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Origins of American Government

Explore the origins of American government, from the customs and laws brought by the first settlers, to the influence of English law and the rise of representative government in Jamestown. Discover the concepts of limited government and the erosion of absolute monarchy through documents like the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights. Learn about the establishment of royal, proprietary, and charter colonies, as well as the policies of Britain and the challenges to colonial unity.

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Origins of American Government

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  1. Origins of American Government Our Political Beginnings The Coming Independence Chapter 2

  2. Basic Concepts of Government • Our first settlers brought with them the customs and laws from England • The first settlers organized their towns based on those common laws using a sheriff, coroner, justice of the peace, and grand juries.

  3. Basic Concepts of Government • Babylonia – Hammurabi’s Code • Greece – direct democracy • Rome – 12 Tables which spread throughout their Empire in Europe • English Law • Native American Law

  4. Basic Concepts of Government • Land was divided into counties and townships. • They brought the idea of limited government • Because they were far from the king, they began a representative government in Jamestown

  5. Basic Concepts of Government • The new government was based on English law and tradition from the Magna Carta, Petition of Rights and the English Bill of Rights • Wealthy men still ruled these local governments

  6. Limited Government • Absolute monarchies lost some of their power in England beginning in 1215. (Magna Carta) • The idea of limiting the power of government was brought with the early colonists.

  7. Magna Carta • In 1215, English nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, making the king share power with them • It included a trial by jury and due process before taking life, liberty or property.

  8. Petition of Right • Almost 400 years later, in 1628, Charles I signed the Petition of Right which gave rights to common people. • This document further eroded the power of the absolute monarchy • It challenged the idea of divine right saying the king had to obey the law.

  9. English Bill of Rights • After the Glorious Revolution in 1688, William and Mary agreed to the English Bill of Rights • This required the elected Parliament to share the power of government

  10. English Bill of Rights • It gave the right to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment and prohibited a standing army unless authorized by Parliament. • The absolute monarchy was dead in England

  11. Representative Government • Colonists also brought with them the idea of electing representatives to serve for them in government.

  12. Jamestown • The first permanent English colony was started as a joint-stock company, the Virginia Company. • The first inhabitants were employees

  13. Jamestown • Far from the King (3 months by ship), local decisions were made by management leading to self-rule.

  14. Massachusetts • The Pilgrims settled in New England to escape religious persecution • The Puritans believed all other faiths were damned to hell.

  15. Georgia • To relieve overcrowding in debtors prisons, Britain sent victims of the Poor Laws to Georgia • It was set up as a military colony to buffer Spanish Florida from the Carolinas

  16. Royal Colonies • Of the 13 colonies, 8 were under direct control of the Crown – NH, MA, NY, NJ, VA, NC, SC, GA • The king named a governor but the lower house was elected by the people

  17. Proprietary Colonies • Three were proprietary colonies: PA, MD, DE • Lord Baltimore – Delaware • William Penn – PA and MD • Major decisions were made by the king while day to day business was controlled by elected representatives Penn

  18. Charter Colonies • Connecticut and Rhode Island were charter colonies and largely self-governing • They had a bi-cameral, two houses, legislature

  19. Get your clickersfor a 10 question review

  20. The Coming of Independence Chapter 2 Section 2

  21. Britain’s Policies • The 13 colonies were separately controlled through the king, by means of the Privy Council or Board of Trade • Except for trade, the colonies were left to govern themselves under the watchful eye of the Crown

  22. Britain’s Policies • The Crown hired royal governors to oversee policy, but colonial taxes paid his salary. • Usually the governor went with the wishes of the town

  23. Britain’s Policies • The Crown provided for a national currency and made foreign policy for the colonies. • Parliament made few regulations regarding trade and taxes were low

  24. Colonial Unity • For the first years, there was no unity among the colonies. • Trade, transportation, communication, etc all went between Britain. • The first attempts at unity, the New England Confederation and one devised by William Penn, were unsuccessful.

