Foundations of American Democracy

2. Chapter 2: Origins of American Government Section-1The Roots of American Democracy Overture Section-2American Independence Section-3Articles of Confederation Section-4The Constitutional Convention Section-5Ratification and the Bill of Rights

3. Section 1 at a Glance The Roots of American Democracy • The English political heritage of representative government, limited • government, and individual rights influenced the development of • government in the United States. • From the start, the English colonies in North America experimented with forms of self-government. • The English colonists were influenced by ideas from various intellectual traditions, ranging from republicanism to natural rights theory, Judeo-Christian ideals, and the work of Enlightenment thinkers.

4. The Roots of American Democracy Main Idea American democracy was shaped by our English political heritage, colonial experiments in self-government, and a range of intellectual influences. Reading Focus • Which American political ideas derived from an English political heritage? • How did colonial governments give English colonists experience in self-rule? • What intellectual influences shaped the development of American political philosophy?

5. English Political Heritage Colonial government would never be an exact copy of the British system. Colonial leaders adapted old ideas, based on English traditions, to a new environment. Limited Government • Began in 1215 when King John signed Magna Carta • Moved from rule of man to rule of law • Outlined individual rights which king could not violate • Included taxation and trial provisions Representative Government • Tradition began in 11th century. • Evolved into bicameral, or two-chamber, legislature • Nobles comprised Upper House. • Local representatives participated in House of Commons.

6. English Political Heritage {continued} Individual Rights • 1628: King Charles required to sign Petition of Right • Required monarchs to obtain Parliamentary approval before levying new taxes, also could not unlawfully imprison people or establish military rule during times of peace • Extended conflict between Charles and Parliament erupted into civil war in 1642. • Charles defeated, beheaded • 1685: renewed conflicts and rebellion between the Crown and Parliament • 1689: William and Mary chosen to rule, but had to govern according to statutes of Parliament • 1689: English Bill of Rights passed • Free speech and protection from cruel and unusual punishment guaranteed • Glorious Revolution established constitutional monarchy.

8. Reading Check Summarizing How did limited government develop in England?

9. Reading Check Summarizing How did limited government develop in England? Answer(s): through the Glorious Revolution and the English Bill of Rights

10. The English Colonies English colonists began to settle parts of North America in the early 1600s, bringing English political theories and methods of governance. Types of English Colonies • Three types established • Proprietary, based on land grant to individual or group • Royal colonies, directly controlled by king through appointed governor • Charter colonies, operated under charters agreed to by colony and king; had most independence from the Crown Experiments in Early Governance • Jamestown’s House of Burgesses, 1619 • Mayflower Compact, 1620 • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639 • Massachusetts Body of Liberties, 1641 • Each charter guaranteed colonists the “rights of Englishmen.”

12. Reading Check Contrasting How were charter colonies and royal colonies different?

13. Reading Check Contrasting How were charter colonies and royal colonies different? Answer(s): charter colonies—largely self-governing; royal colonies—directly controlled by the Crown through an appointed governor

14. Intellectual Influences • In addition to English traditions, ideas were key to transforming loyal English colonists first into revolutionaries and then into founders of a new nation. Republicanism • Idea of representative government going back to Greece and Rome • Highly values citizen participation, public good, civic virtue • Influences included Aristotle, Machiavelli, de Montesquieu, others Judeo-Christian Influences • Religious heritage common to both Christianity and Judaism • Law and individual rights of divine origin

15. Intellectual Influences Enlightenment Thinkers • Enlightenment—Intellectual movement in 18th century Europe • Classical liberal concerns addressed in Enlightenment • Framers of U.S. Constitution believed in people’s natural rights to life, liberty, and property. • Social contract—People form a government to protect their rights • Philosophers John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau important contributors • Economic and civil liberties important as well • Other influences included Adam Smith, Voltaire, William Blackstone.

16. Reading Check Summarizing What intellectual influences shaped the Framers’ views on republicanism?

17. Reading Check Summarizing What intellectual influences shaped the Framers’ views on republicanism? Answer(s): Greece and Rome; Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy; Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws

18. Section 2 at a Glance American Independence • After the French and Indian War, the colonists rebelled against British attempts to assert control over the colonies and against new British taxes. • In 1775 the Second Continental Congress called for the writing of a formal Declaration of Independence.

