U.S. Political Beginnings

1. U.S. Political Beginnings By. Janine Hepler

2. English Ideas of Government Ordered Government • Prevent chaos • Rules should help people get along Limited Government • Gov’t. only has certain powers • People have rights Representative Government • People control the power of government • Gov’t. is led by its citizens

3. Influential British Documents Magna Carta • Limited gov’t. & gave fundamental rights to citizens • King didn’t have total power (trial by jury, due process) Petition of Right • Reduced authority of Crown, more power for Parliament • Limited King’s power (protected people from military rule/housing soldiers) English Bill of Rights • Redefined rights of Parliament & individuals • No peacetime armies, fair & speedy trials, free elections

4. Colonial Governments • Started w/ charter • Permission from the King • Ruled by Governors w/limited powers • Governors had councils that could tax & spend • Bicameral legislature • 2-houses/chambers

5. 3 Types of Colonies Royal • Controlled by the King, subject to the Crown • Appointed governors advised by councils Proprietary • Controlled by wealthy private owners who appointed governors advised by councils Charter • Self-governing colonists, elected governors advised by councils

7. Important Steps Toward Independence Timeline Assignment

8. 1643 • New England Confederation is formed • “League of friendship” for defense against Native Americans

9. 1696 • William Penn tries (but fails) to organize cooperation • Offered plan for intercolonial cooperation—trade, defense, & criminal matters (received little attention)

10. 1754 • Benjamin Franklin proposes the Albany Plan of Union • Called for a Congress with delegates from all the Colonies—rejected by BOTH the colonists & the King

11. 1765 • Stamp Act passed & Stamp Act Congress meets— “No taxation w/o representation!” • The Stamp Act placed a tax on all legal documents in the colonies • Stamp Act Congress met in NY, prepared protest & boycotts

12. 1770—March 5th • Boston Massacre • British troops fired on a jeering crowd, killed 5 people

13. 1772 • Committees of Correspondence are organized • Grew out of group organized by Samuel Adams—created network of information among patriots

14. 1773—December 16th • Boston Tea Party • Group of men disguised as Native Americans boarded & dumped the cargo of 3 British ships in protest

15. 1774—Spring • Intolerable Acts passed • Parliament passed a new wave of laws aimed to punish Colonists • Massachusetts & Virginia to call a mtg. of all the colonies

16. 1774—September 5th • First Continental Congress meets • 35 delegates (from all colonies EXCEPT Georgia) met in Philadelphia • Sent Declaration of Rights to King George III

17. 1775—April 19th • “Shot heard ‘round the world”: Revolution at Lexington & Concord • Colonial Revolution begins

18. 1775—May 10th • Second Continental Congress meets • All 13 colonies send representatives—unicameral • Becomes 1st gov’t. out of necessity • George Washington is made commander in chief

19. 1776—June 7th • U.S. independence is proposed • Proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia

20. 1776—July 2nd • Congress passes the Independence Resolution • Delegates unanimously agree to Lee’s resolution • Congress names committee of 5 to draft declaration

21. 1776—July 4th • Declaration of Independence • Written almost wholly by Thomas Jefferson—announces to the world America’s intentions

22. 1781—March 1st • Articles of Confederation go into effect • Provided for our 1st government

23. The Articles of Confederation

24. Structure of Government • Congress=only branch of government • Unicameral • No executive or judicial branches • Handled by committee • President of Congress selected by legislature • “Firm League of Friendship” among states

25. Powers of Congress • Make war & peace • Send & receive ambassadors • Make treaties • Borrow money • Set up monetary system • Build navy • Raise army • Fix uniform standards of weights & measures • Settle disputes b/t the states

26. Obligations of the States • Obey Articles & all acts of Congress • Provide funds & troops requested by Congress • Treat citizens of other states equally • Give full, faith, & credit to acts, records, & trials of other states • Surrender fugitives to each other • Submit disputes to Congress • Allow open travel & trade b/t & among states

27. Weaknesses of the Articles • Only created a “firm league of friendship” • 1 vote per state regardless of size • No power to tax—had to borrow from states • No power to regulate foreign & interstate trade • No power to force states to obey national laws • No executive to enforce laws • No national court system • 9/13 majority required to pass laws • 13/13 to amend Articles