  25. Albany Plan of Union • Ben Franklin wanted each colony to send delegates to an annual meeting • They would have the power to raise a military, regulate inter-colonial trade, and dealings with the Indians • It was rejected

  26. Albany Plan of Union

  27. Stamp Act 1765 • Parliament passed a new tax law for the colonists • It required that a tax be paid on almost all paper goods; newspapers, legal documents, etc • A stamp proved the tax was paid

  28. Stamp Act 1765 • The colonists petitioned the king, boycotted British goods and hung effigies of tax collectors • Parliament repealed the tax.

  29. More Taxes, More Protests • Colonial boycotts continued when Britain imposed other taxes • Their claim, “No taxation without representation.” Tar and feathering

  30. More Taxes, More Protests • On Dec. 16, 1773, patriots threw chests of tea into Boston Harbor • King George III imposed the Intolerable Acts • It was time for the colonies to join forces.

  31. First Continental Congress • Delegates from 12 colonies, (not GA) met in Philadelphia • They discussed the worsening situation with Britain and looked for a way to solve the conflict. • They planned to meet the following summer.

  32. More Taxes, More Protests • In April 1775, British soldiers headed for a colonial munitions stockpile west of Boston • The “shot heard ‘round the world” was fired and the American Revolution had begun

  33. Second Continental Congress • By the meeting of this Congress, we were at war with Britain. • All 13 colonies sent delegates, which devised America’s first government.

  34. Second Continental Congress • John Hancock was its president • George Washington was appointed Commander in Chief • They raised an army, borrowed funds, dealt with foreign nations, and created a money system

  35. Declaration of Independence • A committee of 5 was charged with writing a document explaining our grievances against King George III • Thomas Jefferson wrote the document which was approved on July 4, 1776

  36. Declaration of Independence • The Declaration of Independence lists the numerous acts that King George III did to America without any representative from the colonies in Parliament.

  37. United States of America • After 5 years of fighting, America was independent • States began writing their own state constitutions, each featuring popular sovereignty, something the patriots had fought for.

  38. United States of America • The state constitutions had many similarities • Governors had little power • Most authority was given to the legislature • Elected offices had short terms • Landed men had the right to vote

  39. United States of America • It was easy to see that America would not easily forget the reasons they fought for their freedom.

  40. Origins of Our American Government The Critical Period Chapter 2 Section 3

  41. Vocabulary • Articles of Confederation – first plan for America’s government following the Revolutionary War • Ratification – approval • Presiding officer – person leading a meeting

  42. Articles of Confederation • The first state and federal governments of America were reminders of what colonists had lived through under King George II • They based these documents more on what they did not want

  43. Articles of Confederation • The Articles of Confederation is a government which gave states exactly what they wanted • Strong state’s rights • Weak central government • Unanimous decisions to change the Articles

  44. Articles of Confederation • The Articles of Confederation was ratified by all 13 states by 1781 • The presiding officer had no decision making power • Congress could declare war but not raise troops • Congress could spend money but not raise revenue

  45. Articles of Confederation • The states promised to send money and troops to the federal government when it was needed • Nothing could force them to do it when the time came, however • The govt had ‘power’ but no ‘authority’

  46. Articles of Confederation • Congress borrowed heavily to pay for the war and those debts had not been repaid • Not a single state came close to repaying their share of the debt and Congress could not mandate it

  47. Articles of Confederation • Because 9 of the 13 states had to ratify any amendments, it was impossible to get them to agree so no amendments were done • States bickered among themselves and many acted like an independent country when dealing with foreign countries

  48. Critical Period, 1780’s • “We are one nation today and 13 tomorrow, Who will treat us on such terms?” G. Washington • States taxed one another’s goods and banned trade. • Debts went unpaid • Violence broke out

  49. Shays Rebellion • Daniel Shays led farmers in western Massachusetts in violent protests against losing their farms • There was no army to stop them

  50. Shay’s Rebellion • The farmers rampaged through Massachusetts but no one was able to stop them without an army or trained military.

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