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Origins of American Government

Origins of American Government. Basic Concepts of Our Government (Obj. 8). Ordered Government Organized regulation of the state Limited Government Government is not all-powerful Individuals have certain rights the govt cannot take away Representative Government

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Origins of American Government

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  1. Origins of American Government

  2. Basic Concepts of Our Government (Obj. 8) • Ordered Government • Organized regulation of the state • Limited Government • Government is not all-powerful • Individuals have certain rights the govt cannot take away • Representative Government • Government should serve the will of the people

  3. Landmark English Documents • Magna Carta (1215) • Barons were tired of King John’s unfair treatment (wars, taxes) • Established principle that the power of the monarchy is NOT absolute King John signing the Magna Carta

  4. Landmark English Docs (2) • Petition of Right (1628) • King Charles I asked Parliament for more $$ in taxes • Parliament refused until he signed the Petition of Right • Challenged the idea of the Divine Right of Kings and declared the monarch MUST follow the law of the land

  5. Landmark English Docs (3) • English Bill of Rights (1689) • After Glorious Revolution, Parliament wanted to prevent abuse of power by monarchs • List of conditions that the king and queen HAD to agree to before taking the crown King William and Mary of Orange

  6. The English Colonies (Obj. 9) • The 13 North American colonies formed separately over 125 years • 1st – Virginia in 1607 • Last – Georgia in 1733 • Each colony was unique, and formed out of different sets of circumstances • Each had a charter – written grant of authority (permission to govern) from the king

  7. 3 Types of Colonies • Royal Colonies • Proprietary Colonies • Charter Colonies

  8. 1. Royal Colonies • Controlled by the British crown (King) • King appointed a governor to run the colony • A council appointed by the king served as advisors to the governor • Had a bicameral legislature = 2 houses • Upper house = the governor’s advisors. • Lower house = elected by property owners who could vote • Most of the colonies were royal colonies

  9. 2. Proprietary Colonies • Organized by a proprietor (business owner) who had been given a grant by the king • Proprietor appointed the governor to run the colony • 3 colonies were proprietary: • Maryland: Lord Baltimore • Pennsylvania and Delaware: William Penn

  10. 3. Charter colonies • charter: a written document given to a colony granting it the right to govern. • The charter colonies had more freedom to govern than others • Governor elected by male landowners • 2 colonies: Rhode Island and Connecticut

  11. Colonial Self-Government (Obj. 10) • The pilgrims landed with no charter with rules or instructions on how to govern • So they drew up a social contract • Mayflower Compact (1620) • Pilgrims agreed to follow the rules in order to survive • Laid out rules of the colony • Signed by 41 of the original 101 passengers

  12. Colonial Self-Govt (cont.) • Virginia House of Burgesses (1619) • First representative assembly (legislature) in the North American colonies • Met at a church in Jamestown, 1x per year • Governor was appointed by officials in London • Governor appointed his own 6-man council • Other 15 members of the legislature were elected by landowners

  13. Colonial Self-Govt (Cont.) • Britain = 3,000 mi (2 month boat ride) away • Before 1760, Britain did not concern itself much with the colonies • Colonies got used to self-government • Very few taxes collected from the colonies by the king • They could even control the royal governors – • Colonial legislatures had the “power of the purse”

  14. Things change: 1760 (Obj. 10) • 1760: King George III takes the throne • England is at war over foreign territories (French and Indian War) • Many colonists fought for Britain in this war

  15. Britain’s colonial policies • French-Indian War (aka 7 Years War) cost Britain lots of $$$ • To pay its debts, Britain turned to the colonies • Enforced existing policies • Imposed new taxes • Colonists objected: “no taxation without representation”

  16. Stamp Act of 1765 Required that all legal documents and public documents (ex. Contracts, newspapers) have a stamp on it. The stamp cost money, which went directly to the British government

  17. Stamp Act Congress (1765) • 9 colonies sent delegates (representatives) to the Stamp Act Congress in New York • Wrote a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” to King George • *1st time colonies joined forces and opposed the British government** • Result: Stamp Act was repealed, but… • Parliament continued to impose new laws and taxes on the colonies • Colonists began to boycott British products

  18. Rising Conflict: The Boston Tea Party (1773)

  19. Rising Conflict: The Boston Massacre (1770)

  20. Organized Resistance • Samuel Adams formed the Committees of Correspondence in 1772 • Provided information network among anti-British groups • Organized protests, militias, boycotts

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