America’s Political Heritage

1. America’s Political Heritage Chapter 4

2. Essential Questions • Is the American system of government truly unique? • Is individual freedom the same thing as freedom we enjoy as a nation? • What is the significance of the Declaration of Independence? • What kind of power structure did the colonists want to avoid in creating a new government? • What challenges did America face in forming a new government?

3. The Colonial Experience • Heritage - the traditions passed down to us from generation to generation

4. Having a Voice in Government • In each colony, citizens elected representatives to the legislature • It was a right as a citizen of England • Legislature - a group of people chosen to make laws • Still subject to England • Charter - a document giving permission to create a government • Charters were taken away if the colony challenged England • became a royal colony with an appointed royal governor

5. Where freedom comes from • Religious Freedom • Different today than in colonial America • In colonial America, this meant that you had the right to belong to any Christian church • Today, this means that you have the right to practice any religion and also the right to practice no religion • Religion tied to Government • Example - paying taxes to support the official Church of England

6. Where freedom comes from • Freedom of the Press (remember, no 1st amendment yet) • John Peter Zenger Trial • He wrote for a New York Newspaper and accused the governor of accepting bribes and interfering with elections • Zenger was put in jail by the governor • Zenger’s lawyer claimed that freedom of the press was a basic right • Zenger was found not guilty and was released • What did this do for the Freedom of the Press?

7. Discontent • Colonists were starting to become upset with how England had tightened its control of the colonies • Tyranny - the abuse of power • By the mid 1700’s the colonists were concerned that England might try to strip them of their rights and their voice in government

8. Roots of American Government • Ancient Athenians (Greeks) • Direct Democracy - a form of government in which laws are made directly by the citizens • Ex: Town meetings and local governments • Ancient Romans • Republic - a government in which representatives were elected to make laws • Ex: Colonial legislatures

9. Roots of American Government • Magna Carta (Great Charter) • Limited the power of those in power • King John of England signed this document limiting his own power • While the Magna Carta was an important step, it did not give equal rights to all people • English Bill of Rights • Parliament was established as England’s law making body (grew in power) • The English Bill of Rights limited the powers of the king • The king could not collect taxes without Parliament’s approval • Rights of citizens were listed, proclaimed that everyone must obey the law, everyone had the right of trial by jury

10. Roots of American Government • John Locke • Natural Rights - rights you are born with and that no government can take away • What are examples of your Natural Rights? • Representative government is the only reasonable kind and that “government exists to serve the people, not for people to serve the government”

11. Roots of American Government • Baron de Montesquieu • Separation of Powers - dividing government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches • Why is separation of powers necessary?

12. Clashing views • To pay debts, England raised taxes on the colonies to bring in money • How did the colonists react? • “No taxation without representation” • The First Continental Congress (1774) • Delegates from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss how England was violating the rights of the colonists • The delegates pledged to cut off trade with England if their rights continued to be abused

13. Clashing views • The 2nd Continental Congress (1 year later) • Things got worse • Many thought that the war had already begun • Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” “To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer, which when obtained requires five or six more months to explain it, will in a few years be looked at as folly and childishness. There was a time when it was proper, and there is a proper time for it to cease. England belongs to England, America belongs to itself.”

14. The Declaration • The 2nd Continental Congress voted for Independence • Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams were all appointed to the committee to write the Declaration • Who was the Declaration written for? • What actually was the Declaration? • The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776

15. Organizing a New Government • Compact - a written agreement to make and obey laws for the welfare of the group • Each state created its own Constitution that listed the rights of citizens and outlined a plan of government • Remember, the states were still 13 separate governments • Forming a National Government • Everyone feared that they would create a government that would also have the ability to become oppressive

16. Organizing a New Government • Large States (Virginia, Pennsylvania) wanted a government whose representation was based on population • Small States (Delaware, Rhode Island) wanted a government whose states each had the same number of votes

17. The Articles of Confederation • A loose alliance of states was written in 1777 • This called for a national legislature in which each state would have one vote (Congress) • This Congress did not have the power to tax or to enforce any law that it made • Most power remained with the states • The Articles of Confederation was ratified in 1781 • Ratification - approval

18. Problems with the New Government • Debt • The Revolutionary War had caused the states and Congress to borrow a great deal of money • The value of American money was in question • Lack of trade with England and its colonies made things difficult

19. Problems with the new government Shay’s Rebellion *Farmers who were unable to pay taxes on their land were losing their farms, courts threatened to take the land if the farmers didn’t pay *In 1786, Daniel Shays and other Massachusetts farmers stormed into court houses and (violently) disrupted courts *****People started to call for a stronger National Government