Ch 2 Government

Origins of American Government

Section 1 – The Colonial Period

STGs:1. What events led the American colonists to

believe that they would have a representative government?

2. In what ways were the American colonies democratic?

3. In what ways were they NOT democratic?

The Colonies1600s - 1774

1. How many colonies were there?2. Where were the colonists from? (list nations)3. Out of all of the Home Countries, which were

the Less Autocratic/More Democratic?4. Where were MOST of the colonists from?5. Which country became the Ruler of the

American colonies?

Evolution of American Colonies

Why Colonists expected Representative Government under British rule.

Pgs 35-38

1. British citizens demanded limited government in 1215: _________ ________ 2. Petition of ____ (1628): limited king’s power

1. Required Parliament’s consent to raise taxes2. Just Cause – Can’t imprison a person w/o a reason3. No Martial Law – unless during war4. Must have Homeowner’s permission to house troops

3. English Bill of _____ (1688): Government by Constitution, Parliament rules along with Monarch.

4. Representative Government – English Parliament had played an increasing role in governing England since 1628.

5. Two Treatises of Government, John Locke (1690). Locke believed people were born with “NATURAL RIGHTS” and agreed to submit to rule and in return the ruler was supposed to protect those rights. Regarded as “The Textbook of the American Revolution”

Colonial Government1600s – 1750s

Common Practices1. Written constitutions – protecting basic rights & limited

power of gov’t1. 1620:2. 1629:3. 1639:

2. Elected Legislature1. 1st legislature in America 1619 -

3. Separation of Powers – 1. Governor (King’s agent)2. Colonial Legislature3. Colonial Courts

Section 2 Uniting for Independence

• STGs:1. What factors caused the British to allow the

colonists to operate with little interference between 1607 and 1763?

2. Why were the colonists and the British unable to compromise and settle their differences?

What factors caused the British to allow the colonists to operate with little

interference between 1607 and 1763?• Colonies were a source of raw materials to

England. As long as that happened, Britain had been content.

• Geography: over 3,000 miles apart – it took over 2 months to relay orders.

• Britain needed the good will of the colonists in order to keep them from swearing allegiance to France (in present-day Canada).

Why did Britain Tighten Control?

1. The French & Indian War: 1754-17631. Threatened Britain’s hold on colonies – made them want to

tighten control.2. The expense of the war – Britain wanted the American

colonists to pay more of the expense.3. At the end of the war, American colonists no longer needed

British protection.

2. King George III Ascended to the Throne – 17601. He had different ideas about governing colonies that his

predecessors.2. His mental condition and policies towards the colonies made

the American colonists question his “right” to rule.

Tightening Control

1. Increased taxes (in $ amount and on items previously not taxed)– To help pay the war debt– Stamp Act 1765: taxed on legal documents,

pamphlets, newspapers, dice and playing cards.

2. Restricted Trade: – Colony could trade ONLY with Britain.– Hurts colonists economically. Couldn’t sell cotton

to other nations even though the price was higher.

Reactions

1. Political protests & boycotts of British goods.1. Led Britain to repeal the Stamp Act of 1765. Britain

passed other tax laws to replace it. 1. Taxed tea.

1. Boston Tea Party 1773 – 1. Colonists dressed as Mohawks 2. Dumped tea in harbor

2. Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts – passed by Britain1. Banned protests2. Closed Boston Harbor3. Massachusetts not allowed to govern itself

Result

1. Escalated tensions between Britain & colonists

1. Made it harder for either side to back down

2. Unified the Colonists 1. Created a common purpose & identity2. Began to think of themselves as Americans

Colonial Leadership

• Stamp Act Congress _________ (year)– Nine colonies met in New York– Sent petition to King arguing only colonial

legislatures had power to tax colonies• Committees of Correspondence– Began in _________ (year)– 1st committee - Samuel Adams in Boston– Over 80 committees throughout colonies– Urged resistance against Britain

