) – Pennsylvania

8. Our Political Beginnings
Charter: written grant of authority from the King
Bicameral legislature
These colonies were quite free from the rule of the Crown
Governors were elected each year by the white, male property owners in each colony

9. The Coming of Independence
All 13 colonies were established separately and controlled separately under the king
In large the colonies were self-governed
Colonist ignored many policies by the Crown until necessary
1760 when a new king took the throne stricter dealings with the colonies came into order
Colonist considered themselves British subjects loyal to the Crown but refused to accept Parliament claims that it had a right to control their local affairs
Colonist would have to decide whether to submit or revolt against the Crowns rule

10. The Coming of Independence
If the colonies were to revolt they would have to learn to work together to succeed
They had early attempts
New England Confederation – eventually dissolved after colonies didn’t have as much tension from native Americans
The Albany Plan
Turned down by colonies and the Crown

11. The Coming of Independence
The Stamp Act Congress
New taxes by Britain were widely denounced
Delegate from 4 colonies went to the Stamp Act Congress to protest
First time a significant number of colonies had joined to oppose the British government
New laws were passed after Stamp Act was repealed to make ties with the colonies closer to Britain
Colonists resisted by mobs and boycotts

12. The Coming of Independence
First Continental Congress – September 1774
New laws from Britain to punish colonists
Delegates from all colonies agreed on a meeting to discuss the worsening situation and debated plans for action
They sent a Declaration of Rights protesting Britain's policies and encouraged colonies to boycott British goods until their regulations were repealed.

13. The Coming of Independence
Second Continental Congress – May 1775
British would continue to refuse to compromise
Delegates agree to meet again
Revolution had already began against Britain
Each colony sent a representative
Second Continental Congress became nation’s first national government and served for 5 years
Declaration of Independence and Article of Confederation

14. The Coming of Independence
After Deceleration and the Articles were adopted, states created their own constitutions
Conventions were commonly used to draft and then adopt these new documents
States constitutions differed in detail but shared many similarities
Popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights and liberties, and separation of powers and checks and balances

15. The Critical Period
1st and 2nd Continental Congresses had no legal base
The Article of Confederation was established to make “a firm league of friendship” between states
It was simple, created a unicameral legislature
Governmental structure
Congress was the sole body, delegates chosen yearly by the states, each state had one vote

16. The Critical Period
The Powers of Congress - powers were given to the Congress
State Obligations – states pledged to obey Articles and acts of Congress
Weaknesses – important powers were missing

17. The Critical Period The 1780s
After Revolutionary War Peace at home was brought new nation problems into focus problems of economic and political situations
States began arguing amongst one another because they had no strong government to follow
After rebellions states came to agree that new government was needed

18. Creating the Constitution
Congressional Convention started on Friday May 25, in Philadelphia at Independence Hall
55 delegates from 12 states attended the Convention
Known as Framers of the Constitution
Many had served in Revolution, Continental Congress or Congress of the Confederation

19. Organization and Procedure
Delegates agreed on keeping deliberation secret
Conventions Journal – official record
Most work was on the floor of the convention but some in matters of committees
Delegates agreed the purpose of the convention was to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new constitution

20. Decisions 2 plans would be introduced to create the Constitution
The Virginia Plan
Called for 3 separate branches
Legislature – Congress would be bicameral
Upper House – Senate
Lower House – House of Representatives
Congress given all powers it held under Articles
Congress would choose a “National Executive” and “National Judiciary” – two branches form a “Council of revision” – could veto acts passed by Congress but could be overridden by the two houses.
State officers take oath to support Union and guaranteed a republican form of government
Revised Articles to create new constitution

21. Decisions The New Jersey Plan
Retained unicameral Congress of the Confederation
Powers Congress already had, add limited powers to tax and regulate trade between states
“federal executive” of more than one person
All executives chosen by Congress
“federal judiciary” be composed of a single “supreme Tribunal” appointed by the executive

22. Compromises Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)
Congress has 2 houses
Senate – states represented equally
House – states represented based upon its population
Dispute was resolved on how states would be represented in Congress making smaller states feel more stable

23. Compromises The Three-Fifths Compromise
All “free Persons” should be counted, and so, too, should “three-fifths of all other persons”
Southerners would be able to count their slaves but have to pay to do so
This compromise would disappear from the Constitution after the adoption of the 13th Amendment

24. Compromises The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress was forbidden the power to tax the export of goods from any State
Also no power to act on slave trade for 20 years

25. Sources of the Constitution
Delegates came from 12 different states all with their own ideas and systems already set in place in their own states
Farmers drew on their own experiences
Constitution was built on well educated men and documents from past rule and states
September 17, 1787 the convention approved the work and 39 names were placed on the finished document

26. Ratifying the Constitution
Constitution was printed and circulated through the States and debated
Federalists – favored ratification – stressed weakness of Articles, argued many problems could be solved by a new form of government
Anti-Federalists – opposed it – attacked nearly every part of document, increased powers of the central government, lack of bill of rights

27. Ratifying the Constitution
New York last to ratify
Inaugurating the Government
September 13, 1788
New York as temporary capital
1st Wed in January, States choose presidential electors
1st Wed in February, electors would vote
1st Wed in March inauguration of the new government
1st President – George Washington and VP – John Adams