19. American Independence Main Idea The British imposed new policies on their American colonies, sparking rebellion and, in time, the American Revolution. Reading Focus • How did British colonial policies lead to American independence? • What were the aims of the Continental Congress? • Which ideas and events inspired the Declaration of Independence? • How did the first state governments reflect the conflict that led to the American Revolution?

20. The Colonies Become States

21. The Road to Independence The road that led the American colonies to unite with one another and break with Great Britain was long and fraught with conflict. Growing Tensions • Mid-1700s: colonists used to handling affairs without interference from British • 1760: King George III began to tighten control over colonies • Most colonists viewed selves as loyal subjects of British Crown • Parliament began to think colonies had become too independent • Following French and Indian War, Parliament placed new financial burdens on colonists Early Attempts at Unity • 1643: New England Confederation formed to defend against threats from Native Americans and Dutch colonies • 1854-1763: French and Indian War spurred new drive toward unity • 1754: Great Britain urged signing of treaty with Iroquois Confederation • Ben Franklin proposed Albany Plan of Union to control trade, raise armies, build settlements, equip fleets

23. Changes in British Policies British victorious in French and Indian War, but incurred massive debts Parliament looked to colonies to offset cost of war, defense of colonies Enforced trade restrictions benefiting Britain, including series of taxes Colonists resented being taxed without their consent. The Stamp Act Congress • 1765: Stamp Act: Parliament’s first attempt to tax colonists directly • Required tax stamp on paper goods such as legal documents and newspapers • Angry colonists responded with protests; in 1765, delegates from 9 colonies sent strong protest to king declaring power to tax should remain with colonial assemblies. Colonial Protests • 1766: Stamp Act repealed; colonies protested, organized resistance; Boston Massacre • 1773: Boston Tea Party protested American tea trade given to one British company. • 1774: New harsh laws, Intolerable Acts, ended all forms of self-rule in Massachusetts.

25. Reading Check Summarizing What forms of protest did the colonists use to oppose British policies?

26. Reading Check Summarizing What forms of protest did the colonists use to oppose British policies? Answer(s): boycotts, rallies, pamphlets, letter-writing campaigns

27. The Continental Congress Compromise • Most colonists held out hope for compromise to roll back taxes. • Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies called for meeting of colonies in Philadelphia. First Continental Congress • 1774: First Continental Congress passed Declaration and Resolves demanding repeal of Intolerable Acts. • 1775: British rejected demands; British troops clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord—the first armed resistance by colonists. Second Continental Congress • 1775: Second Continental Congress organized Continental Army, named George Washington as commander • Revolutionary War began as colonists sought independence from Britain Common Sense of Democracy • 1776: The Common Sense pamphlet argued case for break with England. • Thomas Paine: independence was the only “common sense” for colonists • Saw history of world hanging on outcome of colonies’ rebellion

28. Reading Check Making Inferences According to Paine, why was independence “common sense”?

29. Reading Check Making Inferences According to Paine, why was independence “common sense”? Answer(s): It was “common sense” to break away from the abuse of English rule.

30. The Declaration of Independence • Armed conflict continued for months before independence officially declared • June 7, 1776: resolution proposed to Second Continental Congress to officially declare independence from Great Britain; resolution passed July 2 • Committee appointed to write formal statement justifying resolution • Thomas Jefferson wrote most of document, drawing on Virginia Declaration of Rights adopted by Virginia House of Burgesses one month earlier • Virginia declaration declared “all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights” that cannot be denied. • Echoed philosophy of John Locke that people have rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” • Also echoed idea of government as social contract based on consent of the people • July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence was adopted. Britain’s thirteen colonies ceased to exist as new nation emerged.

32. Reading Check Summarizing How did John Locke’s ideas inspire the Declaration of Independence?

33. Reading Check Summarizing How did John Locke’s ideas inspire the Declaration of Independence? Answer(s): Locke’s beliefs in natural rights and that a government must have the consent of the people

34. The State Constitutions By 1780, each of the 13 newly independent states had adopted its own written constitution. Each tested ideas about how to design a republican government that protected individual rights. Separation of Powers • Three branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial • States had real power to govern. • Powers included conducting foreign affairs, declaring war • Most legislatures had two houses. • Some elected governors and judges. Self-Government • All new state constitutions established republican governments with strong legislatures with elected representatives. • Voting rights varied from state to state. • Some states granted the right to vote to adult male taxpayers, others had property qualifications; only New Jersey allowed women to vote.

