1. Origins of American Government
Ch 2 Government
Origins of American Government

2. Section 1 – The Colonial Period
STGs:
What events led the American colonists to believe that they would have a representative government?
In what ways were the American colonies democratic?
In what ways were they NOT democratic?

3. The Colonies 1600s - 1774 How many colonies were there?
Where were the colonists from? (list nations)
Out of all of the Home Countries, which were the Less Autocratic/More Democratic?
Where were MOST of the colonists from?
Which country became the Ruler of the American colonies? 13
Mainly European nations: England, Spain, Netherlands, present-day Germany, Sweden, France AND West Africa (slave).
England and the Netherlands were the most democratic
Most of the colonists were from England.
England had a superior navy and army, so England became the ruler.

4. Evolution of American Colonies

5. Why Colonists expected Representative Government under British rule.
Pgs 35-38
British citizens demanded limited government in 1215: _________ ________
Petition of ____ (1628): limited king’s power
Required Parliament’s consent to raise taxes
Just Cause – Can’t imprison a person w/o a reason
No Martial Law – unless during war
Must have Homeowner’s permission to house troops
English Bill of _____ (1688): Government by Constitution, Parliament rules along with Monarch.
Representative Government – English Parliament had played an increasing role in governing England since 1628.
Two Treatises of Government, John Locke (1690). Locke believed people were born with “NATURAL RIGHTS” and agreed to submit to rule and in return the ruler was supposed to protect those rights. Regarded as “The Textbook of the American Revolution”
1215 Magna Carta
1628 Petition of Right
1688 English Bill of Rights

6. Colonial Government 1600s – 1750s
Common Practices
Written constitutions – protecting basic rights & limited power of gov’t
1620:
1629:
1639:
Elected Legislature
1st legislature in America
Separation of Powers –
Governor (King’s agent)
Colonial Legislature
Colonial Courts
1620 Mayflower Compact
1629 Great Fundamentals
1639 Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

7. Section 2 Uniting for Independence
STGs:
What factors caused the British to allow the colonists to operate with little interference between 1607 and 1763?
Why were the colonists and the British unable to compromise and settle their differences?

8. What factors caused the British to allow the colonists to operate with little interference between 1607 and 1763?
Colonies were a source of raw materials to England. As long as that happened, Britain had been content.
Geography: over 3,000 miles apart – it took over 2 months to relay orders.
Britain needed the good will of the colonists in order to keep them from swearing allegiance to France (in present-day Canada).

9. Why did Britain Tighten Control?
The French & Indian War:
Threatened Britain’s hold on colonies – made them want to tighten control.
The expense of the war – Britain wanted the American colonists to pay more of the expense.
At the end of the war, American colonists no longer needed British protection.
King George III Ascended to the Throne – 1760
He had different ideas about governing colonies that his predecessors.
His mental condition and policies towards the colonies made the American colonists question his “right” to rule.

10. Tightening Control
Increased taxes (in $ amount and on items previously not taxed)
To help pay the war debt
Stamp Act 1765: taxed on legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, dice and playing cards.
Restricted Trade:
Colony could trade ONLY with Britain.
Hurts colonists economically. Couldn’t sell cotton to other nations even though the price was higher.

11. Reactions Political protests & boycotts of British goods.
Led Britain to repeal the Stamp Act of Britain passed other tax laws to replace it.
Taxed tea.
Boston Tea Party 1773 –
Colonists dressed as Mohawks
Dumped tea in harbor
Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts – passed by Britain
Banned protests
Closed Boston Harbor
Massachusetts not allowed to govern itself

12. Result Escalated tensions between Britain & colonists
Made it harder for either side to back down
Unified the Colonists
Created a common purpose & identity
Began to think of themselves as Americans

13. Colonial Leadership Stamp Act Congress _________ (year)
Nine colonies met in New York
Sent petition to King arguing only colonial legislatures had power to tax colonies
Committees of Correspondence
Began in _________ (year)
1st committee - Samuel Adams in Boston
Over 80 committees throughout colonies
Urged resistance against Britain
1765
1773

14. First Continental Congress
Formed when petition to King George III fell on deaf ears
September 5, 1774
Embargo of British goods
Britain sent more troops/tightened control
“Shot Heard Around the World”
Considered 1st battle of the Revolutionary War
April 19, 1775
Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts
Clash between Redcoats and Colonists

