Origins of American Government

1. Origins of American Government Unit 1 Chapter 2

2. The Colonial Period • An English Heritage • Limited Government • Magna Carta (1215) = government not all powerful; King John • Power of the monarch or government is limited not absolute • Petition of Government (1628) • King Charles • Parliament took more power away from king

3. English Bill of Rights (1688) • Glorious Revolution • Removed James II • Replaced him with William and Mary of Orange • William and Mary agreed to govern under rules of Parliament • 1. No divine right, consent of the people. • 2. Parliament’s consent to suspend laws, levy taxes, etc. • 3. Monarch cannot interfere with parliamentary elections or debates • 4. People have a right to petition, have fair and speedy trials, jury of peers • 5. No cruel and unusual punishment

4. John Locke • Two Treatises of Government (1609) • “textbook of the American Revolution” • All people are born free, equal, and independent • “natural law” • life, liberty, and property • Government is legitimate as long as the people continue to consent to it

5. Government in the Colonies • Each colony had its own • Governor • Legislature • Court system • Constitutions • -Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact • Elect their own leaders, laws, charters • Separations of powers • All the while still loyal to GB

6. Legislatures • House of Burgesses (1619) 1st one • Elections stemmed from Puritan beliefs of electing their own ministers • 2 representatives

7. Uniting for Independence • In GB’s Eyes • Colonies were • 1. a source of raw materials • 2. Market for goods • 3.Solely to benefit GB • Colonies had spent nearly 150 years governing themselves • Mutual need for each other as protection from the French

8. Britain Tightens Control • 1. French and Indian War • GB debt • French driven out • Colonies no longer needed protection • 2. King George III • Deal more firmly with colonies • TAXED!!! • Stamp Act (1765) 1st direct tax • Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts Closed Boston Harbor Took government away in Mass. • Control trade

9. Taking Action • 1ST Meeting: Stamp Act Congress (1765) • Sent petition • 2nd Meeting: First Continental Congress • All colonies except Georgia • In Philly • Imposed an embargo • Didn’t work because 7 months later battle of Lexington and Concord

10. 3rd Meeting: Second Continental Congress • Assumed powers of a central government • John Hancock as President • Organized an army and navy • Issued money • George Washington commander of the Continental Army

11. Declaration of Independence • Thomas Jefferson • Debated and edited • Part 1 • Statement of purpose and basic human rights • Part 2 • List of complaints and violations against George III • Part 3 • Determination to separate from GB

12. The Articles of Confederation • Unicameral Congress • No president or executive branch • Each state had one vote • Congress=foreign affairs and defense • States had control of everything else • Make war and peace, raise a navy or army, regulate Indian affairs, establish post offices

13. Weaknesses • Weak National government • Couldn’t levy taxes • Couldn't regulate trade • Couldn’t enforce laws • 9 out of 13 vote for ratification • Changes to the Articles took all 13 states to ratify • No executive branch • No national court systems

14. Problems • Had no money • $40 million debt to foreign nations • Couldn’t pay soldiers • Shays’ Rebellion • Daniel Shays • Closed courts in order to prevent foreclosures • Decided we have to revise

15. The Constitutional Convention • Begin anew • Each state had one vote • Majority rule • National government divided • 1. Executive • 2. Judicial • 3. Legislative • National level needed more power

16. Ratifying the Constitution • Federalists = favored the Constitution • Founders • Anarchy • Could protect from enemies • No Bill of Rights because it was in the state constitutions • Anti-Federalists = opposed the Constitution • Secrecy • Extralegal • 1. Only to revise • 2. Took power away from the states • Lacked a Bill of Rights