Foundations of Political Systems: From Ancient Times to American Independence

1. Political Beginnings

2. Early Beginnings • English Settlers • Brought a knowledge of political systems • Greece, Rome, Babylonia etc… • Three specific ideas focused on by the Colonizers • Ordered Government • Cultural Baggage – stuck with what they knew • Must be order; to run efficient respectable relationships • Created offices to govern relationships • Sheriff, Coroner, Assessor, Justice of the Peace, Townships

3. Early Beginning • Limited Government • Government is not all powerful • Individuals have rights – inalienable rights • Planted in colonists mind for centuries • Religious Freedom; English had to pay taxes to support the Church of England • Repressive Press – English controlled the press • Representative Government • Government serves the people; people have a voice • 1200s End of Renaissance change of political belief • Exploration of Physical World led to Greek & their knowledge • Creators of Direct Democracy; people sat and discussed changes to Gov’t • In 509 B.C. Romans created elected posts –create law • Executive post –Caesar who worked with elected senate to rule and govern the Empire • English people came to see Greek & Romans as the true forums of Government • Prevent Tyranny in Government

4. Landmark Documents • Magna Carta • 1100-1200 English Monarch expands powers • Kings Establishes Courts • Royal appointed judges made law to Kings approval • Placed taxes on the Nobility • Nobility disliked the expanded powers • Took away traditional powers • 1215 Forced King protected Nobility rights and Privileges • Created a Great Council (Parliament) • King seeks Council approval first • King could not place taxes on Nobility without consent • No free person imprisoned without a jury trial • Monumental Achievement • Monarchs power could be limited by citizens

5. Landmark Documents • English Bill of Rights • 1600s English Civil War; King vs Parliament • Parliament forced out King James II • Selects Successor; places new King • Exchange for throne new king must sign Bill of Rights • Monarchs could not make or suspend law without consent • Needs approval to raise taxes & maintain army • Monarch can not participate in parliamentary elections • Monarch would protect freedom of religion, rights to petition

6. Enlightenment 1600-1700s • Natural Rights of Man • John Locke – Two Treatises on Gov’t • Representative Government only reasonable government • Government exists to serve the people • Government arises from a contract; between ruler and ruled • A ruler has power only as long as he or she has the consent of governed • Ruler cannot deny people their basic rights (life, liberty, property)

7. Enlightenment 1600-1700s • Jean Jacques Rousseau • Ideal society – Social Contract • People/communities make contracts with each other • Order and organize society; better relations • People give up individual freedoms in favor of the whole • People/community vote on all decisions • Everyone lives by the communities decisions

8. Enlightenment 1600-1700s • Separation of Powers • The Spirit of Laws • Practical suggestions for creating government • Promoted a checks and balance system of government • Promoted separation of powers • Individuals in one branch of government do not hold power in another • Best protection of the natural rights of citizens is through limits • The best way to limit government is; through separation • Guard against tyranny and oppression

9. Coming of Independence • Habit of Self-Government • Colonies begin with different authorities & powers • Colonies retained powers not shared by the King (Power of Veto) • Colonial Governors held power of absolute veto • Power to make courts, power to remove officials, power to dismiss council/parliament • Wielding prerogatives that King did not have • Parliament Expands power • Elected officials; held power of purse; power to initiate legislation • All this with out help or approval from England

10. War for Empire • French & Indian War • 1754 – English go to survey land west of Appalachians • George Washington sent to warn French of building forts & battle ensure • England begins to take notice of the conflict and calls for a delegation • Albany Plan • Colonies meet to discuss a plan of action & formulate week confederated gov’t (denied) • War wages for 9 years • French & Indians vs British & Colonies • British & Prussia fighting, France, Austria & Russia • 1763 War ends with Peace of Paris treaty • British America took all of French possessions in North America • American colonies share in victory • Gain a new sense of importance in the empire

11. Heritage of Conflict • British face new problems • How to manage new lands? How to pay new debt from war? What is the colonies parts in this? • 1763 War breaks out in Ohio Valley; new settlers and Indian allies of the French • All British settlers wiped out of Ohio Valley • British not prepared to deal with such conflict with other issues to way. • 1763 Proclamation – all settlers forbidden beyond Appalachians • No surveys, no land grants • Angered Colonists who wanted more land to settle • Give England a chance to decided what to do with new land • 1763 British Finances • Large debt & loss of military man power • George Greenville (Lord of Treasury) • Heavy tax burden at home – light burden in colonies • American colonies obligated to assist in up keep of frontier

12. Greenville Policies • Problems in Colonies • American customs services inefficient • Took a hard liners approach • Evasion of taxes; bribery & corruption rampant • Set up coastal patrol to & prosecute evasion of taxes • Sugar Act 1764 • Cut taxes in half on sugar; reduce smuggling of sugar • New taxes on imports (textiles, wines, coffee, and indigo) • Currency Act 1764 • Colonies issued paper money to regulate their economy • British creditors considered this depreciated money & Parliament made paper money illegal tender • Paper money value plummeted – money worth less

13. Greenville Policies • Stamp Act – 1765 • Stamps created to be placed on all printed material & legal documents • Quartering Act – 1765 • Colonies provide all supplies & barracks to British troops • Colonist reactions • “Loosed upon them the very engines of Tyranny” • Sought the “lamp of experience” Traditions & Rights • Standing armies? There is no war! • Naval Courts? No direct trial by jury • Burden of proof placed on defendant • Parliament was out to usurp the power of purse! • Barrage of Protests, meetings, debates & resolutions • “No taxation with out Representation” • Mob reactions – sacking stamp houses & burning effigies • Created colonial unity

