1. Origins of American Government
Government Chapter 2
Origins of American Government

2. Lesson 1: The Colonial Period
An English Political Heritage- most colonists from England
Limited Government- Only the powers granted
Magna Carta (1215), first written rights
Petition of Right- Limiting the Kings Power
English Bill of Rights- After the Glorious Revolution, William and Mary take the throne
Limiting the Kings power

3. Section 1: The Colonial Period
13 Colonies governed by the British
Virginia House of Burgesses- 1st legislature in the Colonies
British protected against France
French and Indian War

4. The Colonial Period
Representative Government- Colonies adopt this idea for local government
New Political Ideas- Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau. Natural Rights, consent of governed.

5. Government in the Colonies
Each colony its own government and governor
Democracy prevails- except women and slaves
Written Constitutions
Mayflower Compact
General Fundamentals, Pilgrims
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut- 1st Constitution

6. Government in the Colonies
Colonial Legislatures
Representative bodies elected
Separation of Powers
Divided the powers of government
Montesquieu’s The Spirit of Laws
Training ground for those who will write the Constitution

7. Lesson 2: Uniting for Independence
The Colonies on Their own
First 150
French and Indian Wars change this.
George III takes over, tightens control
Taxes raised to pay for the war
Stamp Act- first direct tax
Revenue increased, colonist upset, Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts- Led to an Embargo
Close Boston Harbor
MA could not govern itself

8. Colonial Unity Albany Plan of Union, Franklin, rejected
Committees of Correspondence- urge resistance, Sam Adams led the way in MA
1st Continental Congress- 1774, Embargo established with England
2nd Continental Congress
Served as the acting government
Army and navy organized
Issue money
Washington in charge of troops

9. Independence Thomas Paine, Common Sense, influenced colonists.
Declaration of Independence
Jefferson wrote most of it
Key parts of the Declaration
Locke’s ideas prominent
1st section- purpose and basic human Rights
2nd- Specific complaints
3rd- Determination for separation from England
State Constitutions written

10. Lesson 3: The Articles of Confederation
No Executive or Judicial Branch
No ability to tax
Unicameral Legislature
No Commerce power
Interstate Commerce- Trade amongst States not controlled.
Need for Stronger Government
Shays’s Rebellion
Annapolis Convention fails, 5 States show up

11. Lesson 4: The Constitutional Convention
55 attend
Elite of the time
Madison, Father of the Constitution
Washington to preside
Abandon the Articles
Decisions and Compromises
The Virginia Plan- Bicameral, based on population
The New Jersey Plan- Equality in the Legislature
Connecticut Compromise- Bicameral, House (population) and Senate (Equality

12. Decisions and Compromises
Three-Fifths Compromise
Commerce Compromise
No Tariffs on exports
Control Interstate Commerce
Slavery Question couldn’t touch, leave it to others
Voting- let the States decide

13. Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists- Strong central government, support the Constitution
Anti-Federalist
Federalist Papers- argue for ratifying
9 of 13 needed
Bill of Rights- limited government, rights of the people
From the Magna Carta and English bill of Rights