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Our Political Beginnings Concepts: Democracy developed from Greek, Roman and English experience. The English traditions and ideas especially influenced U.S. government. The Constitution is the basis of our governmental structure and democratic principles/values.
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There are basic principles of government, which determine our government. The Constitution has been the basis of our government for 200 years because it is flexible and meets the needs of the people.
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The English controlled the 13 colonies and brought with them the knowledge of a political system. The Ancient Romans occupied much of England from A.D. 43 to 410 and left behind laws, religion and custom.
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Ordered Government The first English colonists created local governments. Offices: sheriff, coroner, assessor, grand jury etc.
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Limited Government Government should not be all powerful. Representative Government Government should serve the will of the people. People should have a voice in deciding what government should and should not do.
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English Concepts of Democracy 1. Limited Power of Government Magna Carta – 1215 Protected people against the King’s rule Created trial by jury and due process of law Protection against the taking of life, liberty or property Established that the power of the monarchy was not absolute.
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2. House of Commons – common man elected to be a part of government, all men can participate. Representative Government
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3. Rights of Common Man – all men have God given rights Petition of Right No martial law (rule by the military) No requirement to shelter the king’s troops Even the monarch must obey the law of the land
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English Bill of Rights No standing army in peacetime Free Parliamentary elections Parliament has the ultimate power Trial by jury of peers Consent of the governed Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
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4. Rule by law – all people follow decisions and laws which set a precedent and follow customs and traditions.
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13 Colonies Virginia – first colony First English settlement of Jamestown in 1607 Commercial Venture (Virginia Company – private trading company) Massachusetts Settled by those looking for personal and religious freedom
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Each colony was established on the basis of a Charter A written grant of authority from the king. Three Kinds of Charters Royal Colony – direct control of the crown King names a Governor and Council Bicameral Upper house – Council Lower house – elected by property owners
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Proprietary Colony Organized by a person who had been given a grant by the King. Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware Governor appointed by the proprietor Charter Colony Self-governing Connecticut and Rhode Island Elections approved by the King
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The Coming of Independence
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“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” – Benjamin Franklin The colonies had become largely self- governed. The crown provided defense, foreign affairs, system of money. When King George III took the throne in 1760, that would change.
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George III New taxes were imposed Colonists claimed “No taxation without Representation” New restrictive trading taxes imposed Colonists had to make a decision.
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Previous Attempts (to organize) 1643 – New England Confederation is formed. To help protect each other from Native Americans. 1696 – William Penn attempted inter- colonial cooperation and was ignored.
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1754 – Albany Plan – proposed by Ben Franklin Proposed the formation of an annual congress of delegates. The could raise the military, make war with Native Americans, regulate trade, and tax. The plan was turned down by the colonies and the crown.
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1765 – Stamp Act Use of tax stamps on all legal documents and newspapers “taxation without representation” Delegates from 9 of the colonies came together to oppose this act. Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, but passed other laws tying the colonies to London.
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Boston Massacre Boston Massacre Colonists begin to boycott English goods. 1770 – British troops fire on protesters killing five. More resistance organized by Samuel Adams in 1772. 1773 – Boston Tea Party Dumped cargo into the sea
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First Continental Congress 1774 – Delegates (except GA) met in Philadelphia Sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III. Encouraged refusal of trade and boycotts until the tax laws were repealed.
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Second Continental Congress British government refused to compromise. 1775 – Second Congress met. The revolution had begun. All 13 delegates were in attendance. John Hancock was chosen President of the Congress Continental Army created – George Washington appointed commander in chief
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The Second Continental Congress served as the first government of the United States for 5 years. Declaration of Independence in July 1776 Articles of Confederation – March 1781 Unicameral Body. Exercised both legislative and executive powers. Each colony had one vote.
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The Critical Period and Creating the Constitution
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Political philosophers John Locke NATURAL RIGHTS – all people born free, equal, independent and granted life, liberty and property SOCIAL CONTRACT – people created governments (give up some rights to live in an organized society) People can change government
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Jean –Jacque Rousseau (Switz.) People should be allowed to PARTICIPATE in government People are the POWER of government DEMOCRACY
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Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu or…..just Montesquieu (French) Government should be arranged around THREE branches of government There should be SEPARATION of powers between branches Gov’t power should be limited –CHECKS AND BALANCES
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Mayflower Compact What type of government did they have? DIRECT DEMOCRACY Read the Mayflower Compact and answer the two questions.
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Colonial Governments All were REPRESENTATIVE governments – under BRITISH rule Problems between the Crown and the Colonists No representation in Parliament, even though they were being taxed. No “taxation without representation”!
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Basic rights denied 1760- King George III had a huge war debt, so he in-acted a series of trade acts on the colonies Stamp Act Tax on all printed material Townsend Act Tax on everyday items (paper, glass, paint, tea)
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Tea Act NOT A TAX Gave the East India Tea Company exclusive rights to the tea trade.
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Action taken against England Petitions Meetings 1 st and 2 nd CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Protests Smuggling Tar and Feather tax collectors
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Boston Massacre (1770) British soldiers fire on protesting colonists killing 5 people. Boston Tea Party (1773) Colonists dressed as Native Americans dumped tea into the harbor to protest British control of sea trade.
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Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson All men have basic rights – John Locke Equality No classes in society
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Life Government cannot take away life without due process Liberty/Freedom Basic rights/freedoms
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Pursuit of Happiness Chance to better yourself economically. Government power Government power comes from the CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED. Man creates government To protect RIGHTS Can CHANGE government
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Reasons for the Declaration To convince the colonists to FIGHT To convince other countries to help To provide for the consent of the GOVERNED To establish that all men have RIGHTS To reaffirm our GRIEVANCES against the king
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American Revolution 1775-1781 French joined 1778 Articles of Confederation 1781-1789 Purpose: establish a working relationship between the 13 STATES
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Articles of Confederation STATES have the most power No LEADER One house CONGRESS
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Weaknesses of the Articles One vote for each state, regardless of population. Congress cannot collect taxes. Congress cannot regulate trade. No one to enforce acts of congress. No court system.
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Need for a Stronger Government Group of delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention = Framers Ideas: Virginia Plan – called for three separate branches. Called for bicameral legislature where representation was based on population (favors big states)
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New Jersey Plan – called for a unicameral Congress where each state was represented equally (favors the smaller states) Compromises Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise) – Put New Jersey and Virginia plans together. Bicameral Congress – Senate (equal rep.) and House (rep based on pop)
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Three – Fifths Compromise Should slaves count as part of the population? Framers decided that slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person for population purposes. Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress is forbidden to tax the export of goods from any state. Congress is forbidden to act on the slave trade for 20 years.
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Constitution Copies sent to states on September 28, 1787
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Federalists and Anti- Federalists Federalists – favored ratification of the new constitution (Madison, Hamilton, Washington) Stressed the weakness of the Articles Not sure if we should list out rights Favored maintaining an army in peace time
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Anti-Federalists – opposed ratification. (Henry, Hancock, S. Adams) Too much power for federal government No bill of rights No mention of God
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Ratification Delaware was first to ratify By 1788, 11 of 13 states had ratified the constitution (N. Carolina and Rhode Island ratified later) George Washington was elected President and John Adams Vice President. New York was the first capital.
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Constitution Written in 1787. Ratified in 1788. President Washington takes oath of office April 30, 1789. Constitution has been amended 27 times since then. The Constitution is our next unit! The Constitution is our next unit!
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