1. Chapter 2 Notes Origins of Government (pre-Constitution)

2. Chapter 2 Notes Limited Government: Magna Carta (1215) – Protect people from unjust punishment – No levying taxes without popular consent English Bill of Rights (1289) – People have a right to petition the government – Right to a fair, and speedy trial – No cruel and unusual punishment

3. Chapter 2 Notes Representative Government People elect delegates to make laws on their behalf. In England, it was called the House of the Lords (upper house), and the House of the Commons (lower house).

4. Chapter 2 Notes New Political Ideas from people: – Thomas Hobbes = Social contract – John Locke = Natural Rights – Jean-Jacques Rousseau = freedom of speech, religion – Charles-Louis de Montesquieu = Separation of powers.

5. Chapter 2 Notes Why did the colonists declare independence? – French and Indian War – King George III of England and his taxing policies. How did Colonists resist British Rule? – Boston Tea Party – Stamp Act Congress

6. Chapter 2 Notes Leading up to the Declaration of Independence… – 1 st Continental Congress Colonists imposed an embargo on Britain Boycotted British Goods – 2 nd Continental Congress Delegates from the 13 colonies met and assumed powers of a central government. Chose a president (Hancock), issued money, created an Army and Navy…made Washington commander of Army

7. Chapter 2 Notes Declaration of Independence – 1 st government founded on principles of human liberty and consent of the governed. – Consists of 4 parts Preamble –source of natural rights Statement of purpose- what rights that cannot be taken away Grievances against King George leading to Declaration Statement of determination to separate from Great Britain. – Each one of the men who signed this document, signed their death sentence…this was TREASON!

8. Chapter 2 Notes Our 1 st Constitution was… – The Articles of Confederation Problems with it: – Sovereign states, different currencies, did not pay towards national debt, could not regulate trade, no chief executive, WEAK NATIONAL GOVERNMENT!

9. Chapter 2 Notes What compromises led to the Constitution? – Virginia Plan was a plan for government representation based on Population of State. – New Jersey Plan was a plan for government representation based on an equal amount of representatives per state. This did not make everyone happy…so…

10. Chapter 2 Notes This led to the Connecticut Compromise: – Two legislative houses (bicameral) – One based on Population (lower house) called the House of Representatives – One based on equal representation per state (upper house) called the Senate

11. Chapter 2 Notes Other Compromises – 3/5 compromise All enslaved people are counted as 3/5 of a person for population numbers and used for representation purposes in Congress. – Congress could regulate interstate trade and with foreign countries – Slave trade not banned until after 1808.

12. Chapter 2 Notes Federalists Wanted to Ratify the Constitution Favored a strong Central government Merchants mostly Anti-Federalists Did not want to Ratify the Constitution unless they had a Bill of Rights. Feared it took too much power from the states Farmers or laborers

13. Chapter 3 Notes The Constitution Ratified in 1789