Ch. 2.1 Our Political Beginnings The US government has its roots in English history Limited Government The concept that government is limited in what it can and cannot do Representative Government Government serves the will of the people Ch. 2.1 Our Political Beginnings Magna Carta 1215 - Nobles forced King John to recognize basic legal protections, limited royal power Petition of Right 1628 - Parliament forces King Charles I to agree to further limit royal power and submit to the law of the land English Bill of Rights 1688 - Further insures individual rights Ch. 2.1 Our Political Beginnings Britain s 13 colonies were established and developed over 125 years Virginia was the first established in 1607 Georgia was the last established in 1733 Each colony was created by a charter or written grant of authority by the King Ch. 2.1 Our Political Beginnings The British colonies fall into three categories Royal Colonies Direct control by the Crown, examples - NH, MA, NY, NJ, VA, NC, SC, GA Proprietary Colonies Land granted to a group or one person, examples - PA, DE, MD Charter Colonies Grants given directly to colonists, examples - CT, RI
Ch. 2.1 Our Political Beginnings Bicameral Legislature Two Chambers - One chamber consists of representatives of the people, the other chamber consists of royal appointees Unicameral Legislature One Chamber - Half of all legislatures in the world are unicameral Ch. 2.2 The Coming of Independence British Colonial Policies Parliament left control of the colonies to the Crown For the first 100 years colonial legislatures were given the ability to govern with consent of the Crown Colonist believed they were loyal British subjects but not represented by Ch. 2.2 The Coming of Independence Ch. 2.2 The Coming of Independence British Tax Attempts Parliament levies a series of taxes on the colonies in an attempt to recoup costs from the French & Indian War. Without considering to consult the colonial legislatures first, King George III and Parliament enact these taxes Colonist violently protest these taxes and ultimately force Britain to back down Colonial Unity The 13 colonies begin to coalesce because of these protests Ben Franklin s Albany Plan of Union is considered the first official step towards uniting the 13 colonies by having an annual meeting of delegates to address future issues with Britain
Ch. 2.2 The Coming of Independence Colonies Take Action Stamp Act Congress (1765) Led the boycott of British goods during the Stamp Act First Continental Congress (1774) Sent King George III a Declaration of Rights and continued to promote tax protests Second Continental Congress (1774-1775) By default became the first official US government Articles of Confederation America s first form of government Approved on Nov. 15, 1777 Ratified on March 1, 1781 All 13 states had to ratify the Articles in order for them to take effect Articles of Confederation (cont) Provided a weak national government No Executive or Judicial Branch Powers given to Congress Make war & peace, borrow money, establish a money system, post offices, a military, settle disputes between states Articles of Confederation (cont) Congress was funded by the States State had to agree to honor the Articles States retained the main responsibility of defending the rights established in the Declaration of Independence
Issues & Weakness of the Articles No power to tax Could not regulate interstate trade 9 out of 13 States had to agree to get anything done All 13 had to agree to amend the Articles Conflict & Disorder Post Revolutionary War America was disorganized and prone to inter-state arguments During the 1780 s states printed their own money, blocked trade with other states, and refused to fund Congress Shay s Rebellion highlighted the volatility of situation A Time for a Stronger National Government Ignoring Congress VA & MD held their own meetings to settle trade disputes at the invitation of George Washington Annapolis 1786 - VA calls for a meeting of all states to discuss a stronger national government... few attend but the meeting does set the foundation for a future meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 The Framers The Constitutional Convention began on Friday, May 25, 1787 12 of 13 States sent delegates to Philadelphia 55 delegates attended the Convention (74 had been selected but 19 could not make it)
The Framers (cont) 39 had been members of the Continental Congress 8 Signed the Declaration of Independence 31 had gone to college The average age was 42 / almost half were in their 30s Notable Non Participants - John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine Organization & Procedures George Washington was elected President of the Convention Simple majority was used to adopt the rules It was agreed that their work would be done in secret Five days into the convention the Framers made the decision to scrap the Articles of Confederation in favor of creating a new government The Virginia Plan Branches of Govt - 3 Bicameral Legislature (both based on population, one elected by the people, one elected by the states) The legislature could regulate interstate trade, strike down laws deemed unconstitutional and use armed forces to enforce laws. The New Jersey Plan Branches of Govt - 3 Unicameral Legislature (every state gets the same number of representatives) The national government could levy taxes and import duties, regulate trade, and state laws would be subordinate to laws passed by the national legislature.
The Connecticut Compromise Compromise between large & small states that created a bicameral legislature. One house based on population (The House of Representatives) and one based on state equality (The Senate) In addition the National Government would be the superior law of the land. The Three-Fifths Compromise Compromise between northern & southern states that counted slaves and other non free persons as only 3/5 of a person for census information The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise In order for the Constitution to include the power to regulate commerce, southern state demanded that slavery be protected for at least 20 years Sources of the Constitution Ancient Greece & Roman governments Blackstone s - Commentaries on the Laws of England Montesquieu s - The Spirit of Laws Rousseau s - Social Contract Locke s - Two Treatise of Ch. 2.5 Ratifying the Constitution The Fight for Ratification Federalists - Supporters of the New Constitution Leaders included James Madison, Alexander Hamilton Anti Federalists - Opponents of the New Constitution Leaders included Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and Sam Adams
Ch. 2.5 Ratifying the Constitution Federalist Position The Articles of Confederation were too weak to work A stronger central government could help address the issues a young nation was facing The world recognizes a United States of America and not 13 different smaller countries Ch. 2.5 Ratifying the Constitution Anti Federalist Position Central Government would be too strong No Bill of Rights No mention of God No ability for states to print money Critical of the entire ratification process Ch. 2.5 Ratifying the Constitution Order of Ratification Delaware - 12/7/1787 Pennsylvania - 12/12/1787 New Jersey - 12/18/1787 Georgia - 1/2/1788 Connecticut - 1/9/1788 Massachusetts - 2/6/1788 Maryland - 4/28/1788 S. Carolina - 5/23/1788 New Hampshire - 6/21/1788 Virginia - 6/25/1788 New York - 7/26/1788 North Carolina - 11/21/1789 Rhode Island - 5/29/1790