1. Origins of American Government
Chapter 2

2. How does the Constitution reflect the times in which it was written?

3. Our Political Beginnings
Chapter 2 Section 1
Our Political Beginnings

4. What ideas and traditions influenced government in the English colonies?

5. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
Basic Concepts of Government The English Colonist brought to North America three Basic notions that helped shaped the government of the USA.
ORDERED GOVERNMENT
Orderly regulation of relationships with each colony
Saw a need for government
Examples: sheriff, justice of the peace
LIMITED GOVERNMENT
Government is restricted in what it can do
Each individual has rights that the government cannot take away
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
The idea that government should serve the will of the people
People should have a voice of what the government should and should not do

6. Landmark English Documents
Ordered government, limited government, and representative government can be traced to several landmark documents in English history.
The MAGNA CARTA – provides protection against the government.
The PETITION OF RIGHTS – limited the king’s power.
The ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS –protected citizens rights

7. An English Political Heritage
Magna Carta
1215
Government is not all-powerful
Provided for the basis of limited government
Protection against unjust punishment, loss of life, liberty, and property
Certain taxes could not be levied with out popular consent
Petition of Rights
1628
Severely limited the king’s power
Could not collect tax without Parliament’s consent
Could not imprison people without just cause
No quartering of troops without permission of the homeowner
Cannot declare marital law unless the country was at war
English Bill of Rights
1689
Set clear limits on what a leader could or could not do
Stated Monarchs do not have absolute authority; rule with consent of the people
Must have consent from Parliament to suspend laws, levy taxes., maintain army; right to fair and speedy trial
People protected against cruel and unusual punishment

8. FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN RIGHTS Virginia Bill of Rights
The rights established in these landmark documents were revolutionary in their day and influenced government in many countries.
1215
Magna Carta
1689
English Bill of Rights
1776
Virginia Bill of Rights
1791
Bill of Rights
Trial by jury √
Due Process
Private Property
No Cruel punishment
No excessive bail or fines
Right to bear arms
Right to petition
No unreasonable search or seizures
Freedom of speech
Freedom of press
Freedom of religion

9. The Thirteen Colonies
The settings in which Americans first started to learn government.
First permanent English settlement was in Jamestown, Virginia.
North America was an escape for more personal and religious freedom

10. The Coming of Independence
Chapter 2 Section 2
The Coming of Independence

11. What events and ideas led to American independence?

12. Britain’s Colonial Policies
Colonist became use to self-government
Great Britain was 3,000 miles away; 2 months to sail to receive correspondence
Great Britain responsible for:
Colonial defense
Foreign affairs
Uniform money system
Market for colonial trade
Little taxes were taken from the colonies
King George II was the king of Great Britain at this time.

13. Britain's Colonial Policies
King George III
Came to throne in 1760
Started to deal with the colonists more “firmly”
Restricted trading and enforced taxes to support British troops in North America

14. The Stamp Act Congress Stamp Act
Required the use of tax stamps on all legal documents, certain business agreements, and on newspapers
The Act was denounced by the colonies because they thought the taxes were too high
This tax brought the colonies together; they formed the Stamp Act Congress
Nine of the thirteen colonies sent delegates
Sent a letter to the King called the Declarations of Rights and Grievances
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act; frictions still mounted
Britain’s harsh tax and trade policies brought resentment to the colonies.

15. First Continental Congress
Intolerable Acts
Britain passed new laws for troubles in Boston (Massacre/Tea Party)
Wrote the Declaration of Rights
Urged colonist to boycott (refusal to buy) all trade with England

16. Second Continental Congress
Nation’s first government
President = John Hancock
Commander-in-Chief = George Washington
Condemned by the British as a act of treason
John Hancock
President
George Washington
Commander-in-Chief

17. The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
Main author of the Declaration
Declared independence on July 4, 1776.
King George III -- To Late to Apologize