Roots of Democracy

Roots of Democracy Chapter 2 Section 1

England – The Mother Land • Monarchs- all powerful Kings and Queens • provide Nobles land and power in exchange for: • Loyalty • Taxes • Military (Bad Dudes)

Magna Carta- 1215 • Nobles threatened to kill King unless he signed MAGNA CARTA • Nobles insured their privileges • Upheld their authority • Insured rights to land owners- 1 equal treatment 2-trial by peers • No one is above the Law

PARLIMENT-around same time • Group of Nobles and Church officials who advised KING • They helped govern the Realm • By 1300’s it became a Legislature (Parliament) • Eventually even commoners sent representatives

Glorious Revolution 1688 • Beef between King and Parliament • Parliament removed King James II and replaced him. • A bloodless peaceful transfer of power • Parliament is now stronger than Monarchy

English Bill of Rights 1689 • Monarch can’t without Parliaments’ permission 1-suspend Parliaments’ laws 2-create special courts 3-impose taxes 4-raise an army

English Bill of Rights cont. • Parliament will be freely elected • Free speech guaranteed • Trial by jury • No cruel or unusual punishments

Common Law • No written laws • Decisions based on precedents • Used in England to this day • U.S. laws based on common law

Colonies

Charter

House of Burgesses 1619 • Colonists chose 2 Representatives from each county • 22 people called Burgesses • Very little power or influence • First form of self government in the new colonies

Mayflower Compact 1620 • Pilgrims settled in New England area • Before they landed they drew up plans for government • All 41 men signed Compact. (no girls) • Established Direct Democracy in colonies • Tradition still in play to this day in New England area

Early governments • 1733 13 English colonies • Similarities 1-Govenor – elected or appointed 2-legislature – elected by free males (no blacks and no girls)

SEC.2 Why Rebel?

Colonist not used to foreign rule • King and Parliament were busy with events in Europe. (wars…) • Colonies so far away (3,000 Nautical miles) • Colonies got used to ruling themselves • Colonials began to make Mucho Denero (practicing my Spanish) : )

Mercantilism • 1760 King George III takes the throne • New policy –Mercantilism: Sell more than you buy . • Buy unmade resources for $ • Sell made products for $$$

British point of view • We just fought a Hundred years war • We just fought and won the French and Indian War • These things raised the glory and territory of colonist • Colonies supposed to make Great Britain MONEY • Oh yeah we (England) owe a lot of money

Stamp Act 1765 • Stamp on newspapers and legal documents • Seemed unfair because colonist had no voice in Parliament • “No taxation without representation” • Colonist boycotted British goods • Stamp act repealed 1766

Declatory Act 1766 • Same day stamp act was repealed Parliament passed Declatory Act. (coincidence) • Stated Parliament had the right to Tax and make decisions in the colonies “in all cases” • Basically we are the bosses of you • Colonist didn’t love this new law

Townsend Act 1767 • Revenue tax on colonies • Parliament new colonist would boycott taxed goods like they did with Stamp act of 1765 • So in Townsend Act they taxed necessities that colonist did not make themselves and had to buy from England • Glass, tea, paper, lead. Your face (checking if you are paying attention)

Tea Act 1773 • 1773 Parliament gave British East India co. right to ship tea to colonies without paying taxes • They also could sell directly to consumers cutting out colonial merchants • Paying no taxes and not paying middle men made East India tea cheaper than local colonists tea • Not cool (thought the colonist)

Boston Tea Party 1773 • Colonist blocked all East India Co. ships from ports except Boston Harbor. • Colonist dressed up as Indians (really bad costumes) • Snuck on ships • Dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor

Coercive Acts(Intolerable Acts) • As a response to Boston tea party terrorist acts • Restricted colonists rights 1-trial by jury 2-soldiers could freely search anyone's home for any reason 3-soldiers could move into your house if they wanted!

1st Continental Congress • Philadelphia • Sept. 1774 • 12 colonies, with GA missing, met for 7 weeks • 3 outcomes 1-sent letter to King George III demanding rights be restored  2-extended Boycott of British goods. (only way to win. Hit them in the wallet) 3-would meet in a year if demands aren’t met

It’s on WAR-April 1775 • King George responds with troops to 1st Continental congress letter • 1st battles are in Mass. At Lexington and Concord. • Fun fact: first man killed in revolutionary war was Crispus Attucks ½ black ½ Indian. • After these “Battles” troops firing on some guys with guns for the first time people change thinking… • …Start thinking about Independence (USA USA)

2ND Continental Congress • May 1775 • Split of ideas 1-never defeat big bad England 2-I’m still English 3-INDEPENDENCE (USA USA) Cont.

Common Sense • Thomas Paine Jan, 1776 • Inspired colonist to independence • He said it independence was just common sense • He argued: stop following a Brute and struggle for freedom

2nd continental Congress cont. • Over half of delegates agreed with Payne. • Approved independence July 4th 1776

Declaration of Independence • July 4th 1776 • We were free…in theory • We still needed to defeat the most powerful country the earth had ever seen. • Declaration has 3 parts 1-Preamble ( which you have to memorize) 2-Decloration of natural rights 3-list of grievances

Sec. 3Nations first Government

Early State Constitutions • Jan. 1776 New Hampshire 1st colony to make a constitution • 1780 all others had constitutions

Similarities in Constitutions • All were 1-Bi-cameral • Upper house • Lower house 2-Govenor • Elected • Or appointed 3- judges and courts -to interpret the laws

Massachusetts Constitution -1780 last to draw up constitution -only one still in affect today - Important model for U.S. constitution

Articles of Confederation • Introduced in 1777. • Ratified 1781 • One house legislature • Each state had one vote

Articles of Confederation cont. • Congress was only body in control of 1-army 2-authority to deal with foreign countries

Articles of Confederation cont. • Because of bad experiences the 13 states refused to give congress 2 important powers 1-power to enforce laws 2-power to tax

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation • 9 of 13 States had to favor anything for it to pass (that’s hard to do) • Amendments needed unanimous , all 13 states, approval. (again very hard to do) • There was no ability to enforce any rules

U.S. problems under Articles • -1783 - YES! We won the war for independence • Heavy debt • Heavy debt in States (because each State borrowed money too) • No power to tax (and we need money) • Couldn’t enforce laws (States were just doing whatever they wanted)

U.S. problems under Articles cont. • No strong government officials • No strong centralized government • No court system (no one knew who was right or wrong in arguments • And of course the 9 of 13 States had to favor anything for it to pass • Amendments needed unanimous approval.

Conclusions • As a result of all this: 1-people were heavily taxed by states to pay back debts 2-people were losing money and going broke 3-people were scared that the U.S. government could not protect them or provide services they required.

WE ARE DONE • WITH CHAPTER 2! Notes • Yeah • Clap 3 times

Roots of Democracy