Origins of American Government

1. Origins of American Government “It is, Sir, the people’s Constitution, the people’s government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people.” Daniel Webster 1830

2. Place in the correct chronological order • Boston Tea Party • French and Indian War • Declaration of Independence • Shots fired at Lexington and Concord

3. Correct order B. French and Indian War 1754-1763 E. Boston Tea Party 1773 C. Shots fired at Lexington and Concord 1775 F. Declaration of Independence 1776

4. Place in the correct chronological order • British surrender at Yorktown • Constitutional Convention in Philly • Washington inaugurated in New York as first President. • Bill of Rights added to Constitution • Articles of Confederation approved by second Continental Congress

5. Correct order I. Articles of Confederation approved by Second Continental Congress 1777 A. British surrender at Yorktown –Oct. 1781 G. Constitutional Convention 1787 H. Washington Inaugurated 1789 D. Bill of Rights added to Constitution 1791

6. What is the foundation for the national government of this country? • Declaration of Independence • The Constitution and the 27 Amendments

7. Brain Storm • Name/list terms and phrases which are commonly used to describe the government of the United States • Where did these concepts/ideas come from?

8. Three major sources for American Democracy • Greece---Athenian direct democracy • Rome---Indirect or Representative Democracy (Republic) 3. England---We took many of the ideas of government from the British A. rights that belong to citizens B. representative democracy C. limited government

9. American Democracy Unique • Our form of government---American Democracy is not like the government of any other country. What are founding fathers came up with is truly unique. A. We have a federal system in which we divide governmental power between a national government and state governments. B. We also have a Constitutional government where the powers that belong and don’t belong to the national government are clearly outlined in a written document.

10. Part 1---America’s concept of democracy rest on the following basic notions: • Fundamental worth and dignity of every person. • Respect for equality of all persons • Faith in majority rule, but respect for minority rights—(Madison worried about the Tyranny of the majority) • Recognition of the necessity for compromise • Widest possible degree of individual freedom

11. Question to consider---do not put this slide in notes • Consider the following theory: Since democracy promotes the concepts from the previous slide, nations with democratic governments do not fight wars against each other—therefore to bring about a more peaceful planet, democracy should be promoted world wide. • Should the United States be willing to spend “blood and treasurer” to promote the spread of democracy? Why? Why not?

12. Where did our system of government come from? (other than Greek and Roman influence) • English influences • Colonial practices • Philosophical influences • New ideas created at Constitutional convention

13. English documents • Magna Carta 1215 • 1. limited power of the government (King) • 2. fundamental rights • a) trial by jury • b) due process of law (fair trial) • English Petition of Rights 1628 • 1. early document supporting idea that men have rights and established concept of rule of law • 2. included basic rights • a) guarantee of trial by jury • b) protection against marshal law • c) protection against quartering of troops • d) protection of private property • English Bill of Rights 1689 • 1. limited power of the monarch • A. free elections to those in Parliament (House of Commons) • B. right of petition • C. parliamentary checks on power of King

14. Examples of English influence on the U.S. Legislative branch of Government • The English Parliament had a two house legislature---The House of Commons and the House of Lords.---This is known as a bicameral legislature. • Today every state except Nebraska has a bicameral legislature. • The Congress of the United States is bicameral---The U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

15. Colonies established practices that became a key part of nations system of government. • Written Constitutions in each colony—all called for a separation of powers between the Governor and state legislatures, and representative bicameral legislatures. • Some colonial Constitutions included a list of rights: ex. Virginia Declaration of Rights (George Mason), Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (Thomas Jefferson).

16. Philosophical influences • John Locke (1632-1704)--develops Social Contract theory of government. A. Human beings enter into a contract by agreeing with one another to create a state (government). Give up some freedom for security. B. Government arose out of a voluntary act of free people. C. The state exist only to serve the people. D. The people are the sole source of political power and they are free to give or withhold that power as they choose.