35. The State Constitutions {continued} Limited Government • Strong legislative bodies reflected general mistrust of monarchy. • Colonists did not grant unlimited power to legislatures. • Annual elections, term limits, separation of powers established as checks • Kept powers of governors deliberately weak, limited term Individual Rights • Protecting people’s rights seen as way to protect from excesses of government • 1780: Massachusetts constitution included bill of rights to protect individual liberties. • Liberties included trial by jury, freedom of assembly, and speech.

36. Reading Check Summarizing What ideas about government did state constitutions experiment with?

37. Reading Check Summarizing What ideas about government did state constitutions experiment with? Answer(s): Self-government, limiting the power of the executive branch, separation of powers, and individual rights

38. Section 3 at a Glance Articles of Confederation • In 1777 the Second Continental Congress passed the first official plan for national government, the Articles of Confederation. • After the Revolutionary War, weaknesses in the Articles led to conflicts among the states, sparking calls for a stronger national government.

39. Articles of Confederation Main Idea The states’ first attempt to build a national government, the Articles of Confederation, proved too weak to last. Reading Focus • How was the first national government organized under the Articles of Confederation? • What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? • What events convinced some American leaders that a stronger national government was needed?

40. States Become Nation

41. First National Government Articles of Confederation • June 1776: new model of government crafted to build “firm league of friendship” among states, retaining “sovereignty, freedom and independence” • June 12, 1777: Articles of Confederation adopted • Had to be ratified before going into force A Delay in Ratification • Disputes over control of western lands delayed the ratification process. • Small states feared large states with claims to western lands would overpower them. • Articles were changed to allow Confederation control over western lands. • Articles finally ratified in 1781

42. First National Government {continued} Powers of the National Government • Created weak national government; did not provide for national court system • One-house Congress: power to act on matters of common interest; admit new states; settle disputes; coin money; raise army; declare war; conduct foreign policy State Powers • States retained all powers not specifically given to Congress • Powers included: ability to collect taxes, enforce national laws • States required to contribute funds to national government as they saw fit

44. Reading Check Summarizing How did national and state powers differ under the Articles?

45. Reading Check Summarizing How did national and state powers differ under the Articles? Answer(s): National powers were limited and specifically cited in the Articles of Confederation. State powers were all the other powers that were not specifically cited.

46. Weaknesses of the Articles • Articles gave Congress key responsibilities, but placed limits that kept it from effectively enforcing laws and policies • Without executive branch, national government lacked means to carry out Congress’s laws • Without national court system, Congress had to rely on state courts to apply national laws • Mostly importantly, Articles denied Congress power to tax • Difficult to raise funds to repay money borrowed during Revolution • Lacked authority to regulate trade • Congress had power to coin money, but not sole power to do so; created barrier to trade, major obstacles to economic development • Congress required to have 9 of 13 states to ratify laws, while only one state could raise objections to block changes in Articles—weakened Congress’s ability to act swiftly and decisively

47. Reading Check Summarizing What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

48. Reading Check Summarizing What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? Answer(s): It had no executive or judicial branch; the Confederation could not levy taxes, enforce its laws, or regulate commerce between states; all states had to agree before the Articles could be changed.

49. Pressures for Stronger Government Its independence secured with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the United States faced a range of challenges that the national government was ill-equipped to meet. The shortcomings of the government created by the Articles of Confederation would lead to calls for a new plan of government. Dangers and Unrest • Most pressing problem: war debts • 1783: Congress tried to approve tax on imports but act never ratified and government went broke • Postwar depression struck • States pursued own interests, flouting national laws; like “13 sovereignties pulling against each other” Northwest Ordinance • 1787: Northwest Ordinance planned for settling Northwest Territory • Included areas now in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin—disputed western lands that had delayed ratification of the Articles • Created system for admitting new states, banned slavery, included bill of rights