14. Time of Action • Stamp Act Congress • June 1765 – Massachusetts called for a general assembly • Declaration of Rights & Grievances • A petition to King & Parliament; repeal the stamp act • Parliament has no power to levy (place) taxes; power of the people • 1765 – 1772 • Colonies unite; through councils, town meetings, committees, organizations • Son’s of Liberty, Demonstrations (Boston Tea Party, Wearing of home spun clothing) • Coercive Acts / Intolerable Acts • 1774 Four acts (Quartering Act, Impartial Act, Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Act) • Imply Force; make an example of Boston for other colonies

15. First Continental Congress • Sept. 5, 1774 • Decide how to deal with British atrocities • 55 delegates sent to Philadelphia to debate • Functioned as a congress/ • Vote and create policies • Adopt resolutions of how to work together to deal with British • Congress decided: • Intolerable acts null & void • Boston must arm themselves • Boycott British goods • Decided (dominion theory) parliament had not authority; colonies subject to crown only • Wrote the King for relief from the atrocities • King declares the colonies in rebellion • Calls for immediate action and blows to be taken

16. Second Continental Congress • May 1775 • Second Congress convenes (war already started) • No legal authority, no resources; assume command • Elect generals • Allocated money for war budget • Possible Compromise? • Created Olive Branch petition • Refrain from hostilities; declared allegiance to the Monarch • Olive branch failed to impress • Declaration of Causes & Necessity • Just cause’s; fighting for rights • King declared colonies to be “open and avowed enemies” • Congress further assumes command • Negotiate peace treaties with Indians • Organizes a Post Office • Authorizes and builds a Navy

17. Independence 1776 • June 1776 • Richard Henry Lee “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states” • “We have no other alternative than independence…” • Congress approves measures to break ties with England • Thomas Jefferson drafts the document • July 2nd Declaration of Independence is introduced • Adopted by Congress July 4, 1776 • Jefferson’s Declaration • Restatement of Locke’s theory on government • “Gov’t powers derived from Consent of people” • “Unalienable rights” • Appeal to the broader laws of Nature

18. Articles of Confederation • Continental Congress’s • Meant to be temporary; but some kind of government needed • Delegates Fearful of abuse; • Solution: create a weak government • 1777 Congress approved the Articles of Confederation • Outline of AoC: • National government had no control over people in the states • State laws were supreme to national law • National gov’t no power to levy taxes • States asked for contributions • Each state had one vote in congress • 9 of 13 states needed for ratification of any action by congress • The Central Government; given some power • Declare War; Conduct Foreign Affairs, Coin Money, Postal System, Army of State Militia • Problems with AoC • No power to tax – U.S. had 40 million in debt • State trade wars • Massachusetts banned English goods; give new business a chance to establish • Neighboring colonies imported goods and shipped them to Mass. (No gov’t to monitor the commerce) • Mass. Retaliated by banning importation of good fromother states

19. Articles of Confederation • Problems with AoC • States printed own money • Printing press’s printed money to pay off debt (huge sums) • Created inflation • 1786 Shay’s Rebellion • Farmers/laborers/merchants attack Mass. Courthouse • Burn documents of debt • Elites controlled price wages and debt over the farmers/laborers • Feb. 1787 Framing Constitution • Delegates sent to revise the articles of confederation • Virginia Plan proposed by Virginia Gov. Randolph • Representation based on population (size) • Three branches of government • Bi-cameral legislature • All power to make states obey and follow the government • President, National Court System, & Supremacy over states • Smaller states feared the plan – large states too much control

20. New Plans of Attack • New Jersey Plan • Simple revision of AoC; keep basic principles (one state – one vote) • Retain unicameral congress (all states represented) • Limited Congressional powers • Only add – powers to tax & regulate trade • Executive branch with several executives • Main division – how representation in congress would be handled • Connecticut Compromise (Roger Sherman) • Government is about compromise (largest compromise) • *Keep all the Virginia plan has to offer • Give concessions on basing representation in the House of Reps on population (Lower house of Legislature) • Senate (Upper house) equal 2 senate basis • President chosen by electoral college • The Compromise passed Congress by a narrow margin • Ratification of Constitution • Special ratification conventions were held to pass constitution • General public never voted on the Constitution • Many state legislatures ratified the constitution • Considered a social contract (John Locke) • People give up freedoms to protect the common good (Tragedy of the Commons) • According to the theory – government derives power from the people; people define the powers of government

21. Constitution • Contract of ruling elites? • Shay’s rebellion – mass’s rise up against the elite • Constitution is a fulfillment of elites taking control • State legislatures ratified the Constitution; not the common people • Constitution framed by politicians asserting power • Motives of the framers hard to ascertain • Constitution is political compromise (Connecticut Compromise) • The constitution is not just a holy document; but it isn’t a hedonistic doc. Either • Constitution & framers must be examined as is: • A document that traded, compromised, and bargained to make a functional government • Created out of necessity; less idealistic creation • Many historians argue that popular vote would have stopped the ratification of constitution

22. Legacy of Constitution • What are the legacies? • Representative Democracy • Citizens vote for individuals – represent interests • Created federalism – power shared among Nation, State, Local • Separation of powers - powers divided between branches of government • h