Chapter 2: The Beginnings of American Government

Transcription

1 Chapter 2: The Beginnings of American Government United States Government Fall, 2017

2 Origins of American Political Ideals Colonial Period Where did ideas for government in the colonies come from? Largely, from England Colonists already had ideas of limited and representative government Magna Carta (1215) limited power of the monarch established limited government Petition of Right (1628) limited king s power No taxes without Parliament s consent, no quartering of soldiers, no imprisonment without just cause English Bill of Rights (1689) further outlined limits on government and individual rights Parliament must consent to suspending laws, levying taxes People can petition government, have trial by jury, no cruel and unusual punishment

3 Origins of American Political Ideals, Part II The Colonies Where did ideas for government in the colonies come from? Largely, from England Types of colonies: Royal colonies under direct control of crown, proprietary colonies granted land to a charter holder, and self-governing charter colonies Royal colonies had governors and, eventually, legislatures New political ideas, such as: government is instituted to protect rights, and people may abolish it Colonies had constitutions: Mayflower Compact (1620), Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) Colonies had legislatures, like the House of Burgesses in Virginia Needless to say, also had representative government

4 Towards Independence Why did the 13 Colonies declare independence? Could anything have stopped it? The British tightened control on the Colonies after the French & Indian War Britain passed the Stamp Act in 1765 to increase revenue Colonies resented; in 1773 protested taxes by dumping tea into Boston Harbor Boston Tea Party Britain responded with Coercive, or Intolerable Acts Colonial Unity Albany Plan of Union, 1754: Proposed by Benjamin Franklin, but rejected Stamp Act Congress, 1765: colonies protested taxes on colonies First Continental Congress, 1774: imposed an embargo against British goods

5 Second Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence Second Continental Congress, 1775: Assumed powers of central government organized army and navy, issued money, purchased supplies Congress also drafted Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776 Purpose: justify revolution, express founding principles of United States Embodied political ideas of John Locke government should protect natural rights Three parts: statement of human rights, complaints against King George III, determination to separate September 9, 1776: United States of America Shortly after 1776, most states adopted their own written constitutions Established popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights and liberties, separation of powers and checks and balances

6 The Articles of Confederation

7 The Articles of Confederation Shortly after the Declaration of Independence, the Second Continental Congress presented a plan for government Government under the Articles final version 1777, ratified 1781 Unicameral Congress with one chamber Each state had one vote, but could send representatives Congress could make war, approve treaties, send ambassadors, regulate Indian Affairs Congress could NOT levy taxes, regulate trade, force anyone to obey laws, and laws required 9 out of 13 states to ratify. All 13 had to agree to amend

8 The Articles of Confederation Successes and Weaknesses Shortly after the Declaration of Independence, the Second Continental Congress presented a plan for government Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, but spend much time in Congress Northwest Ordinance organized land in the frontier region Shays Rebellion highlighted weaknesses in the Articles Farmers revolted, protesting foreclosures Americans, including Alexander Hamilton, realized the need for a stronger central government 1786: Annapolis Convention petitioned Congress to convene a constitutional convention in Philadelphia

9 Creating and Ratifying the Constitution The Framers decided to replace the Articles of Confederation, but then debated the structure of the legislature Two plans: Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan: government with three branches, bicameral legislature based on population Congress could veto state law, choose National Executive and National Judiciary with power to veto acts of Congress New Jersey Plan: unicameral Congress with equal representation, power to regulate tax and trade, federal executive, supreme Tribunal What was the difference between these plans? Connecticut Compromise: bicameral legislature one house with equal representation, one based on population

10 More Debates and Compromises What were key compromises at the Constitutional Convention? Hint: one was the Connecticut Compromise Three-Fifths Compromise: should slaves be counted? Generally the south wanted slaves counted and the north did not, and slave population was concentrated in south Solution: count 3/5ths of slaves for representation in Congress Commerce and slave trade: if Congress regulated trade, would Congress charge export duties? Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise: Congress would not ban slave trade before 1808, could not tax exports Fun Fact: three delegates did not sign the Constitution (George Mason, George Read, Elbridge Gerry)

11 The Fight For Ratification Document was ready to sign on September 17, 1787, but was not ratified until 1790 Federalists favoured ratification; this group included many Founding Fathers Anti-Federalists opposed ratification; mostly farmers and rural citizens feared strong central government were worried because it didn t include a Bill of Rights Patrick Henry was a key Anti-Federalist The Federalists made their case in a series of essays known as The Federalist

12 The Fight For Ratification: Federalist 10 What was Madison s solution to the violence of factions? A republic, as a form of government, for two reasons What is the definition of republic? What is the opposite of it? His explanation: Elected officials will better know the interests of the nation The larger the society, the harder for factions to take over society