Chapter 2 Review

Government

What ARE some influences on the American form of government?

Ancient Greece democracyRome a code of lawsEnlightenment philosophersEngland most settlers were from England—they brought their way of government

Limited governmentGovernment should NOT be all-powerful.

We elect officials to do the will of the people.

(They represent us.)

Representative government

English documents that influenced our government

• Magna Carta• Petition of Right• English Bill of Rights• Enlightenment writings

The first written constitution in AmericaThe Mayflower Compact• Written by the Pilgrims

Massachusetts has the oldest Constitution still in effect.

The first example of self-government in the coloniesThe Virginia House of Burgesses

Every colony had its own constitution and legislature before 1776

Separation of POW ERS

• Executive branch is separate from legislative branch.

The judicial branch is separate too.

French and Indian WarThis event left England with high debt, and they began to tax the colonies.

“No taxation without representation!”

Worth mentioning because . . . ?

Ben Franklin

He proposed a congress to meet and talk about the French and Indian problem.

It didn’t succeed, but it was an important step toward unity.

Albany Plan of Union

1st organized meeting to protest British policy

• 9 out of 13 colonies came

They met to protest the Stamp Act

Stamp Act Congress

First Continental Congress

• 12 colonies met (Georgia stayed home)

• Talked about independence a boycott

Thomas Paine

He said it was only -- -- that the colonies should form their own union.

2nd Continental Congress• President John Hancock*

• Named George Washington as commander-in-chief of the army

• Our 1st (unofficial) government

*Legend says that he wrote so large so that King George could read it without his glasses!

July 4, 1776

Author: Thomas Jefferson

We hold these truths . . .

to be self-evident

That . . . all men are created equal

And are . . . Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

Among these right are . . . Life,

Liberty,and the pursuit of Happiness

BliPS: what state constitutions had in common

• Bill of Rights • Limited government• i

• Popular Sovereignty• Separation of Powers

USA’s first official government:

The Articles of Confederation

Strengths:CUB

Could raise an army & navyUnited the StatesBorrow money

Weaknesses:

• 1 vote per state• No . . .

Tax Executive branch

National court• All states needed for amendments

Shay’s

Rebellion

Angry Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shays led a rebellion because they were upset at farm foreclosures and other economic problems.

The Rebellion showed that the national government could not raise an army for defense. It was weak.

Constitutional Convention

• Met in Philadelphia• All the states but Rhode Island were there• The Framers were 55 well-educated men; they are also

known as our “Founding Fathers.”• George Washington was elected to preside.

• James Madison is called the Father of the Constitution because he was the author of the basic plan.

1 7 8 7

Whatever happened to the

Articles of Confederation???

They trashed it and started from scratch.

The Framers intended to REVISE it, but instead . . .

?First Question: representation

Large states Small states

The Plans*the most important question: How should the states be represented?

Virginia Plan• Proposed by James Madison

• A bicameral legislature

• Representation based on population

• 3 branches of government

New Jersey Plan• Proposed by William

Paterson• A unicameral (one house)

• Equal representation

• A group of executives to be chosen by Congress. The executive would appoint Judiciary.

The Great Compromise*

Senate• Equal representation

House of Representatives• Representation by

Population

*proposed by Roger Sherman

3/5 Compromise• slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person

Slave Trade and Commerce Compromise• Congress had the power to control trade• But Congress could not interfere with slave trade for 20 years

Second Question: slavery

“Constitution Day”

As he went to sign the Constitution, Ben Franklin said the sun painted on the back of George Washington’s chair was a rising, not a setting sun.

September 17, 1787

Ratification*

*ratification: to approve (opposite of veto)

1. How much power should the national government have?2. What about a Bill of Rights?

1. The Federalists stressed the weakness of the Articles; they wanted a stronger NATIONAL government.

Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote The Federalist papers to support the Constitution.

2. The Anti-federalists insisted on a BILL of RIGHTS.

Key Questions:

The United States of America

• Our first capital: New York City

Our first president: George Washington