America's Political Beginnings The English colonies are going to fall into three of the following caterarogies. Many of their theories are going to come from their experiences and relationship with the British government: Ordered Government: Used what they knew from England. For example these governments would have institution that could also be found in England during this time. Shariff Justice of the Peace Coroner Grand Hury Assessor Township Limited Government The idea that government was not all-powerful Another English Idea ( will see how this idea form through different documents we are looking at during class today) Representative Government The thought that the government served the will of the people

The Road to Independence Colonial Period & The Colonial Mindset: Organized government into institutions and introduced roles Limited Government Government is NOT all powerful. Representative Government Government serves will of the people King George Takes the British Throne in 1760: Introduces new taxes & more taxes imposed on the colonies. Colonists feel as if they are being mistreated by the crown. No taxation without representation-We want a voice in our government!! Colonists begin to protest, organize resistance movements, etc. (Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party). Before 1760 Parliament took little part in the management of the colonies Technology colonist were governed from London but since it was so far away colonist used a measure of self-governing . Left matters of colonial administration almost entirely to the crown. Legislative assumed lawmaking powers Colonial Unity Many new England settlement joined in orde r to form an defense against the Native American. An early attempt in trying to unify colonist was first tried in 1643 to form a conferdeship Dissolved in 1684 George III Begins to rule the colonies firmly Come to the throne in 1760 restrictive trade acts new taxes Colonist felt they were being treated badly The Stamp Act Congress Stamp Act of 1765 Law required the use of tax stamps on all documents (legal) Taxation without Representation Created the Declaration of rights and Grievances against the policies and send to the king All colonist except for Georgia sent delegates to NY for the stamp act Congress Parliament repealed the stamp Act but new laws still came Boycotts against English goods and mob violence Boston Massacre (March 5th 1770) Protests multipled Organized resistance formed Boston Tea Party (December 16th 1773) The First Continental Congress Delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia in September 5th 1774 for the first continental congress 1774 Parliament passed the intolerable acts in response to the troubles in Boston Discussed the situation Sent the declaration of rights to the crown protesting the colonial politics The Second Continental Congress British government refused to compromise Second continental congress met in Philadelphia in may 10th 1775 Revolutionary war had began All 13 colonies sent representatives Hancock chosen as president Army created and Georgia Washington appointed commander in chief First national Government The second continental congress became the first national government. Served as the government for 5 years No continental base Exercised both the legislative and executive power. Declaration of Independence Benjamin Franklin Written by John Adams Roger Sherman Robert Livingsten Signed July 4th 1776 Thomas Jefferson Proclaimed existence of a new nation 2/3 of the document talks about what lead to the revolution

Enlightenment Philosophers John Locke was a 17th century English writer. Locke believed that people can live in the state of nature-that is without any ruler as long as people had enough food and protection. The human desire for self-preservation will lead people to form governments. Therefore people entered into a Social Contract. Government is based on an agreement between people and their rulers. He felt that people have the right to life, liberty, and property. In order to give up absolute freedom for protection, the people formed governments to limit certain freedoms in order for government to protect their natural rights, or rights given to us by god. John Locke

Government, was necessary to restrain humanity’s bestial tendencies because life without government was but a state of nature. State of Nature: A place without written, enforceable rules. A place without government. Without government people would live like animals- foraging for food, stealing and killing when necessary. To escape the horrors of the natural state to protect their lives, people must give up certain rights to government. Without government Hobbes warned life would be Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. Thomas Hobbes

Rousseau's most important work is The Social Contract, he claimed that the state of nature was a primitive condition without law or morality, which human beings left for the benefits and necessity of cooperation. According to Rousseau, by joining together into civil society through the social contract and abandoning their claims of natural right, individuals can both preserve themselves and remain free. This is because submission to the authority of the general will of the people as a whole guarantees individuals against being subordinated to the wills of others-All men are created equal. Jean Jacques Rousseau

Baron De Montesquieu who wrote the Spirit of the Laws adopted Hobbes's and Locke’s theory of the Social Contract. He argued that the best form of government is one that fits best with the “peculiar character of its people.” His most critical contribution was his theory about liberty which held that government power was best when divided into branches of government such as a legislative, executive and judicial. Baron De Montesquieu

After the pamphlet Common Sense a plan was developed to declare Independence. Congress named a committee of Five; Ben Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston to prepare a proclamation. Many delegates had serious doubts about the wisdom of declaring a separation and continuing a war On July 4th 1776 the Declaration was signed