Chapter 2 Foundations of Government

1. Chapter 2Foundations of Government Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments Section 2: The First U.S. Government Section 3: A New Constitution

2. Chapter 2 Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments OBJECTIVES • What influences the form of a country’s government? • What distinguishes a democracy from other forms of government? • What are the roles of government?

3. Chapter 2 Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments Governments are influenced by: • The people’s beliefs and the country’s history • Dictators or absolute monarchs with authoritarian power • Ceremonial monarchs with separate governing bodies • The “rule of the people” in a democracy

4. Chapter 2 Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments Democracies • There is no absolute ruler or absolute ruling body • The people rule directly (direct democracy) or through elected officials (representative democracy or republic).

5. Chapter 2 Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments Roles of Government • Provides a means for cooperation and unity among people • Enables groups of people to achieve large goals • Provides protection, security, transportation, monetary assistance, education, and health related services • Provides laws and a Constitution

6. Chapter 2 Section 2: The First U.S. Government OBJECTIVES • What is the significance of the Declaration of Independence? • What were the limitations of the Articles of the Confederation? • What was the effect of a weak national government on the United States?

7. Chapter 2 Section 2: The First U.S. Government The Declaration of Independence • Upholds the philosophy on which the United States is based • Is a statement of the American ideals • Declares that the purpose of government is to protect human rights • Stresses equality among individuals

8. Chapter 2 Section 2: The First U.S. Government Limitations of the Articles of the Confederation: • Congress had difficulty passing important measures. • There was no executive branch to ensure that new laws would be carried out. • There were no national courts to interpret the laws and uphold them. • A unanimous vote was required to make changes to the Articles of the Confederation. • There was no money to pay for expenses or services. • Each state regulated its own trade and had its own currency. • Conflicts between the states and Congress developed.

9. Chapter 2 Section 2: The First U.S. Government Effects of a weak national government: • Had no power to operate effectively or settle disputes • The country lacked a national identity. • The states quarreled over boundary lines and trade. • The country looked weak to other nations.

10. Chapter 2 Section 3: A New Constitution OBJECTIVES • What principles of Great Britain’s government influenced the ideas of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention? • How did the U.S. government become stronger under the Constitution? • How did the viewpoints of Federalists and Antifederalists differ, and how did they resolve their differences?

11. Chapter 2 Section 3: A New Constitution Principles of Great Britain’s government that influenced the delegates: • Magna Carta—free people cannot be arrested without a trial by jury of their peers; Parliament’s rights are protected; English citizens only judged by English laws • English Bill of Rights—right to petition a change of laws; right to a fair punishment • Parliamentary government—a bicameral body; a prime minister administers the government and can be replaced by a majority vote

12. Chapter 2 Section 3: A New Constitution The U.S. government became stronger under the Constitution. • A federal system was established. • Powers included the coining and printing of money, raising armed forces, trade regulations, and levying taxes. • Provisions for an executive and a judicial branch were established.

13. Chapter 2 Section 3: A New Constitution Differences among Federalists and Antifederalists: • Federalists—strong national government would keep the country united • Antifederalists—strong national government would not protect the people’s freedoms and would take power from the states • A bill of rights was proposed to outline the rights of the people under the Constitution.