17. Concepts created by Social Contract Theory included in Constitution and Declaration of Independence • Popular sovereignty- people hold the power to rule. • Limited government- government is not all powerful. • Individual rights- people are born with rights that were given to them by God. • Representative government- people elect others to represent their interest. • Ordered government- orderly regulation of relationships between citizens---opposite of anarchy. • Thomas Jefferson would borrow heavily from the writings of John Locke when he writes the Declaration of Independence.

18. Video • United Streaming; American History, Foundations of American Government---Writing the Constitution segment.

19. Let’s take a look at the Declaration of Independence • Raise your hand when you see an example of the following: • Popular sovereignty • Limited Government • Individual rights • Ordered government • You do not have to write down the Declaration in your notes.

20. Declaration of Independence • When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation

21. Declaration • We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; That when any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government , laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

22. Review Continued 4. Name two English documents which played a large role in influencing the political ideas of most colonist? ____________________,_________________ 5. List two important rights that English citizens (colonist were English citizens) received because of the above documents. ___________________,___________________ 6. The English Parliament had two houses, the House of ______and the House of _________. This is known as a ______________legislature. Today the U.S. Congress has a ___________ and a ________________.

23. Part 1 Review 1. Which two documents are the foundation of American Government? ________________, _____________________ 2. Put the following events in the proper order. A. Declaration of Independence B. Writing the Constitution C. Articles of Confederation D. Shots fired at Lexington and Concord 3. Define limited government

24. Review Continued 7. List two Virginia documents that would have a large influence on the United States Bill of Rights. Who wrote each? __________________ written by________________ __________________ written by________________ 8._____ Which concepts/ideas are part of the social contract theory? 7

25. Review Continued 9._____ Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? 10. From which political philosopher did the author of the Declaration borrow from extensively? _______________ 11. From what three nations/empires did we get many of the ideas that we include in our system of government? _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ 12. In 1776 the Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal”----Why did it take so long for this goal to be reached? Has it been reached? What areas do we still need to work on? Did they really just mean that men were equal?

26. Quiz • Which two documents are the foundation of the American System of Government? • Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. • List two rights that are founding fathers were familiar with as English Citizens? • Trial by jury----protection of private property

27. Quiz • List three countries/empires who were major contributors to our system of government. • Roman Empire, Greek Empire, England • The State of Connecticut deciding to allow gay marriage while Virginia does not is an example of which Constitutional principle? • Federalism

28. Quiz • List three English documents that had a large influence on our system of government? • Magna Carta, English Petition of Rights, English Bill of Rights. • Which English King lost his head because he would not sign the English Petition of Rights? • Charles I

29. Quiz • Which royal family agreed to sign the English Bill of Rights before taking the throne? (hint: school in Williamsburg) • William and Mary • What are the two legislative bodies in the English Parliament? • House of Commons and House of Lords • What are the two legislative bodies in the Congress? • Senate and House of Representatives

30. Quiz • What is the term that describes a legislature with two parts? • Bicameral • Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? • Thomas Jefferson • Who is considered the Father of the Constitution? • James Madison • From which political philosopher did the author of the Declaration of Independence borrow from extensively? • John Locke

31. Quiz • Which document written in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress was the United States first attempt at forming a permanent national government? • Articles of Confederation • Who wrote the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom? • Thomas Jefferson • Who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights? • George Mason • Define Limited Government • Government is not all powerful

32. Quiz • List three concepts developed by Locke’s Social Contract theory? • Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Individual rights, Representative Government, Ordered Government • Madison was concerned that in a democracy the majority could take away the rights of the minority—he described this problems as--------- • The tyranny of the majority • How many states sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787? How many delegates? • 12----55

33. Quiz • Who was the oldest delegate at the Convention? • Franklin • Who was President of the Convention? • George Washington • What was the first major decision made at the Convention? • To write new Constitution • Which famous Virginian did not attend the Constitutional Convention? • Jefferson

34. True False • The articles of Confederation had a Congress with a bicameral legislature • The Congress created by the Articles had the power to tax exports. • Under the Articles the President was Commander in Chief • Under the Articles states could print their own money. • Under the Articles the Supreme Court had the power of Judicial Review. • Under the Articles state retained most of the power to govern. • Shays Rebellion demonstrated the weakness of the Articles. • Under the Articles the states with the largest population had more representation in Congress.

