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GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 2

GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 2. AMERICA’S POLITICAL BEGINNINGS. BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY CH. 1-3. Democracies evolve out of the circumstances of history. There are certain factors that have to exist: 1. strong middle class 2. literate society

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GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 2

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  1. GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 2 AMERICA’S POLITICAL BEGINNINGS

  2. BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY CH. 1-3 • Democracies evolve out of the circumstances of history. • There are certain factors that have to exist: 1. strong middle class 2. literate society 3. society that will voluntarily participate– running for political, or voting. (political efficacy) • There are also 5 basic foundations that are necessary for a democratic society: • 1. Recognition of the fundamental worth of the individual. • 2. Respect for the equality of all persons. • A. Equality of opportunity • B. Equality before the law. • 3. Faith in majority rule, and minority rights. • 4. An acceptance of the necessity of compromise. • 5. Insistence on the widest degree of freedom possible

  3. BRITISH POLITICAL INFLUENCES • BASIC CONCEPTS BORROWED FROM THE BRITISH • 1. ORDERED GOVERNMENT • LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BASED ON ENGLAND’S. • MAYOR, SHERIFF, CORONER, GRAND JURY, J.O.P. • 2. LIMITED GOVERNMENT • THE BELIEF THAT GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT ABSOLUTE. • BASIC ENGLISH DOCUMENTS • THE MAGNA CARTA—1215 KING JOHN • TRIAL BY JURY, DUE PROCESS OF LAW, KING NOT ABSOLUTE • THE PETITION OF RIGHT—1628 KING CHARLES I • NO ARBITRARY IMPRISONMENT (Writ of Habeas Corpus), NO MARTIAL LAW, NO QUARTERING OF TROOPS, TAXES ORIGINATE WITH PARLIAMENT, KING NOT ABOVE THE LAW • THE (ENGLISH) BILL OF RIGHTS—1689 KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY “GLORIOUS REVOLUTION” • NO STANDING ARMY DURING PEACETIME, ALL ELECTIONS FREE, RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL, NO EXCESSIVE BAIL, NO CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS • 3. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT • GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERVE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

  4. ENGLAND’S AMERICAN COLONIES • England established 13 separate colonies in America. • The 1st was Jamestown (Virginia Company) in 1607. • The last was Georgia in 1733. • Colonies had a different beginnings: some for business reasons, some to pay off a debt the King owed, some for religious reasons and one as a prison colony. • Each colony had as its basis (foundation)—charter. • TYPES OF CHARTERS/COLONIES • 1. Royal Charter • The colony was under the direct control of the King. • Pattern of Royal Control: • 1. Appointed governor, appointed council, elected assembly (bicameral legislature) -- 2. Governor and Assembly had control over taxing and spending • 3. Laws were passed by the Legislature but had to be approved by the Governor and King. • By 1775---8 Royal colonies: NH, Mass., NY, NJ, Va. NC, SC, Ga.

  5. COLONIES CONTINUED • 2. The Proprietary Charter • Colony’s government was determined by the owner (the proprietor) • 1. Governor -- owner • 2. Md., Delaware --Bicameral Legislatures, Upper House appointed, Lower House elected. • 3. Pa. Unicameral (no Upper House) • 3. The “Charter Colony” • 1775 there were 2– Ct., RI • 1. The colonists controlled the colony. • 2. Governors were elected. (Subject to the king’s approval) • 3. Bicameral legislatures, both Houses elected. Legislature had power to make laws, tax and spend. • 4. No veto power by Governor.

  6. BRITISH COLONIAL POLICIES • The colonies were for the King to rule. • Privy Council • the Board of Trade. • Because of distance Britain practiced “Salutary Neglect” • AMERICAN PROBLEMS WITH ENGLAND • 1. 1754-1763—French and Indian War. War between France and England fought mostly in the wilderness of America. England won, but after the war was deep in debt. • 2.Because of the debt, Parliament imposed taxes on the colonial taxes. (Something only colonial legislatures had done in the past). • 3. Americans objected. “No taxation without representation”. Colonists claimed since they had no member in Parliament, then Parliament did not have the power to pass tax laws against America. • 4. King’s response--Virtual Representation. • Still the colonies were not united.

  7. GROWING COLONIAL UNITY • Until the 1760s the American colonies were not united. • Several attempts had been tried: • New England Confederation 1643-1684; • defensive alliance for protection against Indian attack. • Albany Plan of Union 1754; • 7/13 of the colonies met in Albany, NY. • Ben Franklin proposed a Colonial Government that could: • raise an army, make war and peace, • regulate trade with Indians, pass taxes • and collect (import taxes) tariffs. • It was voted down by the colonies and by the King. • Stamp Act Congress 1765; • 1765 Parliament passed the Stamp Act.—Direct Tax on printed documents. • Colonial meeting (9/13) in NY City to condemn the Stamp Act. • Sent a list of grievances to the King, • Boycott of all English goods. • Sons of Liberty– Sam Adams • Parliament repealed the Law in 1766. • Colonies discovered they had power when they worked together.

  8. 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses • Sept. 1774 1st Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. • Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party-- Parliament passed the Coercive Acts. • 12 /13 colonies sent delegates. • Protest letter to the King—Declaration of Rights • Boycott of English goods, until all taxes and the (Coercive Acts) Intolerable Acts were repealed. • Adjourned in Oct. 1774 and told Parliament it would meet again in the spring of 1775 if things do not improve. April 1775 • May 10, 1775, 2nd Continental Congress met. 13/13 sent delegates. It was America’s first national government. John Hancock elected President. • Appointed George Washington commander of the Army. • Wrote the Declaration of Independence. • Raised troops, sold bonds, sent delegates to France and Holland • Signed treaties, borrowed money. • Unicameral, Parliamentary Congress—which served as both the Legislature and Executive.

  9. STATE CONSTITUTIONS • In May of 1776, Continental Congress encouraged all states to repeal charters and replace them with Constitutions. • Almost all called for Popular Sovereignty. • Limited Government. • Civil Rights and Liberties. • Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances. • The Legislative Branch would be the most powerful, with short terms of office. • Voting rights—white, male, land owners. • Massachusetts Constitution was the model. • THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND THE CRITICAL PERIOD • 1781-1787: “ End of the fighting to the adoption of the New Constitution.” • Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (1st Constitution) • Created a “League of Friendship between the 13 states” 1781. • John Dickinson of Md. submitted the A. o. C. in 1777.

  10. GOVERNMENT SET-UP Congress—unicameral with representatives chosen by the State legislatures. Each State had 1 vote in the Congress regardless of size. Congress would elect one of its own to be the presiding officer. POWERS OF CONGRESS • Make war and peace. • Send and receive ambassadors. • Borrow money. • Set up a monetary system. • Establish post offices. • Keep an armed forces (navy and a draft for the army) • Standardize weights and measures. • Settle disputes between the States.

  11. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION CONTINUED • STATE OBLIGATIONS • 1. Obey the Articles and acts of Congress • 2. Provide money or troops when requested by Congress. • 3. Honor the laws of the other states and their citizens fairly. • 4. Have open borders. • 5. Follow extradition laws and submit interstate disputes to Congress. • WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES • 1. Congress had no power to tax. • 2. Congress could not regulate trade. • 3. Congress was limited in their power they had. 9/13 majority needed to pass laws. • 4. To amend the Articles required unanimous approval. 13/13

  12. THE CRITICAL PERIOD, 1782-1787 • Successes of Articles Era • 1. Treaty of Paris 1783 • 2. Northwest Ordinances 1785,1787 • Problems during the same Era: • 1. States refused to pay obligations. • 2. States signed trade and peace alliances with foreign countries . 3. States taxed one another. • 4. States printed their own currency. caused chaos in the economy. • 5. England dumped goods on the American market. • 6. Violence broke out in some states Shays’ Rebellion 1786 (Massachusetts) 7. Trevett v. Weeden (RI). 8. America was in debt but without the power to tax it appeared the debt would never be paid.

  13. CALL FOR A STRONGER GOVERNMENT • Under the Articles the government was unable to deal with America’s problems. • Mt. Vernon Conference, Mar. 1785 Meeting between Md. and Va. To solve trade disputes. • In Jan. 1786 the Va. General Assembly called for a trade meeting between all the states at Annapolis in Sept. 1786. • Annapolis Convention, only 5 of the 13 states sent delegates. • Two delegates that did show-up were Alexander Hamilton and James Madison—they called for a Constitutional Convention to meet in Philadelphia the following summer to revise the Articles. Congress agreed.

  14. THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION • Convened: Philadelphia May 25, 1787, Quorum--7 • Purpose: “To revise the Articles of Confederation” • 12/13 states sent delegations: (no RI) • Leading delegates: • George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Edmond Randolph, William Paterson, George Mason, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman • Leading political figures not in attendance: • Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Samuel Adams • Early agreements: • New Constitution • Stronger National government • Proposals for the structure and powers of the new government: • Virginia Plan: Legislative, executive, and judicial branches • New Jersey Plan : “ “ • Connecticut Compromise: “ “ l

  15. OTHER COMPROMISES • 3/5ths COMPROMISE • COUNTING THE POPULATION FOR REPRESENTATION • SOUTH—COUNT SLAVES, NORTH—IF SO, COUNTS FOR TAX PURPOSES TOO. • COUNT SLAVES AS 3/5ths OF A PERSON • COMMERCE COMPROMISE -- HOW FAR DID THE POWER TO REGULATE TRADE GO?? TAX EXPORTS?? REGULATE SLAVE TRADE?? • SLAVE TRADE FOR 20 YEARS/ NO EXPORT TAXES • SIGNED 9-17-1787, SENT TO STATES 9/21/1787 • RATIFICATION • 9 STATES NEEDED TO APPROVE IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO INTO EFFECT. • FEDERALISTS • ANTI-FEDERALISTS • FEDERALIST PAPERS • PROMISE OF A BILL OF RIGHTS

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