Creating a Lasting GovernmentUnit Two

Chapter 4: America’s Political Heritage

The Colonial Experience

What would you do?

Section 1

New England Colonies

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, & New Hampshire

Focused on a large shipping industryThe population was the most alike

Mid-Atlantic Colonies

Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, & New JerseyFocused on farmingWere a diverse population

Southern Colonies

Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, & Georgia

Established large plantationsQuickly became a mixed population—including

wealthy whites and black slaves

The Early Days

American colonies had a lot of controlElected burgesses to represent them in a

legislatureAppointed colonial governors represented EnglandHaving representation in government was rare at

the time—only common in England and the American colonies

Roots of Freedom

Religious Freedom: included the chance to worship in any Christian church—not really freedom, but better than nothingFreedom of the Press: an early newspaper publisher, John Peter Zenger, was jailed for publishing complaints against the British government; he was found not guilty

Roots of American Government

Section 2

The Magna Carta

Signed by King John in 1215Limited the monarchy’s power for the

first timeGuaranteed rights for British noblesBritish Parliament was created by

the late 1200sThe British Bill of Rights was passed

in 1689

Moving Toward Nationhood

Section 3

Major Problems

The colonists had no representation in Parliament They could only trade with England Colonists were overtaxed to pay for the French and

Indian war (Taxation Without Representation) First Continental Congress (1774): listed their gripes

about the king Second Continental Congress (1775): people were

already fighting So, they created the Committee of Five

The Committee of Five

Members:John AdamsRoger ShermanBen FranklinRobert LivingstonThomas Jefferson

Drafted the Declaration of Independence

Ratified July 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence

The Introduction: gives the reasons why the colonies wanted to be independent

The Preamble: explains their views about freedom and self rule

The First Section of the Body: states the abuses of King George

The Second Section of the Body: explains how the Colonists appealed in vain to the king

The Conclusion: said the Colonies had the right to be free from the tyrant

Thom

as Paine

•From Common Sense, 1776•“To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more to explain it in, will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness—There was a time when it was proper, and there is a proper time for it to cease…England to Europe, America to itself.”

Read the Declaration of Independence (pages 106 – 109)Why did the Colonists feel the need to separate from

Great Britain?List the unalienable rights that cannot be taken away.Just how bad was the king of England? What had he

done? List at least five issues.What right did the Colonists feel was priceless?Who else have the Colonists turned to for help?

Organizing the New Government

Step One: write State ConstitutionsLimited the governors’ termsMade the Legislative Branches the most

powerfulStep Two: create their bond—The Articles of

ConfederationCreated a National Legislature—CongressEach state would have one vote

Step Three: kick some British butt

Articles of Confederation: a step toward the Constitution

Written by the Continental CongressA national code to provide the Colonies with a united

government as they fought for their independence It took 3½ years for all states to ratifyCreated a “League of Friendship” among the states

rather than a centralized national government

Problems Post-WarTons of war debtNo one to trade withPeople started revolting

Daniel Shays led a number of farmers to revolt over high land taxes led to lots of lost farms in Massachusetts (Shays Rebellion)

Chapter 5: Creating the Constitution

The Constitutional ConventionSection 1

What they agreed on…

Create three separate branches of government: judicial, legislative, and executive

Separate power between the federal and state governments

The rest was left to much disagreement and discussion

The Constitutional ConventionWhen? Summer 1787Where? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Now known as Independence Hall

Getting Started

Washington was selected the presiding officer

What happened in the state house, stayed in the state house

Every state had one voteMet from 10AM to 4PM, six days a week; no

break for meals

The Virginia Plan

Proposed by James Madison of VirginiaCalled for a strong national governmentCalled for three branches of government

Legislative—with two houses whose membership would be based on each state’s population

Judicial Executive

The New Jersey Plan

Proposed by William Paterson of New JerseyCalled for a one-house legislature

All states would have an equal number of votes Appealed to the smaller states

The Compromise

Under the Articles of Confederation

Under the Constitution

A league of friendship A national government

A one-house legislature A two-house legislature

No executive or judicial branches

Established executive and judicial branches

States can tax Congress can also tax

States can coin money Only the federal government can coin money

No trade regulations The federal government regulates trade

States had most power Shared power

First Elections

Most felt the average Americans wouldn’t be able to make good decisions

White, land-owning males would elect members of the House

State legislatures would elect SenatorsThe Electoral College would elect the President

Each state could decide how their electoral college representatives would be selected

SigningSeptember 17, 1787By 39 delegates

The Struggle for Ratification

Section 2

Only those states that ratified (approved) the Constitution would be part of the new nation

The Federalists The Anti-Federalists

Controversy

Supported the Constitution

Felt a strong, central government was necessary

Opposed the Constitution

Didn’t like Congress’ ability to make “necessary and proper” laws

Wanted a Bill of Rights

Federalists Anti-Federalists

The Argument Goes to Paper

Included James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

Wrote The Federalist essays for publication in newspapers

Included Patrick Henry

He addressed the entire Virginia ratifying convention

The Great DebateEveryone involved was a founding father—they

were all pretty passionate about the new nationThere was a concern between the switch from a

confederation to a federationAnti-Federalists began publishing essays in various

newspapers under a variety of pseudonymsFederalist Papers: a collection of 85 essays that

were printed in four separate New York newspapers as a response to the Anti-Federalists

Review the Debate

The Controversyover Ratification

The Domino Theory

Hundreds of Years Apart…

The Supreme Law of the Land

Section 3

Goals of the New GovernmentTo form a more perfect union—unite the

separate statesTo establish justice—have a fair legal systemTo insure domestic tranquility—let’s all get alongTo provide for the common defense—safety first

To promote the general welfare—conditions that benefit all Americans

To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity—freedom for what we want to do and how we want to live (without hurting others!)

A Limited GovernmentFederalism: state and nation have powerConcurrent: some powers are shared

Taxing, courtsReserved: some powers aren’t given to

either Schools, police

Separation of PowerChecks and Balances