First Continental Congress

– Formed when petition to King George III fell on deaf ears

– September 5, 1774– Embargo of British goods

• Britain sent more troops/tightened control• “Shot Heard Around the World”– Considered 1st battle of the Revolutionary War– April 19, 1775– Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts– Clash between Redcoats and Colonists

Moving Towards Independence

• Second Continental Congress – Met May __________– Philadelphia, _______________________– Congress assumed powers of Central Gov’t• John _____________, President of this Congress• _________ ___________________, Commander of the

Continental Army

– Generated support for their cause

Moving Towards Independence

• Common Sense written by _________ ________– Encouraged independence– Characterized George III as “inveterate enemy to

liberty”• Samuel Adams– “Is not America already independent? Why not then

declare it?”• Richard Henry Lee– Introduced a motion to declare independence

The Declaration of Independence

Pgs 770-773This IS NOT THE CONSTITUTION.1. Who drafted it? (NOT the same as an author. It had

many authors.)2. When was it signed?3. Whose was the first signature?4. What are the Three Parts?

1. 2. 3.

STATE Constitutions

• States had STARTED writing their STATE Constitutions around May __________

• Most had a bill of rights of citizens• Source of government’s power comes from

the people• _____________ government – government

can do only what the people (as a majority) approve

Section 3Articles of Confederation

• The FIRST CONSTITUTION of the United States• 1771 – 1788• No Executive Branch (president)• No Judicial Branch• ONLY a ______________BRANCH (CONGRESS)

Weaknesses

1. Could not ______________________________

2. No power to ____________________________

3. Could not force __________________________

4. Process to ratify laws:1. Difficult to get the required # of states’ delegates together

all at one time = hard to pass new laws2. One small state could block legislation

Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation

1. Fair policy of statehood:1. Process for territories to become new states instead of being

annexed by an existing state2. New states were equal to older states in terms of

representation and rights.

2. Peace treaty with _____________ __________________.3. Established precedent for a ________________ (advisers).4. “Full Faith and Credit”

1. States had to honor other states legal acts1. If you married in New York, then Pennsylvania had to recognize that.2. Can’t treat another state’s people differently than your own state’s

people. Ex: Sales Tax same for all, not lower for your state’s citizens.

The Need for Stronger Government

1. _______________ Disputes – between states2. States imposing ________________ on

neighboring states’ imports3. No way to raise taxes – unpaid debts

a. owed $ to other nationsb. Revolutionary War soldiers still unpaid

4. Shay’s ______________________1. Former Revolutionary War soldier +1200 men2. Put down by Massachusetts militia bc U.S. government

had no army (no way to raise $)

The Annapolis Convention

• 1786, Annapolis, MD• All delegates invited to attend to discuss:– Border disputes– Difference between states’ currencies– Inability to put down a revolt– Only 5 states sent delegates

• Successful because attendees later convinced the Congress of the Articles of Confederation to revise the articles.

Section 4

• STGs: Explain/describe1. How the Connecticut Compromise settled the

MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE at the Constitutional Convention

2. Key arguments of the:1. Federalists2. AntiFederalists

What did the delegates agree that they wanted to accomplish?

1. Needed to abandon the old Articles, write new Constitution

2. Representative Government with power of government limited (Limited Gov’t)

3. Divide & Balance Powers. Create:1. ________________________ Branch2. _______________________ Branch3. _____________________________Branch

4. Limit the power of States to coin money or to interfere with a creditor’s rights

5. Strengthen the National Government

Plans & CompromisesPlan Idea Pros Cons

Virginia Plan(by James Madison-Father of the Constitution)

New Jersey Plan

Plans & CompromisesPgs 55-56

Connecticut Compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise

Slavery Other

Representation President:

Term:

Franklin’s Comment upon finalizing the Constitution

• “ “

• What does that mean?

Ratifying the Constitution

• Debate over Ratification– 1787 – 1790

• 9 out of the 13 states HAD TO SIGN IT FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT

• The 9th state (New Hampshire) ratified it– June 21, 1788

• Last state signed it - 1790

Federalists vs AntiFederalistsFederalist Anti-Federalist

Person(s)

Wanted:

Why did they want that?

Result/Note:

The End