Origins of American Government

1. Origins of American Government

2. The English Colonies • 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

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

4. 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

5. 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 • Most colonies were either Royal or Proprietary, or both at some point in time.

6. 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 • 3colonies: Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts Bay

8. Colonial Self-Government • 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

9. 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

10. 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”

11. Things change: 1760 • 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

17. First Continental Congress • Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts in 1774 to punish the colonists • Sept. 5, 1774: 56 delegates met in Philadelphia • All colonies represented except GA • Met for nearly 2 months • Sent a Declaration of Rights protesting Britain’s colonial policies to King George III • Called for all colonies to stop trade with Britain until the taxes were repealed

18. Second Continental Congress • British government responded to 1st CC with stricter measures and refusal to compromise • Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 • All colonies sent representatives • Revolutionary War had already begun • **1st government of U.S., lasted 5 yrs**

19. In other words… • No more kings!

20. The Declaration of Independence • 1 year into the Revolution, Congress nominated a committee of 5 to draft their declaration of independence – • Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson • Jefferson, the youngest, did most of the writing • He was greatly influenced by John Locke’s social contract philosophy

21. Social Contract Revisited Major Concepts • Popular sovereignty • Limited government • Individual rights • Equality of men • People only consent to government to protect life, liberty, and property Justification for the American Revolution • King George violated the social contract by violating life, liberty, property of colonists • When the contract is violated, the people have the obligation to revolt

22. Articles of Confederation • “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.” • In other words… • Our 1sttry at a Constitution • Set up a confederacy • Weak central government

23. Government Structure Under The Articles of Confederation • Only one branch of government: Legislative • Legislature = Congress • Congress was unicameral (one house) • No executive or judicial branch • Each state had 1 vote, regardless of size or population • 1 member was chosen to be the presiding officer (chairman) each year • Congress appointed civil officers (ex. Postmaster)

24. Who’s got the power? The states! Congress could only… • Borrow Money • Organize a Post Office • Make/Sign Treaties • Declare War • Establish army/navy • Control of Western Territories

25. Weaknesses of the Articles • No separation of powers • No chief executive • Congress did not have power to tax • Congress did not have power to regulate trade • No national currency • No national court system • Unanimous approval required for amendments • 9/13 majority state approval required to pass laws

26. It wasn’t all bad…. (Achievements of Articles) • Peace treaty with Britain • Country doubled in size

27. The Critical Period (1780s) • Weak central government led to unrest • Congress had no way to pay war debts • States ignored their promises to the national government • Printed their own $$ • Formed their own armies • Taxed goods from other states • Some states banned trade with others • The whole country was in an economic depression • Shays’ Rebellion

28. Shays’ Rebellion Background • Daniel Shays • Poor farm hand • Fought in the Revolution, but was never paid • There was widespread resentment toward Massachusetts government • Refused to issue paper money • Foreclosing on citizens for repayment of debts • All men in government were wealthy property owners

29. Shays’ Rebellion • Shays organized 700 armed farmers and marched on the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts • The rebellions multiplied in Massachusetts and spread to nearby states • To counter the insurgency, the government drew up a Riot Act • Several rebels were put on trial and sentenced to death

30. **The country’s continued lack of $$ and increased violence and unrest led to a call for a stronger national government**