DOCUMENTS THAT INFLUENCED AMERICA

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT… MAGNA CARTA ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION FEDERALIST PAPERS

MAGNA CARTA (1215) Signed by King John at Runnymede First real restriction on the power of the government “Forced” signature by the citizens Included guaranteed Trial by Jury and Due Process Established the power of the monarchy is not absolute

ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS (1688) Signed by William and Mary of Orange after they assumed the throne (Glorious Revolution) Prohibited standing army in peace Required free elections for Parliament, right to fair trial and protection from cruel and unusual punishment

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1777) Served as the first government for the United States Worked as a “firm league of friendship” Each state worked as a separate entity, except in defense and general welfare Unfortunately, many weaknesses…

Weaknesses of the AOC One vote for each state regardless of size No power to tax for Congress No power to regulate trade for Congress No executive to enforce acts of Congress No national court system Amendment only on consent of all states 9/13 majority to pass laws

FEDERALIST PAPERS (1787) Drafted by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay Designed to assist in the ratification of the Constitution in New York Collection of 85 essays Excellent commentary on earliest political conflicts

PLANS FOR REFORM OF THE US GOVERNMENT

PROPOSED PLANS FOR REFORM VIRGINIA PLAN –L–Largely proposed by James Madison –T–Three branches –B–Bicameral Congress –C–Cong. Rep. based on population or $$ given to government –C–Congress chose the members for the Exec. and Judicial branches NEW JERSEY PLAN –P–Proposed by William Patterson –T–Three branches –U–Unicameral Congress –C–Cong. Rep. based on equal representation

ACCEPTED PLAN FOR REFORM CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE –Bicameral Congress One based on population, one on equal rep. –Three branches OTHER COMPROMISES - Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for census -Slave trade left alone until 1808

FEDERALISTS vs. ANTI-FEDERALISTS

Federalists and Anti-Federalists Two of the earliest political parties Based their ideas around the US Constitution FEDERALISTS – pro-ratification ANTI-FEDERALISTS – against ratification

FEDERALISTS Many attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia Believed in the sharing of powers between the central government and state government Stressed the weakness of the AOC Leaders – James Madison and Alexander Hamilton

ANTI-FEDERALISTS Objected to every major part of the Constitution –R–Ratification –N–No mention of God –L–Lack of states power to print money Two greatest objections –I–Increased powers of the central government –N–No Bill of Rights Leaders included Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams