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Explore the origins of the US government, influenced by English laws and institutions. Dive into key documents like Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and Bill of Rights. Understand the types of English colonies and their governance. Discover how growing colonial unity led to events like Stamp Act Congress and First Continental Congress, paving the way toward independence with the Second Continental Congress and Declaration of Independence. Learn about key figures like Thomas Jefferson and the principles shaping the American government structure. Discover the power shift from monarchy to a democracy based on social contract theory, as articulated in the Declaration of Independence.
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Our Political Beginnings • The Origins of United States • Mid 16th century • Explorers, traders, settlers • French, Dutch, Spanish, Swedes, • Domination of Native Americans • English- largest numbers and controlled 13 colonies
Basic Concepts of Gevernment • Colonists influenced by English laws, customs, practices, and government institutions • Three ideas that shaped the government of the Unites States: • Ordered Government • Limited Government • Representative Government • These notions are traced to landmark documents in English History
Landmark English Documents • Magna Carta-1215 • Barons seeking protection forced King John to sign Magna Carta • Fundamental rights: trial by jury, due process of law, life-liberty- property • Power of monarch is not absolute • These protections were originally intended only for privileged classes
Magna Carta
Magna Carta and Limited Government??? What’s my wifi password?
Landmark English Documents • Petition of Right- 1628 • P of R challenged idea of Devine right of kings • Further limited King’s Power • No arbitrary imprisonment or punishment • No martial law during peacetime • No Quartering troops during peacetime • Monarch must obey the law of the land
Landmark English Documents • The Bill of Rights- 1688 to prevent absolute power • King could not suspend laws • King could not levy taxes without consent of Parliament • Fair trial, no excessive bail • No cruel and unusual punishment
Bill of Rights
Types of English Colonies • All colonies chartered- authority from the King • Royal Colonies • Proprietary Colonies • Charter Colonies
Royal Colonies (8 total) • Direct control of the Crown • King named governor & council or advisory body (upper house) • Bicameral legislature- two houses Lower house elected by property owners qualified to vote • Laws passed had to be approved by governor and Crown. Veto Power • New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
Proprietary Colonies (3total ) • King had given land grant • Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware • Governments much like Royal Colonies • Unicameral legislature
Charter Colonies (2total) • Mostly self-governed • Connecticut and Rhode Island • Governors elected by white, male, property owners • Bicameral legislature • Not subject to veto or Crown approval • Liberal for their time • Had Britain allowed the other colonies the same freedoms and self-government the Revolution might never have occurred.
Growing Colonial Unity • 1643 New England Confederation or League of Friendship for defense • 1754 The Albany Plan- Colonial trade and protect against attacks by French and Native Americans • Stamp Act Congress 1765 • 1st significant opposition to British Government and Stamp Act • “Taxation without Representation” • Dec. of Rights & Grievances • Boycott of British Goods
First Continental Congress • 1774- Delegates from Colonies debated plans for actions • Delegates urged boycotts until taxes and trade regulations were repealed. • Sam Adams (Sons of Liberty) , John Adams, George Washington, Patrick Henry
EHS Prom 2018 “Boston Tea Party”??? Once an Aztec, always an Aztec!
Toward Independence • 1775 Second Continental Congress or 1st National Government • Declaration of Independence (1776) • Articles of Confederation (1781) • New States write own constitutions • Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Civil Rights and Liberties, Separation of powers and Checks and Balances • later influenced US Constitution
Thomas Jefferson,“Father of DOI”, part of the 2nd Continental Congress—part of a committee 56 signers of the DOI were considered traitors to England and a bounty was placed on their heads….. Approved July 4th, officially signed Aug. 2nd, 1776 • Ultimate goal: • To generate support for American cause • Propaganda • Audiences: • Loyalists and other Americans who didn’t care. • British people • King George and Parliament • Other European countries The Declaration of Independence King George would view the DOI as an illegal document… • Jefferson introduces a new theory of government: • Social Contract theory • Power of govt. comes from the people • Govt. must protect certain rights • People can alter or change the govt. • Democracy—people rule • Statement of intent--why Americans wanted to separate from England….. • Lists grievances against King George • Lists rights and freedoms violated by England
Toward Independence • State constitutions divided power • executive, legislative & judicial • system of checks & balances • Popular sovereignty • Civil rights & liberties • Est. principle, structure, & process of govt.
Articles of Confederation • Created by Second Continental Congress in Nov. 1777 • “A firm league of friendship” among the States • Each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence • States came together- • Common defense, secure liberty, and mutual and general welfare • No executive or judicial branch
Had War Treaties Military Monetary System Didn’t Have Power to tax Regulate trade Power of Articles
Problems with Articles • Limits made it difficult for govt to deal w/ the country’s problems • States disobeyed • Discussions on how to meet needs of new nation led to 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
Major Problem Could not tax, regulate trade or enforce its laws because the states held more power than the National Government. Why? Feared a government like King George
Need for Stronger Government • Articles unable to deal with nation’s troubles • Biggest threat to Political and Economic Instability • Annapolis Convention (1786) only 5 of 13 states attended, call for another meeting in 1787 • “sole and expressed purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation” • Meeting became Constitutional Convention
Creating the Constitution • The Framers- 55 attended Convention • Wide range of experience and wealth • Madison “Father of the Constitution” • George Washington’s attendance was necessary to insure credibility/success • Washington was presiding officer over Convention • Working in secrecy 89 days
Facts2 FACTS ON THE FRAMERS
Facts3 FACTS ON THE FRAMERS
The Compromises • Virginia Plan- • 3 branches (Leg/Exec/Judicial) • Bicameral Legislature • Representation based on Population • Lower House Popularly elected • Upper House chosen by lower house • New Jersey Plan- unicameral Legislature • Limited power to tax and regulate trade • Equal representation in Unicameral Legislature • Federal Executive (Plural Exec- more then 1) • Connecticut Compromise • The Great Compromise • Bicameral (House-Population & Senate-Equal)
Virginia Planproposed by the larger states Establish a national government with 3 branches. Establish a bicameral Congress. People elect 1 house That house elects 2nd house Representation in both houses based on state population New Jerseyplan proposed by small states Establish a unicameral Congress Each state to have 1 vote Equal representation States equally represented similar to the Articles of Confederation VIRGINIA PLAN VS. NEW JERSEY PLAN Vir vs NJ Issues of representative government would be argued at Constitutional Convention
The Compromises • 3/5 Compromise • 3/5 of “other persons”/Slaves • 3/5’s repealed by 13th Amendment in 1865 • Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise • Conflict between agricultural South & industrial North • Forbid power to act on slave trade for 20 years • “Bundle of Compromises” • Structure of Congress • Method to chose the President • Practical limits on Central Government
Inspiration for Constitution • Baron de Montesquieu • The Spirit of the Laws • William Blackstone • Commentaries on the Laws of England • Jean Jacques Rousseau- • Social Contract • John Locke • Two Treatises of Government
The Fight for Ratification • Federalists- pro-Constitution • Madison, Hamilton, Jay • The Federalist- 85 essays • Federalist #10- Factions and insurrection • Federalist #51- Checks and Balances • Federalist #78- The Judicial Branch • Anti-Federalists • feared strong central government • lack of bill of rights • No mention of God • Denial for state power to print money • Henry, Hancock, S. Adams
Hamilton Maybe these Federalist Papers will get me a Broadway play someday…nah no one would ever spend $$$ on that idea
Nine States Ratify • Constitution ratified • June 21, 1788 New Hampshire #9 • Still needed Key states • Virginia • New York – This gave rise to The Federalist • Congress met in New York (temporary capital) 1789 • George Washington- first President • April 30, 1789- took the oath of office and added phrase “so help me God” • John Adams – Vice President
Ratify struggle In order for the new Constitution to become the “law of the land”, 9 of 13 states had to ratify the Constitution. RATIFICATION • Delaware 30 – 0 • Pennsylvania 46 – 23 • New Jersey 38 – 0 • Georgia 26 – 0 • Connecticut 128 – 40 • Massachusetts 187–168 • Maryland 63 – 11 • South Carolina 149 – 73 • New Hampshire 57 – 47 • Virginia 89 – 79 • New York 30 – 27 • North Carolina 194 – 77 • Rhode Island 34 - 22
The Three Wise Men Yah…but I’m the one with a Broadway Hit
Ready to Rumble??? Is this on the Final ???
Facts5 FACTS ON THE FRAMERS • In order to ratify or approve the Constitution, the Framers voted to send it to the states to ratify. 9 of the 13 states needed to ratify. • The vote was 39 supporting the Constitution (Federalists) and 16 opposing the Constitution (Anti-Federalists) • Would later agree to a Bill of Rights Absent and opposed
The Russian hacked my twitter account… Washington