Chapter 2 1

Chapter 2

Foundations of Government

Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

Section 2: The First Government

Section 3: A New Constitution

Section 1:Section 1: Why Americans Have GovernmentsWhy Americans Have Governments

The Main IdeaGovernment plays an essential role in every country.

A country’s government affects the lives of its people. Often, it affects people around the world.

Reading Focus• What are two main types of government?• What are the purposes of government?• How does the U.S. government guarantee

freedom to its citizens?

Governments are influenced by:

• The people’s beliefs and the country’s history

• Dictators or absolute monarchs with authoritarian power

• Ceremonial monarchs with separate governing bodies

• The “rule of the people” in a democracy

Section 1:Section 1: Why Americans Have GovernmentsWhy Americans Have Governments

Types of Governments Characteristics of Governments

Democracy People rule directly or indirectly

Monarchy Ruled by a king or queen

Dictatorship

A person or small group has absolute power and does not answer to the people.

Absolute Monarchs have total control.

DirectRepresentative

All voters make decisions together.People elect representatives.

Section 1:Section 1: Why Americans Have GovernmentsWhy Americans Have Governments

DemocraciesDemocracies• There is no absolute ruler or absolute

ruling body

• The people rule directly (direct democracy) or through elected officials (representative democracy or republic).

Section 1:Section 1: Why Americans Have GovernmentsWhy Americans Have Governments

Roles of Government• Provides a means for cooperation and unity

among people• Enables groups of people to achieve large goals• Provides protection, security, transportation,

monetary assistance, education, and health related services

• Provides laws and a Constitution

Section 1:Section 1: Why Americans Have GovernmentsWhy Americans Have Governments

The Main IdeaThe American ideals that people should rule themselves

and that government should protect human rights are clearly set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

Reading Focus• Why is the Declaration of Independence so important?• What were the Articles of Confederation, and what were

their weaknesses?• What was the effect of a weak national government on

the United States?

Section 2:Section 2: The First U.S. GovernmentThe First U.S. Government

Structure of the Declaration of Independence [03:05]

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

• Upholds the philosophy on which the United States is based

• Is a statement of the American ideals

• Declares that the purpose of government is to protect human rights

• Stresses equality among individuals

Section 2:Section 2: The First U.S. GovernmentThe First U.S. Government

Limitations of the Articles of the ConfederationLimitations of the Articles of the Confederation:

• Congress had difficulty passing important measures.• There was no executive branch to ensure that new laws would

be carried out.• There were no national courts to interpret the laws and uphold

them.• A unanimous vote was required to make changes to the Articles

of the Confederation.• There was no money to pay for expenses or services.• Each state regulated its own trade and had its own currency.• Conflicts between the states and Congress developed.

Section 2:Section 2: The First U.S. GovernmentThe First U.S. Government

The Articles of Confederation [01:57]

Section 2:Section 2: The First U.S. GovernmentThe First U.S. Government

WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

difficult to change Articles because unanimous vote was

needed

no means to regulate

trade with foreign

countries

no execu-tive branch to enforce

laws

difficult to pass laws because

9 out of 13 states’ approval

was needed

no judicial branch to interpret

laws

lacked power to collect taxes

Effects of a weak national government:Effects of a weak national government:

• Had no power to operate effectively or settle disputes

• The country lacked a national identity.

• The states quarreled over boundary lines and trade.

• The country looked weak to other nations.

Section 2:Section 2: The First U.S. GovernmentThe First U.S. Government

The Main IdeaThe framers of the U.S. Constitution drew upon a history of

democratic ideals while developing a document that would establish a new, stronger federal government.

Reading Focus• What historical principles of government influenced the

delegates to the Constitutional Convention?• How did the U.S. government become stronger under

the Constitution?• How did the viewpoints of Federalists and

Antifederalists differ, and how were these differences resolved?

Section 3:Section 3: A New ConstitutionA New Constitution

Principles of Great Britain’s government that Principles of Great Britain’s government that influenced the delegates:influenced the delegates:

• Magna Carta—free people cannot be arrested without a trial by jury of their peers; Parliament’s rights are protected; English citizens only judged by English laws

• English Bill of Rights—right to petition a change of laws; right to a fair punishment

• Parliamentary government—a bicameral body; a prime minister administers the government and can be replaced by a majority vote

Section 3:Section 3: A New ConstitutionA New Constitution

The Constitutional Convention Convenes [02:36]

The Great Compromise [02:18]

The U.S. government became stronger The U.S. government became stronger under the Constitution.under the Constitution.

• A federal system was established.

• Powers included the coining and printing of money, raising armed forces, trade regulations, and levying taxes.

• Provisions for an executive and a judicial branch were established.

Section 3:Section 3: A New ConstitutionA New Constitution

Section 3:Section 3: A New ConstitutionA New Constitution

A STRONGER U.S. A STRONGER U.S. GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Powers Dealing with LawsPowers Dealing with LawsPowers of the National Powers of the National GovernmentGovernmentPrint moneyRaise armed forcesRegulate tradeSet taxes

Provide a president to carry out the country’s laws

Establish the Supreme Court and other national courts to interpret laws

Differences among Federalists and Differences among Federalists and Antifederalists:Antifederalists:

• Federalists—strong national government would keep the country united

• Antifederalists—strong national government would not protect the people’s freedoms and would take power from the states

• A bill of rights was proposed to outline the rights of the people under the Constitution.

Section 3:Section 3: A New ConstitutionA New Constitution

Federalists and Anti-federalists [01:49]

1. What are two of the major factors that shape a country’s government?

2. How are a democracy and other types of governments different?

3. What were the key purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

4. What were some of the problems the country faced after independence was declared?

5. In what ways did the colonists’ English political heritage influence American ideas about government and individual rights?

6. What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention?7. What were the arguments of the Federalists and

Antifederalists?

1. What are two of the major factors that shape a country’s government?

2. How are a democracy and other types of governments different?

3. What were the key purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

4. What were some of the problems the country faced after independence was declared?

5. In what ways did the colonists’ English political heritage influence American ideas about government and individual rights?

6. What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention?7. What were the arguments of the Federalists and

Antifederalists?

Chapter 2 Wrap-Up