BEGINNINGS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

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BEGINNINGS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• From Colonies to Constitution

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English Influence

• Limited Government the power of the monarch was
  limited, not absolute
• Representative Government Parliament is divided
  into two houses House of Lords and House of
  Commons
• Documents Magna Carta (1215) Petition of Right
  (1628) English Bill of Rights (1689)

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The Thirteen Colonies

• Colonial govt most colonies got a charter from
  the king which allowed them to exist
• Royal Colonies under direct control of the king
  (GA, MA,NH,NJ,NY,NC,SC,VA)
• Proprietary Colonies controlled by a proprietor
  (owner), not the king (PA, DE, MD)
• Charter Colonies almost self-governing (CT, RI)

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Colonial Discontent

• After 1763, many colonists upset by stricter laws
  passed by Parliament
• Stamp Act 1765
• Townshend Acts 1767
• First Continental Congress 1774
• Second Continental Congress 1775-1776

Colonists BOYCOTTED British goods as a form of
protest!!!
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Colonial Discontent

• Declaration of Independence (1776)
• Listed the many grievances (complaints) the
  colonists had against Britain
• Called themselves The United States
• all men are created equal.with inalienable
  rightslife, liberty, pursuit of happiness
• Revolutionary War fought until 1781

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Ideas in the Declaration of Independence

• Many ideas Jefferson included were from the
  writings of Englishman John Locke
• 1. Natural Rights life, liberty, property
• 2. Consent of the Governed people must agree on
  who their rulers will be
• Jefferson also included the idea that all men are
  equal

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Articles of Confederation

• 1781-1789 first written plan of govt in the
  United States
• Confederation weak or loose union of more
  powerful states
• The Confederation govt only had one branch
  (legislative) and no successful way to either
  raise money or enforce laws
• A special convention was held in 1787 to fix
  these weaknesses

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Why do you suppose the Americans who created the
Articles of Confederation made them so
weak??????????
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Constitutional Convention

• Philadelphia, 1787 Secret meetings of 55
  delegates from 12 of the 13 states
• Delegates argued over many topics and soon they
  decided to scrap the AOC and write a new plan of
  govt

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Issues and Compromises

• Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan big states
  favored the Virginia Plan, which said that the
  number of representatives in Congress should be
  determined by a states population -- -- -- small
  states favored the New Jersey Plan, which said
  each state should have an equal number of reps.
  in Congress

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Issues and Compromises

• The Great Compromise offered by Roger Sherman
  of Connecticut
• A bi-cameral (two-house) Congress
• House of Representatives number of reps.
  according to state population
• Senate each state would have the same number of
  reps. (2)

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Issues and Compromises

• Three-Fifths Compromise Southern states wanted
  to count their slaves as people to get more reps.
  in the House the Northern states disagreed
• The compromise three-fifths of the slaves would
  count as people

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THE CONSTITUTION

• The Constitution was finally drafted and it
  included a very strong central (federal) govt
• It also included THREE branches of govt
• Legislative to make the laws
• Executive to enforce the laws
• Judicial to interpret the laws

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R A T I F I C A T I O N

• After the Constitution was written, each state
  had to ratify it
• As soon as 9 out of 13 states ratified the
  document, it could take effect
• Arguments erupted in some states between those
  who favored the Constitution (Federalists) and
  those who opposed it (Anti-Federalists)

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Federalists Anti-Federalists

• A strong central (federal) govt is necessary
• The new govt will not abuse individual rights
  and liberties

• The states would lose too much power under the
  new govt
• A Bill of Rights MUST be added to insure peoples
  rights are protected

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Constitution Takes Effect

• The Constitution was finally ratified by the 9th
  state (NH) in 1788
• George Washington was inaugurated (sworn in) as
  the nations first President in 1790
• A Bill of Rights was added (first ten amendments)
  in 1791 in order to satisfy the Anti-Federalists

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S U M M A R Y

• The United States government evolved from its
  English colonial heritage
• Colonial governments practicing self-government
• Declaration of Independence stated the birth of
  the USA
• The Articles of Confederation our first
  government
• The Constitution a strong federal govt with
  three branches