Foundations of Government

I. Change in British Policy Toward American Colonies

A. Introduced new taxes on colonists to pay debt from Seven Years War (1756 – 1763)

B. Quartering Act - made colonists shelter troops in their homes

C. Proclamation of 1763 – colonists couldn’t settle on Indian lands west of Appalachian Mountains

D. Writs of assistance – authorized officials to search and seize colonists’ property

E. Colonists charged w/crimes were sent to England for delayed trials

II. Declaration of Independence

A. Background Information1. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson2. Passed on July 4, 17763. Rejected the sovereignty – authority – of

Britain4. Purpose: To justify their actions to other

nations

B. Main Ideas1. People have natural, “unalienable” rights2. Humans are politically equal3. A compact between colonists and Britain

once existed by consent of the people4. Britain violated that compact giving colonists

the right to rebel

III. Articles of Confederation

A. Drafted between 1776 – 1780B. Major concerns addressed

1. Fear of a strong central government

2. Fear of domination by some states

C. Failure of the Articles1. Gave Congress no power to

a. Taxb. Force states to honor treaties w/foreign

countriesc. Make laws regulating interstate traded. Make laws directly regulating citizen

behavior

2. Shay’s Rebellion a. A group of farmers rebelled

against the governmentb. Showed need for more powerful

government

IV. Drafting the Constitution

A.Delegates 12 colonies met in Philadelphia to draft a new Constitution• Rhode Island didn’t attend

B.Conflicting ideas:1. Virginia Plan:

a. Congress would have 2 houses based on proportional representation: states w/larger population would have more representation than states w/smaller populations

2. New Jersey Plana. One-house Congress w/equal representation

for each state3. The Great Compromise

a. Established 2 houses of Congressb. Senate = equal representation for each statec. House = representation based on population

E. The Three-Fifths Compromise1. State’s population (to determine

representation) would be equal to its entire population of free persons plus 3/5 of all other persons (slaves)

V. Three Branches of Government

A. Created the idea of separated powers – powers are divided among three branches of government ot provide checks and balances

B. Executive Branch1. Single executive who served a four-year term

with no term limit2. Elected by the electoral college

a. Electors selected by each stateb. Each state would have the same number of

electors as senators and representatives combined

C. Legislative Branch1. The House

a. Elected by the people on basis of proportional representation

b. Given power to develop all taxation or government spending bills

2. The Senatea. Elected by state legislatorsb. Equal representation (2) for

each state

D. The Judicial Branch1. Evaluate the constitutionality of

laws2. Justices appointed by the

president and approved by the Senate