Colonists The Colonists Political Political ideas came from different sources – Ancient Greece and Rome – English government – Enlightenment

Basic Concepts Ordered government – Regulated, with specific units and offices Limited government – Restricted Representative government – People have a say

Magna Carta Charter Magna Carta “Great Charter” 1215 King had to ask nobles’ advice Nobles had to agree to raise taxes Right to trial by jury Parliament

Rights Petition of Rights 1628 King could not force people to loan him money Trial by jury English Bill of Rights 1689 Parliament had to approve taxes King could not interfere with Parliament Trial by jury

Magna Carta English Bill of Rights Virginia Bill of Rights U.S. Bill of Rights Trial by Jury  Due Process  Private Property  No cruel punishment  No excessive bail  Bear arms  Petition  No unreasonable searches  Free speech  Free press  Freedom of religion 

The 13 Colonies Royal Colonies Proprietary Proprietary Colonies Charter Charter Colonies

The Fundamental Orders The Fundamental Orders were adopted in 1639 – the first written constitution in the colonies All free, male landowners were allowed to vote in elections Used secret, written ballots Still part of the state constitution

Great Britain Cracks Down In the 1700s, Great Britain needed money – Raised taxes – Imposed restrictions on trade Colonists needed to work together Benjamin Franklin suggested the Albany Plan of Union

Trouble 1765: Stamp Act – “Taxation without Representation” 1770: Boston Massacre 1773: Boston Tea Party 1774: Intolerable Acts

The First Continental Congress Met for 2 months Sent a Declaration of Rights to King George Made no difference Led to Revolutionary War

The Second Continental Congress Organized & ran the Revolutionary War Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation

We declare our independence…

Declaration of Independence “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Grievances “these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and independent States”

State Constitutions Virginia: House of Burgesses New Hampshire: First State Constitution Other states called conventions to write constitutions

Common Features of Constitutions Popular Sovereignty Government exists with consent of people People hold power Limited Government Restrictions on the power of government Civil Rights & Liberties People have rights Government must respect people’s rights Separation of Powers/Checks & Balances Three branches of government Each branch can control the power of the others

The Articles of Confederation WeaknessEffect Congress couldn’t raise taxes One state, one vote Congress couldn’t regulate trade No executive No judiciary Change required unanimous consent

The Framers 55 delegates Well-educated 52 Leaders in their states 29 Leaders in the Revolution 8 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

THE PLANS

The Virginia Plan House of Representatives Senate Bicameral Legislature (Based on population) elect National Executive National Judiciary choose

The New Jersey Plan Unicameral Legislature (One vote for each state) National Executive National Judiciary elect choose (Committee, cannot be reelected)

THE COMPROMISES

Connecticut Compromise Bicameral Legislature House of Representatives Senate (Based on population)(Two per state) Supreme Court President appoints approve

Three-Fifths Compromise All free people count Only 3 out of 5 slaves count

Trade & Taxes Congress could control interstate trade Congress could tax imports, but not exports Congress could not rule on the slave trade for 20 years

Terms Ratify Federalist Anti-Federalist

Federalist Papers Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay Explained why ratifying the Constitution was a good choice

Compromise Bill of Rights – Protect basic rights – Helped Anti-Federalists agree to ratification 9 states needed to ratify the Constitution – New Hampshire was #9 in June, 1788 – Rhode Island finally ratified the Constitution in 1790

The First Congress Met March 9, 1789 April 6: George Washington unanimously elected president – John Adams elected vice president