American GovernmentAmerican GovernmentChapter 2Chapter 2

American GovernmentAmerican GovernmentChapter 2Chapter 2

Origins of Origins of

American GovernmentAmerican Government

Our Political BeginningsOur Political BeginningsOur Political BeginningsOur Political Beginnings

Three Basic Ideas From England1. Ordered governments

Government rules help people get along

2. Limited governmentGovernment powers are limited

3. Representative GovernmentPeople tell the government what they can and cannot do

Important English DocumentsImportant English DocumentsImportant English DocumentsImportant English Documents

Magna Carta: signed in 1215

The king did not have total power. Led to the Establishment of Parliament

Petition of Right: signed in 1628

King could not use the military to rule in peacetime

English Bill of Rights: signed in 1689

Guaranteed a fair and speedy trial and free parliamentary elections

Government in the ColoniesGovernment in the ColoniesGovernment in the ColoniesGovernment in the ColoniesThe government in each of the 13 American Colonies started with a charter. A charter gave them the power to rule.

Three Types of Colonies

Royal Colonies

The British king controlled these colonies

Proprietary Colonies

Established by wealthy owners who received land from the king.

Charter Colonies

Self-governing, the king gave the people land to form the colony

The Coming of IndependenceThe Coming of IndependenceThe Coming of IndependenceThe Coming of Independence

Growing Colonial UnityGrowing Colonial Unity

1. Albany Plan of Union

2. Stamp Act Congress

3. 1st Continental Congress (1774)

4. 2nd Continental Congress (1775)

5. Declaration of Independence (1776)

6. Articles of Confederation (1781)

The First State GovernmentsThe First State GovernmentsThe First State GovernmentsThe First State Governments

The New State Constitutions has These Common Ideas

1. Limited Government2. Civil rights and liberties3. Separation of Powers4. Checks and balances5. Popular sovereignty

The Critical PeriodThe Critical PeriodThe Critical PeriodThe Critical Period

The First National Constitution

1. The Articles of Confederation (1781)

2. Had little power

3. One branch Government (Legislature)

4. Each State had one vote

5. Had no way to force the states to obey the articles or the laws that it passed.

Powers of the Confederation1. Make war and peace

2. Send and receive ambassadors

3. Make treaties

4. Set up a monetary system

5. Borrow money

6. Build a navy

7. Raise an army

8. Fix universal standard weights and measures

9. Settle disputes among the states

Weaknesses of the ConfederationWeaknesses of the ConfederationWeaknesses of the ConfederationWeaknesses of the Confederation

1. One Vote per state2. Congress powerless to collect taxes3. Congress powerless to regulate foreign or

interstate trade4. No executive to enforce acts of Congress5. No National Court System6. Amendments only with consent of all of the

states7. A 9/13 majority required to pass laws8. Articles of Confederation only a “firm league of

Friendship”

Attempts to Fix the ArticlesAttempts to Fix the ArticlesAttempts to Fix the ArticlesAttempts to Fix the ArticlesI. Mount Vernon Convention: Meetings held between

delegates from Maryland and Virginia to solve their trade problems

II. Annapolis Convention: A nation wide conference held to examine and correct the nation’s problems. Only five states sent delegates.

III. Philadelphia Convention: Scheduled for the summer of 1787. This time 12 states sent delegates. This convention became know as the Constitutional Convention.

Creating the ConstitutionCreating the ConstitutionCreating the ConstitutionCreating the Constitution

The Decision to Write a New Constitution

1. 56 delegates or Framers representing 12 states make the decision that the Articles of Confederation cannot be fixed. These men represent a new wave of leadership in American government. 2. They got ideas for the new Constitution from many sources, such as ancient Greek and Roman Governments, and from 17th Century political philosophers like Montesquieu (French) and Locke (English)3. Many older revolutionary leaders boycotted the convention.

The Virginia PlanThe Virginia PlanThe Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan

1. Written by James Madison

2. Called for three separate branches in the governmentExecutive, Legislative, and Judicial

3. Representation in congress was based on population

4. Called for Bicameral Congress (2 houses)

5. States with larger populations favored this plan

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan1. Written by William Paterson

2. No separation of powers

3. A Unicameral legislature (one house)

4. Equal representation in Congress

5. States with smaller populations favored this plan

The CompromisesThe CompromisesThe CompromisesThe Compromises

Arguments over how congress should be setup lead to a stalemate at the convention. Many delegates threatened to leave the convention.

Connecticut Compromise: Settled the issue of congress by establishing a

Bi-cameral CongressSenate (Equal representation)House (Representation based on Population

Three distinct and separate branches of government

More CompromisesMore CompromisesMore CompromisesMore Compromises3/5 Compromise: Settled the issue of how African American slaves would be counted in the population for representation in Congress.

Southern slave states wish to count all slaves. Non Slaves states opposed this. In the end 60% of all slaves were counted

Commerce and Slave Trade: Compromise: Forbid the taxing of Exports.

No action would be taken against the slave trade for 20 years

Ratifying the ConstitutionRatifying the ConstitutionRatifying the ConstitutionRatifying the Constitution

The framers of the new Constitution decide that 9 states would have to approve the Constitution before it would go into effect.

Two Groups Formed in Regards to the Constitution1. The Federalists

A. Favored the Constitution)B. James Madison & Alexander HamiltonC. They believed that the Constitution was strong

enough to solve the country’s problemsD. Wrote the Federalists Papers

Ratification (Continued)Ratification (Continued)Ratification (Continued)Ratification (Continued)

2. Anti-FederalistsA. Opposed the ConstitutionB. Led by Patrick Henry and John HancockC. Believed the Constitution was too strong.

Wanted a bill of rights add to protect individual freedoms

The ratification process was completed in 1788 and the states held elections. The new government met in March 1789 in New York City. George Washington was elected President by the Electoral College.