15. Moving Towards Independence
Second Continental Congress
Met May __________
Philadelphia, _______________________
Congress assumed powers of Central Gov’t
John _____________, President of this Congress
_________ ___________________, Commander of the Continental Army
Generated support for their cause
May 1776 PA
John Hancock, President of the Congress NOT THE NATION
George Washington

16. Moving Towards Independence
Common Sense written by _________ ________
Encouraged independence
Characterized George III as “inveterate enemy to liberty”
Samuel Adams
“Is not America already independent? Why not then declare it?”
Richard Henry Lee
Introduced a motion to declare independence
* Thomas Paine

17. The Declaration of Independence
Pgs
This IS NOT THE CONSTITUTION.
Who drafted it? (NOT the same as an author. It had many authors.)
When was it signed?
Whose was the first signature?
What are the Three Parts?
Intro-Purpose of this document, included ideas of rights and government’s role
Middle: Lists complaints against the king
Conclusion: States colonists determination to separate from Britain

18. STATE Constitutions
States had STARTED writing their STATE Constitutions around May __________
Most had a bill of rights of citizens
Source of government’s power comes from the people
_____________ government – government can do only what the people (as a majority) approve
*States began writing their STATE CONSTITUTIONS – May 1776
* Limited

19. Section 3 Articles of Confederation
The FIRST CONSTITUTION of the United States
1771 – 1788
No Executive Branch (president)
No Judicial Branch
ONLY a ______________BRANCH (CONGRESS)
Legislative

20. Weaknesses Could not ______________________________
No power to ____________________________
Could not force __________________________
Process to ratify laws:
Difficult to get the required # of states’ delegates together all at one time = hard to pass new laws
One small state could block legislation
Collect/raise money to pay for government expenses or a military
No power to regulate trade
Could not force anyone to obey the laws

21. Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation
Fair policy of statehood:
Process for territories to become new states instead of being annexed by an existing state
New states were equal to older states in terms of representation and rights.
Peace treaty with _____________ __________________.
Established precedent for a ________________ (advisers).
“Full Faith and Credit”
States had to honor other states legal acts
If you married in New York, then Pennsylvania had to recognize that.
Can’t treat another state’s people differently than your own state’s people. Ex: Sales Tax same for all, not lower for your state’s citizens.
2. Great Britain
3. Cabinet

22. The Need for Stronger Government
_______________ Disputes – between states
States imposing ________________ on neighboring states’ imports
No way to raise taxes – unpaid debts
owed $ to other nations
Revolutionary War soldiers still unpaid
Shay’s ______________________
Former Revolutionary War soldier men
Put down by Massachusetts militia bc U.S. government had no army (no way to raise $)
Border
Tariffs
Shay’s Rebellion

23. The Annapolis Convention
1786, Annapolis, MD
All delegates invited to attend to discuss:
Border disputes
Difference between states’ currencies
Inability to put down a revolt
Only 5 states sent delegates
Successful because attendees later convinced the Congress of the Articles of Confederation to revise the articles.

24. Section 4 STGs: Explain/describe
How the Connecticut Compromise settled the MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE at the Constitutional Convention
Key arguments of the:
Federalists
AntiFederalists

25. What did the delegates agree that they wanted to accomplish?
Needed to abandon the old Articles, write new Constitution
Representative Government with power of government limited (Limited Gov’t)
Divide & Balance Powers. Create:
________________________ Branch
_______________________ Branch
_____________________________Branch
Limit the power of States to coin money or to interfere with a creditor’s rights
Strengthen the National Government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

26. Plans & Compromises Plan Idea Pros Cons Virginia
(by James Madison-Father of the Constitution)
New Jersey Plan

27. Plans & Compromises Pgs 55-56
Connecticut Compromise
Three-Fifths Compromise
Slavery
Other
Representation
President:
Term:

28. Franklin’s Comment upon finalizing the Constitution
“ “
What does that mean?

29. Ratifying the Constitution
Debate over Ratification
1787 – 1790
9 out of the 13 states HAD TO SIGN IT FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT
The 9th state (New Hampshire) ratified it
June 21, 1788
Last state signed it

30. Federalists vs AntiFederalists
Person(s)
Wanted:
Why did they want that?
Result/Note:

31. The End