U. S. HISTORY UNIT ONE : PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTS

ACTUAL HISTORICAL DOCUMENT WRITTEN AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT WRITTEN BY PEOPLE LIVING AT THAT TIME IN HISTORY

IMPORTANT U. S. DOCUMENTS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION THE CONSTITUTION

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WRITTEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON DATE : JULY 4, 1776 PURPOSE : EXPLAIN REASONS FOR REBELLION AGAINST KING GEORGE III OF ENGLAND

PARTS OF DECLARATION INTRODUCTION STATEMENT OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS LIST OF GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE KING

INTRODUCTION “WHEN, IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS, IT BECOMES NECESSARY…” THIS PARAGRAPH STATES THAT REVOLUTION IS SO SERIOUS THAT HISTORY DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION FOR THE REBELLION AGAINST A GOVERNMENT!!!!!

NOW STOP AND READ THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IN THE DECLARATION

TAKE NOTES WRITE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IN YOUR OWN WORDS !

BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS “ … ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, AND AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.”

BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS “GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWER FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED; …” THIS MEANS THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT COMES FROM THE PEOPLE!!!

GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE KING OF ENGLAND KING REFUSED TO ACCEPT COLONIAL LAWS HAS FORBIDDEN GOVERNORS TO PASS NEEDED LAWS CLOSED COLONIAL LEGISLATURES

GRIEVANCES CONT. STOPPED IMMIGRATION MADE COLONIAL JUDGES ANSWER TO HIM QUARTERED TROOPS IN COLONIAL HOMES SHIPPED COLONISTS TO ENGLAND FOR TRIAL

MORE GRIEVANCES SENT ARMIES TO INTIMIDATE THE COLONISTS PROTECTED GUILTY SOLDIERS FROM PUNISHMENT THROUGH MOCK TRIALS HE HAS IMPRESSED (FORCED) AMERICANS INTO THE NAVY

MORE GRIEVANCES HE HAS PREVENTED COLONISTS FROM TRADING WITH OTHER COUNTRIES HE HAS CAUSED THE INDIANS TO ATTACK THE COLONISTS IMPOSED TAXES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF COLONISTS

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION FIRST WRITTEN PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT IN THE U. S. PROVIDED A LOOSE CONFEDERATION OF STATES CREATED A WEAK CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

PROVISIONS OF ARTICLES GAVE MORE POWER TO STATES MADE FEDERAL TAXES VOLUNTARY DID NOT HAVE A CHIEF EXECUTIVE/PRESIDENT

MORE PROVISIONS EACH STAE HAD ONE VOTE IN CONGRESS 9 OF THE 13 STATES HAD TO APPROVE OF A LAW CONGRESS COULD NOT REGULATE DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN TRADE

PROBLEMS DEVELOPED STATES DID NOT OBEY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THERE WAS NO COURT SYSTEM TO SETTLE DISPUTES STATES ARGUED AMONG THEMSELVES DANIEL SHAYS STARTED A REBELLION

LASTING GOOD RESULTS OF THE ARTICLES GOOD TRANSITION PERIOD AFTER REVOLUTIONARY WAR PROVIDED BASIS FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE PROVIDED TWO VERY IMPORTANT LAND LAWS

THE LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785 SYSTEM FOR SETTLING THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY LAND WAS SURVEYED AND DIVIDED INTO TOWNSHIPS EACH HAD 36 SECTIONS OF 1 SQ MILE (640 ACRES) ONE SECTION WAS SET ASIDE TO SUPOORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787 SET UP A GOVERNMENT FOR THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY IT OUTLAWED SLAVERY THERE PROVIDED ORDERLY PROCESS FOR TERRITORIES TO BECOME NEW STATES

U. S. CONSTITUTION BASED ON THE IDEA OF FEDERALISM THIS IS SHARED POWER BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENTS.

