Origins of American Government

Chapter 2 Origins of American GovernmentBasic Concepts of GovernmentOrdered GovernmentA need for regulation of their relationships. Created local governments.Many still exist today: offices of sheriffs, coroner, justice of the peace.Limited GovernmentGovernment is not all powerful.Government is restricted, and each individual has certain rights.

Representative GovernmentThe idea that government should serve the right of the people.People should have a voice.

Landmark English DocumentsMagna CartaBarons who wrote this document were seeking protection against heavy-handed and arbitrary acts by the king.The Petition of RightsSome monarchs ignored the Magna Carta for 400 years.Limited, again the Kings rights. The king could no longer imprison or otherwise punish any person but by lawful judgment by their peers.The English Bill of RightsDrawn up by William and Mary of Orange.Wrote it to prevent the abuse of power.Prohibited a standing army during peacetime.

The English ColoniesEach colony was established separately.Each colony was established through a charter.Written grant of authority from the King.Royal Colonies:Were subject to the direct control of the crown.They were eight: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia.

Picture of the 13 Colonies: 1775

The Coming of IndependenceBritains Colonial PoliciesThe 13 Colonies had been separately established, were separately controlled under the king.Parliament took little part in the management of the colonies.Things changed when George III came to the throne. Britain began to deal more firmly with the colonists.New taxes were imposed.Colonists refused.Britain pushed ahead despite the resentmentsColonists: To submit or to revolt.

Growing Colonial UnityThe Albany Plan1754: Colonists met to discuss the problems of colonial trade.Also the danger of attacks by the French and their Native American Allies.The Stamp Act Congress:1760: Britains harsh tax policies fanned resentment in the colonies.Protests multiplied.Boston Tea Party; December 16, 1773

The First Continental CongressSpring of 1774Met because of the Intolerable Acts.September 5, 1774Delegates from every colony metFor two months they met to discuss the worsening situation.Delegates urged each of the colonies to refuse all trade with England.Meeting adjourned October 26, with a call for a second congress to be convened.

The Second Continental CongressBritish government continued to refuse to compromise.Second meeting met in Philadelphia May 10, 1775.The Revolution had begun.Battle of Lexington and Concord had been fought.Representatives: John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin were the newcomers.

How to write a document that would speak of the American spirit?

The Declaration is considered to be a statement of:*The spirit of the revolution*United the American people as a whole*Introduced a new nation born of a new people*Stated that they were no longer Englishmen, but Americans

Three Parts of the Declaration of IndependencePart 1: Preamble and IntroductionSeparation is Nature: "it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them to another.John Locke Ideas:We hold these truths to be self evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Governments power comes from the permission of the people:"That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving there just powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever and Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it." Part 2: List of 27 Complains against the King and othersHe has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our People.

He has erected a Multitude of New Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has made Judges dependent on his will alone, for the Tenure of their offices and the Amount and Payment of their Salaries.

For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World.

For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us.

For imposing Taxes on us without our consent.

For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury.

Part 3: Formal Declaration of IndependencePower of an Independent Government:Ability to wage war, agree to peace, make alliances, set up economic system and pass laws.

We are Free and Independent:"That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved;" QuestionsIn what way can American voters bring about change in their government?Which offense do you think was the worst? Why?Why was this action so intolerable?Why did colonist object to this act?How do persons today give consent to taxation?Why did the colonists at first attempt to solve the dispute and remain loyal?What other powers are held by an independent government?

14Declaration of IndependenceCongress named a committee of five to prepare a proclamation of independence.Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson.Adopted the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776.Much of the document speaks of the repeated injuries that led the colonists to revolt.

The First State ConstitutionsCommon Features of State Constitutions:Popular SovereigntyLimited GovernmentCivil Rights and LibertiesSeparation of Powers and Checks and Balances

The Critical PeriodThe Articles of ConfederationGovernmental StructureNo Executive or judicial branch.Functions handled by committees of Congress.Powers of CongressWould make war and peaceMake treatiesSettle disputes among the States.State ObligationsPledge to obey the Articles and acts of the Congress.WeaknessesNo power to taxNo power to regulate tradeLacked power to make the States obey the Articles.

The Critical Period, the 1780sRevolutionary War ended October 19, 1781.Signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783.Things in the colonies went into chaos.Violence broke out because of the economic chaos.1786- Daniel ShayLocal Farmer lost his land and possessions for lack of payment on taxes and other debtsFall- Led an uprising that forced the Supreme Court to close.State forces moved in to quiet the rebellion.

A Need for a Stronger GovernmentDemand grew stronger for a more effective national government.The movement for change began to take concrete form in 1785.Mount VernonThe Virginia General assembly called for a joint meeting of all of the states to recommend a federal plan for regulating commerce.AnnapolisSeptember 11, 1786- 5/13 states attended.February 1787- 7/13 states attendedThen on February 21, the Congress called upon the States to send delegates to Philadelphia.

Creating the Constitution

The FramersGeorge WashingtonJames MadisonEdmund RandolphGeorge Mason Benjamin FranklinGouverneur MorrisRobert MorrisJames WilsonAlexander HamiltonWilliam PatersonElbridge GerryRufus KingLuther MartinOliver EllsworthRoger ShermanJohn DickinsonJohn RutledgeCharles PinckneyAverage Age- 42Half were in there 30sBenjamin Franklin- 81 years old

Organization and ProcedureFramers met in Independence Hall.Elected George Washington president of the convention.Rules of the Convention:One person from each state vote on everything.Majority of States would need to be there to conduct business.May 30thAdopted the proposal to write a new Constitution.

The Virginia PlanCalled for a new government.3 separate branchesLegislature would be bicameral.This plan set the agenda for much of the conventions work.Smaller states found it too radicalSoon would find counter proposals.

The New Jersey PlanWould retain a unicameral CongressEach state would be equally representedHow should each state be represented.By population or by popularity?Finally disputes were settled by one of the key compromises the Framers were to make as they built the Constitution.

CompromisesThe Connecticut CompromiseCongress composed of two houses.Senate- State reps are equalHouse- State reps are by populationThe 3/5s CompromiseAll free persons should be counted, and so too should 3/5s of all other persons.The Commerce and Slave Trade CompromiseCongress had to have the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade.Congress was forbidden the power to act on the slave for a period of 20 years.Congress forbidden to export of goods from any State.A Bundle of CompromisesEach state had their own issues.Disputes occurred, they were settled within days or maybe hours.

Sources of the ConstitutionFramers were well educatedFamiliar with the governments of Rome and Greece.Knew political writings.Framers drew on their own experiences.Some provisions were drawn from the several State Constitutions.

The Convention Completes its WorkFor several weeks through the hot Philadelphia summer, delegates took up resolution after resolution.September 8- put the Constitution in its final form.September 17- the convention approved its work and 39 names were placed on the finished document.

Ratifying the ConstitutionThe Fight for RatificationFederalists and Anti FederalistsFederalists stressed the weaknesses of the ArticlesAnti Federalists- Attacked nearly every part of the new documentNine States RatifyNeeded nine states for the Constitution to be passed.Virginias RatificationWashingtons approval and ratification proved vital.New York, The Last Key StateWriting the Federalist papers was the key to getting the support and the votes they needed.Inaugurating the GovernmentNew Congress convened on March 4, 1789April 6- It founded That George Washington had been elected President, and John Adams was elected Vice President.April 30- Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States.