35. Put in Chronological order A. Declaration of Independence B. Washington inaugurated as President C. Victory at Yorktown D. Shots fired at Lexington and Concord E. Constitutional Convention D---A----C----E-----B

36. Part 2--First National Constitution • The Articles of Confederation were written in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress while the Revolutionary War was still going on. • The Articles went into effect in 1781 and would last until 1787. • The document creates a unicameral legislature (Congress) and a very weak national/federal government. • Most of the power would stay in the hands of the individual states.

37. Weakness of Articles of Confederation. • One vote for each state regardless of size. • Congress powerless to lay and collect taxes. • No Executive (President) • No National Court System • Amendments could only be added with consent of all states. • 9 out of 13 states had to agree to pass any law. • Congress could not regulate trade between states (interstate commerce). • States could print own money. • States could ignore laws passed by Congress. (doctrine of nullification)

38. Video • United Streaming—Understanding the Constitution: Creating a Federal Government---segments 2,3,4

39. Shays’ Rebellion 1786 • Small farmers and property owners (1200 strong) rebel against government in Massachusetts. • In reference to Shays’ Rebellion Washington says “What a triumph for our enemies to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves.” • The rebellion shows the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a new government.

40. Constitutional Convention May 25, 1787 • 12 out of 13 states send delegates to Philly—(Rhode Island does not). • 55 delegates attend convention—today we call them the “Framers”. • Average age of delegates was 42 (Franklin at 81 oldest) • The document that they would create would be described as “the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.” English statesman William Gladstone

41. Early attempt to fix Articles • 1786-five states meet in Annapolis Maryland to discuss the problems facing the country. They ask for a second meeting to be held in Philadelphia in 1787.

42. Constitutional Convention • Elect George Washington as President of Convention. • Decide to conduct their meetings in secrecy. • First major decision made--write a new constitution and get rid of the Articles of Confederation. • James Madison would contribute the most to the constitution –that is why he is known as the “Father of the Constitution.”

43. Part 2 Review • The Articles of ______ was our nation’s first attempt at creating a national government. 2. The Articles created a _____ legislature 3. The Articles were written A. before the Revolutionary War B. during the Revolutionary War C. after the Revolutionary War

44. Part 2 Review 4. Which of the following was not one of the weaknesses of the Articles? A. 9 out of 13 states needed to pass a law B. States could print own money C. No Congress was created D. Congress powerless to lay and collect taxes E. States could ignore laws passed by Congress F. No Executive or National Court System

45. Part 2 Review 5. What action taken by a small group of farmers in Massachusetts showed the world that under the Articles we were incapable of governing ourselves? 6. In what year did the Constitutional Convention take place? 7. In what city did the Convention take place? 8. How many states sent delegates to the Convention?

46. Part 2 Review 9. Who was the oldest delegate? 10. What famous Virginian was not there? 11. Who was selected President of the Convention?

47. Part 2 Review 12. Which of the following was the first major decision made at the Convention? A. Jefferson was to be President B. Rhode Island must send a representative before they could proceed C. They were going to rid themselves of the Articles of Confederation and write a new Constitution. D. to meet again next year in Annapolis 13. Who contributed more than anyone else to the Constitution? (considered “Father of the Constitution”)

48. Part 2 Review 14. If you could add one amendment to the Constitution what would it be and why? Remember many things can be accomplished through legislation----only major items of fundamental change should be considered through amendments.

49. Part 3---Major plans presented at Convention • Virginia Plan—(large state plan) largely the work of Madison. • 3 separate branches of government. • Legislature would be bicameral • Representation in each house based on population. • Lower house elected by people in each state. • Upper house chosen by Lower House. • Executive and Judicial branches would be selected by the Legislative branch.

50. Summary of Virginia Plan • This plan was popular among the large states, but unpopular with the small states. Why? • All the power in the new national government would be in the hands of the legislature. A legislature that was going to be dominated by the large states.