SUPREMACY CLAUSE THIS PART OF THE CONSTITUTION STATES THE WHEN THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, THE FEDERAL LAW IS SUPREME AND ALL CITIZENS MUST OBEY THE FEDERAL LAW.

SEPARATION OF POWERS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE BRANCHES : LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL NO ONE BRANCH CAN TAKE TOO MUCH POWER EACH BRANCH CHECKS/LIMITS THE POWER OF THE OTHER TWO

ARTICLE ONE : LIEGISLATIVE BRANCH PROVIDES FOR A BICAMERAL (TWO-HOUSE) LEGISLATURE UPPER HOUSE-SENATE LOWER HOUSE-HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SENATE BASED ON EQUAL REPRESENTATION EACH STATE HAS TWO SENATORS TODAY THERE ARE 100 SENATORS TERM OF OFFICE IS 6 YEARS THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF TERMS A SENATOR CAN HAVE

SENATE POWERS/DUTIES APPROVE OF ALL PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS RATIFY ALL PRESIDENTIAL TREATIES ACT AS JURY IN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ACT WITH HOUSE TO DEBATE AND PASS ALL LAWS ACT WITH HOUSE TO DECLARE WAR

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BASED ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS BEEN SET AT 435 EVERY TEN YEARS A CENSUS IS TAKEN AND THOSE 435 SEATS ARE REAPPORTIONED TERM OF OFFICE IS 2 YEARS (NO LIMIT ON TERMS)

HOUSE POWERS/DUTIES ALL REVENUE/TAX BILLS MUST ORIGINATE HERE POWER OF IMPEACHMENT (WHICH MEANS HOUSE MAY CHARGE PRESIDENT/VICE-PRESIDENT WITH HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS) WORK WITH THE SENATE TO CRAFT AND PASS ALL LAWS ACT WITH SENATE TO DECLARE WAR

ARTICLE TWO : EXECUTIVE BRANCH PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT AND ALL PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORS TERM OF OFFICE IS 4 YEARS (THERE IS A TWO TERM LIMIT) SEES THAT ALL LAWS ARE CARRIED OUT HEAD OF STATE

POWERS OF PRESIDENT COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF ARMED SERVICES NEGOTIATES TREATIES NOMINATES JUDGES, AMBASSADORS, CABINET MEMBERS, AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

ARTICLE THREE : THE JUDICIAL BRANCH THE SUPREME COURT AND ALL LOWER FEDERAL COURTS SUPREME COURT IS THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND SUPREME COURT INTERPRETS THE CONSTITUTION AND DECIDES IF LAWS ARE CONSTITUTIONAL THERE ARE 9 JUSTICES APPOINTED FOR LIFE

CHECKS & BALANCES : LEGISLATIVE CHECKS LEGISLATIVE CHECKS EXECUTIVE BY OVERIDING VETO, RATIFYING TREATIES, APPROVING APPOINTMENTS, AND IMPEACHMENT LEGISLATIVE CHECKS JUDICIAL BY APPROVING ALL FEDERAL JUDGES

CHECKS & BALANCES : EXECUTIVE BRANCH EXECUTIVE CHECKS LEGISLATIVE BY VETO OF LAWS; NOMINATIONS OF JUDGES, AMBASSADORS, CABINET MEMBERS; CALLING SPECIAL SESSIONS OF CONGRESS EXECUTIVE CHECKS JUDICIAL BY NOMINATING ALL FEDERAL JUDGES

CHECKS & BALANCES : JUDICIAL CHECKS JUDICIAL CHECKS PRESIDENT BY DECLARING ANY PRESIDENTIAL ACTION TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL JUDICIAL CHECKS LEGISLATIVE BY DECLARING LAWS TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ANY ADDITION OR CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION IS CALLED AND AMENDMENT THE FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS ARE CALLED “THE BILL OF RIGHTS” THERE HAVE BEEN 26 AMENDMENTS THUS FAR

THE END !!!!!