Creation of the Federal Government

English Influences on American Government Limited Government ◦ Magna Carta (1215) ◦ English Bill of Rights (1689) Representative Government ◦ The Parliament  The House of Commons  The House of Lords John Locke ◦ Two Treaties on Government  “Life, Liberty, Property” ◦ “Natural Rights” vs “Natural Obligations” ◦ Consent of the People

Government of the Colonies Mayflower Compact ◦ Direct Democracy ◦ Town Halls Virginia House of Burgesses ◦ Representative Democracy ◦ Power of the Purse 13 Colonies with… ◦ Written Constitutions ◦ Guaranteed basic liberties ◦ Legislatures of Elected Representatives ◦ Separation of Powers

Colonies on Their Own Mercantilism Salutary Neglect ◦ 3,000 miles  2 months by boat ◦ Weak Royal Governors ◦ Monetary Gain

Conflict Abroad and at Home The West ◦ Quebec ◦ Indian Territories  Treaties Made and Broken 7 Years War French and Indian War ◦ Army Dispatched to American Colonial Defense George III

Britain Tightens Control The Cost of Defense New Taxes ◦ Stamp Act ◦ Townshend Act ◦ Tea Act Boston ◦ Massacre ◦ Tea Party Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts ◦ End of Self-Governance ◦ Close Boston Harbor

Colonies Unite The Albany Plan of Union Stamp Act Congress Committees of Correspondence September 5 th, First Continental Congress ◦ Embargo ◦ The Petition to the King April 19, The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

Second Continental Congress Defense of Massachusetts ◦ George Washington Further Action? Independence ◦ The Lee Resolution ◦ The Adams Committee ◦ The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration Ideology ◦ “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” ◦ John Locke  “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” Specific Complaints ◦ 27 Paragraphs Separation ◦ “These colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States…”

The Articles of Confederation “League of Friendship” 13 fully independent states Features ◦ Unicameral Legislature  Equal Representation ◦ No executive ◦ No judicial ◦ Specificly Delegated Powers Powers of the Articles ◦ Make War and Peace ◦ Send and Receive Ambassadors ◦ Enter into Treaties ◦ Raise and Equip an Navy ◦ Maintain an Army by “requesting” troops from the states ◦ Fix Standards of Weight ◦ Regulate Indian Affairs ◦ Establish Post Offices ◦ Settle (some) disputes among the states

Achievements of the Articles Peace with Great Britain Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Ummm… Uh… Post Offices?

The Articles Stink Weaknesses ◦ No power to regulate trade ◦ No authority to enforce the laws ◦ 9 States needed to pass a law ◦ 13 States needed to amend the Articles ◦ Rule by Committee ◦ No legal precedents ◦ No power to tax  No power at all Stupid Government. Bad, Stupid Government.

Need for Stronger Government Growing Problems ◦ Tariffs  New York-New Jersey- Connecticut ◦ Boundary Lines  Virginia-Maryland ◦ International Relations  Piracy  New York City-Detroit  West Florida ◦ Non-Payments of Debt  The PA Militia  The French, The Dutch, The Spanish

Shays’ Rebellion Daniel Shays ◦ Apple Farmer