1. Chapter 2

2. A. Magna Carta- signed by King John in 1215. Limited the King’s powers. Called for right for trial by a jury of peers and no extraordinary taxes unless approved by nobles. Edward I and Edward III always at war (Scotland & Wales, France 100 years war) and needed taxes. Reaffirmed the Magna Carta

3. Developed from the King’s council into a legislature by the late 1300s by King Henry III.

4. 1688 - King James II replaced by William and Mary. Significance was that Parliament stronger than the King. 1689 – English Bill of Rights gave Parliament sole power to raise an Army, impose taxes, and create special courts. It also guaranteed free elections, free speech, a fair jury, and no cruel or unusual punishments.

5. D. Unwritten Constitution  English gvmt. Based on Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights. Common law, based on precedent (a ruling in an earlier case that was similar), provides consistency E. Impacted America as these ideas spread to new colonies, including Virginia Colony. Salutary neglect - the British did not strictly enforce commerce laws with the colonies. G.B. idea, "If no restrictions were placed on the colonies, they would flourish." This unofficial British policy was in effect from 1607-1763.

6. F. The Virginia House of Burgesses 1607 – Jamestown established in Virginia Colony 1619 – House of Burgesses established marking the 1 st representative gvmt. (legislature) in the US. It had 22 representatives to deal with colonial issues.

7. 1620 – Plymouth Colony (Mass.) established. 41 signers established a gvmt. To make “just and equal laws” for the good of the community. This established the 1 st Direct Democracy. Compact is an agreement, or contract, among a group of people.

8.  1) Each of the 13 colonies established own gvmt.  2) Governor either elected by colonists or appointed by the King  3) Each colony had a legislature a. Upper house often appointed by Governor b. Lower house usually elected by colonists 4) Colonies became used to making own decisions including building roads, churches, schools, hospitals and fire departments.

9.  A. Mercantilism -King George III adopted the policy of mercantilism, which encouraged nations to have more exports than imports. He expected to take materials from English colonies at a cheap price. Parliament required American colonies to sell materials (cotton and lumber)to Great Britain at low prices, but expected colonists to buy materials from G.B. at high prices.

10. B. French and Indian War 1763 – Steep taxes put on colonists after costly war to win land in North America. 1765 – Stamp Act – colonists taxed on all newspapers and legal documents. C. “No Taxation Without Representation” -Colonists began to boycott, or not buy, any British goods, including tea due to high taxes placed on them. -Parliament repealed, or cancelled, many taxes. But reserved right to tax in the future - Declaratory Act.

11.  In 1767, Parliament passed a set of laws that came to be know as the Townshend Acts.  These laws levied new taxes on goods imported to the colonies.  The taxed goods included basic items, like glass, tea, and paper.  The colonists needed these items because they did not produce them.  These new laws further angered the colonists and they brought back the boycott.

12.  Tea Act – gave G.B. chance to allow British East India Company to sell tea cheaper, and hurting businesses. Cause of the Boston Tea Party.  Coercive Acts – also known as “Intolerable Acts”, restricted colonists’ rights, including trial by jury. Allowed British soldiers to search, and live in colonist homes.

13. September 5, 1774 -12 colonies (not Georgia) sent delegates to Philadelphia. Lasted 7 weeks. -Sent complaints to King George III -Decided they would wait 1 year to hear what George would say. April 19, 1775 Lexington and Concord – “The Shot Heard Round the World” 1 st Battles of Revolutionary War May 10, 1775 -Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence based on ideas of: 1) Jean-Jacques Rousseau – French philosopher. All people are equal. 2) John Locke – English philosopher. Social contract between people and rulers. Gvmt. Protects lives, property, and rights, but people have to give up some freedoms -Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense persuaded public towards independence. -Independence declared July 4, 1776.

14.  A. The Declaration of Independence left 13 separate states. Each wrote its own constitution with legislatures, mostly bicameral (like English Parliament divided in 2 parts), Governors and Courts. Some had Bill of Rights.  B. Articles of Confederation 1) Established by 2 nd Continental Congress in 1777 2) Set up 1 house legislature. Each state had 1 vote 3) Powers-Congress had power to control Army and deal with foreign affairs. 4) Weaknesses-lacked power to tax, regulate trade, enforce laws. Ratified, approve, by 13 states in 1781. 5) Needed 9/13 states to make laws and all 13 states to amend, change, the Articles.

15.  Some Americans saw the need for a central government that would unify and strengthen the 13 states but many American leaders has been preparing new state constitutions.  In January 1776, New Hampshire became the first colony to organize as a state and create a written plan for government, or constitution.  By 1780 the other former colonies followed suit.

16.  Last of the original 13 states to draw its constitution  It was unusual in three ways  Massachusetts distributed power more evenly among the legislature, the governor’s office and the courts.  The governor and the courts were given the authority to check the legislature  The Massachusetts constitution was not created by the legislature but through a special convention of delegates elected for that purpose.  The final document was then approved by the vote of the state’s citizens.

17.  While each state was eager to govern itself, a state alone could not do certain things.  A state could not raise and maintain a large army.  Americans realized that 13 small,separate forces would be no match for G.B. If they wanted to win, they needed a single, strong army under a central control.  To address these issues the Second Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation (1777)- the first constitution of the United States

18. 1) Confederation- a group of individuals, or in this instance, individual state governments who band together for a common purpose 2) Set up a cooperation, or a “league of friendship” among independent states 3) Set up 1 house legislature (congress). Each state had 1 vote 4) Congress had power to control Army and deal with foreign affairs. These central powers were quite limited. 5) Ratified, approved, by 13 states in 1781. 6) Weaknesses- Congress could not pass a law unless 9 states voted in favor, any attempt to amend (or change) the Articles required a unanimous vote of all 13 states, lacked power to tax, could not regulate trade, had no way to enforce laws.

19.  The United States was able to overcome their weakness and win the Revolutionary War.  Treaty of Paris (signed in1783)- a peace agreement with G.B.  However, America’s struggles were not over

20. 1786 – Massachusetts -The Revolutionary War had caused debts for nation and each state. To pay debts, many states over-taxed the people. -Daniel Shay, a farmer, began a rebellion when the Mass. Gvmt. Threatened to take his farm and his land from him. -This showed the need for a stronger central gvmt. -1787 each state sent a delegate to Philadelphia to change the Articles of Confederation.