28. Review: Colonial America & the Articles of Confederation

29. Describe how the relationship between Great Britain & its American colonies changed during the 1700s. • In the early 1700s, the colonies were mostly self-governing • GREAT DISTANCE B/T THE COLONIES & BRITAIN • In the 1760s, under the reign of King George III, Britain began to impose strict laws & harsh taxes on its American colonies. • Colonists resented the laws & especially the taxes because they weren’t represented in Parliament • NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

30. Describe the government established by the Articles of Confederation & explain why the plan ultimately failed. • The Articles of Confederation established a “firm league of friendship” among the states • Under the Articles, States were empowered while the National Government was given few powers • ONLY 1 BRANCH OF GOV’T., NO EXECUTIVE TO ENFORCE LAWS, NO POWER TO TAX, NO NATIONAL COURT SYSTEM, DIFFICULT TO PASS LAWS (9/13) OR TO CHANGE THE ARTICLES (13/13) • Ultimately, the plan failed because the National Government was too weak to deal with the nation’s growing problems

31. Creating the Constitution

32. Early State Constitutions • Most were written/adopted in 1776 & 1777 at state conventions & assemblies • All were different, but had shared (common) ideas

33. Common Ideas • Limited Government • Civil Rights & Liberties • Guaranteed individual freedoms & protections • Separation of Powers • Divided government into 3 independent & co-equal branches • Checks & Balances • Allows each branch of government to check the action of the others • Popular Sovereignty • People hold the power & final authority

34. The Constitutional Convention • Held in the spring/summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, PA • Delegates from 12 states originally met to revise the Articles—later became Framers of a new constitution • Rhode Island didn’t send a delegate George Washington was unanimously selected President of the Convention

35. The Framers Authors of the Constitution—educated, wealthy, & politically-active gentlemen • Average age=42 • Met at Independence Hall • James Madison contributed most • Decided to keep deliberations secret • Important people who didn’t attend: • Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, & John Adams

36. The Virginia Plan • Proposed by Edmund Randolph • Created by VA delegates (especially James Madison) • Provided more power to the national gov’t. • Benefitted large states

37. Virginia Plan Provisions • 3 separate branches • Bicameral legislature: • Upper: chosen by States • Lower: popularly elected • Representation based on population or wealth of state • Veto power over state laws • Congress chooses executive & judicial branches • Veto power of executive & judiciary over Congress

38. The New Jersey Plan • Presented by William Patterson • Created by NJ delegates • Kept power for the States—much like Articles • Benefitted small States

39. New Jersey Plan Provisions • Unicameral legislature • Equal representation for States • Limited power to tax & regulate trade • More than 1 executive—chosen by legislature • State governors could remove executive • Judiciary appointed by executive

40. The Connecticut Compromise • AKA “The Great Compromise” • Proposed by Roger Sherman of CT • Benefitted ALL states—everyone wins!

41. CT Compromise Provisions • Bicameral Congress • Maintained most of VA Plan House of Representatives • Based on population Senate • Based on equal representation for each State

42. The 3/5ths Compromise Northern States • BOTH taxes & representation were based on population Southern States • Could add 3/5ths of slaves toward population for representation • Also had to count slaves toward taxation

43. Commerce & Slave Trade Compromises Commerce • Congress was forbidden to tax exports Slave Trade • Congress was forbidden to pass laws against the slave trade for 20 years BOTH compromises benefitted Southern states

44. People Whose Interests Were Ignored/Harmed… • Enslaved Americans • Native Americans • Women Constitution was completed in September 1787

45. Constitutional Plans Review

46. VA vs. NJ Plan

47. Assignment: Ratifying the Constitution • Define: Ratification. • Compare & Contrast the Federalists vs. Antifederalists INCLUDE: • Definition of each • Argument either for/against • Supporters • Make a list of the 5 issues involved in the ratification debate—EXPLAIN EACH. • Why were New York & Virginia vital to the ratification process?—EXPLAIN. • Describe our new government INCLUDE: • President, Vice President, Capital City

48. Ratifying the Constitution

49. Fight for Ratification • The new Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation • Before the Constitution could go into effect, 9 of the 13 states had to ratify it • Formally approve/adopt

50. The Debate Over Ratification • Two groups formed during the ratification process: • Federalists: favored ratification • Antifederalists: strongly opposed ratification