Chapter Two

1. Chapter Two Origins of American Government

2. Basic Concepts of Government • Early Units of Government/Offices • Most of the earliest units of government are still with us today • Sheriff, Coroner, Assessor, JP, grand jury, counties, townships • Also had belief in a limited government • Individual has certain rights that gov’t cannot take away

3. Basic Concepts of Government • Representative Government • Government should serve the will of the people • Gov’t of, by, and for the people

4. Landmark English Documents • Three Important documents • These documents molded the minds of the people responsible for the formation of our government • The Magna Carta • The Petition of the Right • The English Bill of Rights

5. Landmark English Documents • The Magna Carta (The Great Charter) • Signed by King John after being forced to do so in 1215 • Seeking protection of heavy-handed and arbitrary acts of the king • Included fundamental rights such as: • Taking of life, liberty, or property • Unfair taxes • Excessive military campaigns • Originally only for the nobles, but over time, became standard for everyone.

6. Landmark English Documents • The Petition of Right • Overtime, Magna Carta was replaced by other Monarchs (400 years) • Parliament grew stronger – Representative body that had power to make laws • 1628 – King Charles I asked Parliament to raise taxes • Refused • Forced king to sign petition of Right • Limited the Kings power • Could no longer issue punishment ir imprison others without consent lawfully of his peers

7. Landmark English Documents • The Petition of Right • Also insisted that king could not impose martial law – Rule by the military in time of peace • Could not force homeowners to shelter troops without consent • No taxes without parliament approval • Challenged idea of divine right – monarch must obey law of the land

8. Landmark English Documents • The English Bill of Rights • 1689 • Included • No standing army in peacetime • Parliamentary elections be free • No laws without parliamentary consent • No money usage by crown without consent of parliament • People can petition the king without fear of prosecution • Right to a fair trial • No excessive bail or cruel/unusual punishment

9. The English Colonies • Three different kinds of colonies • Each colony had to have a Charter issued to become a colony • Led to the development of three types of colonies • Included • Royal Colonies – Under direct rule of crown • New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia • Proprietary Colonies – Person granted a piece of land • Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware • Charter Colonies – Charters granted to colonists, self governing • Connecticut and Rhode Island

10. The Coming of Independence • Discuss – What was England’s interest in colonization in the first place? • Turn and talk to your group • Come up with at least three reasons

11. The Coming of Independence • The Stamp Act Congress • Colonies/colonist’s were taxed heavily • Passed in 1765 • Taxed everything from legal documents, business agreements, to newspapers • Colonists view was that this was taxation without representation • October 1765, all but four colonies sent reps to the Stamp Act Congress in New York • Prepared a Declaration of Rights and Grievances • Parliament repealed the Stamp Act • But stage was set…….

12. The Coming of Independence • First Continental Congress • Prompted by new laws/taxes – Mostly from the actions of the colonists…Boston Tea Party • Called the Intolerable Acts • Declaration of Rights • Sent to the King • Protested the unfair taxes • Took two months to create • Urged colonies to refuse trade with England

13. The Coming of Independence • Second Continental Congress • May 10, 1775 • Britain was not complying • Even tighter restrictions • Fighting had begun though in Lexington and Concord • Basically became our nations first government • Continental army was created – George Washington • John Hancock President of Congress • Britain looked at it as treason • Lasted five years through the Articles of Confederation

14. The Coming of Independence • The Declaration of Independence • Committee was formed to prepare a document of Independence • Actually Richard Henry Lee’s idea - Resolution • Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson

15. The Coming of Independence

16. The Coming of Independence • The Declaration of Independence • Adopted on July 4th, 1776 • Proclaimed the existence of a new nation • With these brave words, the United States of America was born • 13 colonies became free and independent states

18. State Constitutions • Each state now had to replace their charters with a constitution • New Hampshire was the first – January, 1776 • Common features • Popular sovereignty – • Limited Government – • Civil Rights and Liberties – • Separation of Powers/Checks and balances -

19. State Constitutions • Working in your groups…. • You will define what the meaning of each of the four common features of state constitutions from previous slide • Put all information in your notes.

20. Articles of Confederation • Proposed by Richard Henry Lee who called for a “plan of confederation.” • Deliberated for 17 months • November 15, 1777 – Articles of Confederation approved by Second Continental Congress. • Ratified by 11 states within a year • Delaware – 1789 • Maryland - 1781

21. Articles of Confederation • Breaking down the Articles… • Government Structure • A unicameral congress • Delegates chosen by states (however they saw fit) • Each state had one vote in congress • No executive or judicial branch • Handled by committees in congress • Congress would choose one of its members as president (presiding officer) • All civil positions appointed by congress

22. Articles of Confederation • Breaking down the Articles… • Powers of Congress • Could make war and peace • Send and receive ambassadors • Make treaties • Borrow money • Establish money system • Build a navy • Raise an army – ask states for troops • Standard weights and measures • Settle disputes among states

23. Articles of Confederation • Breaking down the Articles… • State obligations • Had to obey Articles • Provide funds and troops requested by congress • Treat citizens of other states fairly and equally • Surrender fugitives from justice to one another • Submit disputes to congress for settlement • Allow open travel and trade among the states • Responsible for protecting life and property

24. Articles of Confederation • Breaking down the Articles… • Weaknesses • Congress did not have power to tax • Had to borrow or ask states!!!! • Could not regulate trade between states • Lack of power to make states obey Articles • 9 of 13 states had to agree • Difficult to amend articles • All 13 states had to agree

25. Articles of Confederation • Need for a stronger government • Why? • Who was responsible for this demand?

26. Creating the Constitution • The Framers (Delegates) • Constitutional Convention – May, 1787 - Philadelphia • 12/13 States represented – No Rhode Island delegates • Most were very prestigious men • Average age – 42, many in their 30’s • Real leaders • James Madison – 36 • Gouverneur Morris – 35 • Edmund Randolph – 34 • Alexander Hamilton – 32 • Benjamin Franklin – 81 – oldest • George Washington - 55

27. Creating the Constitution • Differing plans for the Constitution • The Virginia Plan • The New Jersey Plan • Compromises • The Connecticut Compromise • The Three-Fifths Compromise • The commerce and Slave Trade Compromise • In your groups, complete the chart for the different plans and compromises that were presented to the Second Continental Congress