1. Origins and History of Our Government

2. Where did it start England Brought a sense of government
Ancient Rome 45 A.D – 410 A.D
Law, religion, and custom
Ordered Government
Colonists set up local governments modeled on what they had in England
Sheriff, coroner, justice of the peace and jury
Limited Government- government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has certain rights the government may not take away- Government should not be all powerful
Representative Government- the idea that government should serve the will of the people. “government of, by, and for the people”

3. Landmark English Documents
The Magna Carta- Great charter forced upon King John of England by his barons in 1215; established that the power of the monarchy was not absolute and guaranteed trial by jury and due process of law and nobility.
These protections were originally for the privileged class
Over time it was given to all people
1st attempt to limit absolute power of the king
1st system of checks and balances

4. Landmark English Documents
Petition of Right- document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even monarchs were subject to the laws of the land.
King could not impose martial law( rule by the military) in time of peace
Require homeowners to shelter the king’s troops, without consent

5. Landmark English Documents
English Bill of Rights- document written by Parliament and signed by William and Mary of England in 1689, designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; forms the basis for much of the American government and politics today.
Prohibit standing army in times of peace
Parliamentary elections be free
Right to fair trial
Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
Protection from the King

6. English Colonies
England's colonies were described as “13 schools of government” this is where Americans first began the difficult art of government
Originally the 13 colonies were established separately over 125 years
The 1st colony, Virginia had the first permanent settlement in Jamestown in 1607
Each colony was established on the biases of a charter- a written grant of authority from the king. Over time they split into 3 different kinds of colonies, royal, proprietary and charter.

7. 3 kinds of colonies Royal: subject to the direct control of the crown
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
they had a bicameral: two house legislature, a governor- king appointed and legislature- elected by property owners
They have the power of the purse; that is to tax and spend, laws had to be passed by the governor and the crown
Proprietary: they were organized by a proprietor, a person the king has made a grant of the land
There were only 3, Delaware & Pennsylvania- William Penn and Maryland- Lord Baltimore
The legislature was unicameral: one house body, appeals would go to the king in London
Charter: based on charters granted to the colonists themselves, largely self governing
Rhode Island and Connecticut

8. Growing colonial unity
Early attempts several settlements formed the New England confederation
A confederation is- a joining of several groups for a common purpose
The Albany plan-
Benjamin Franklin proposes Plan
Annual congress of delegates (representatives) from each of the 13 colonies would be formed
The stamp act-
a group of colonies sent delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in New York.
Delegates prepared the Declaration of Rights and Grievances against British policies and sent it to the king.

9. The coming of independence

10. First Continental Congress
The colonists sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III.
The delegates urged colonies to refuse all trade with England until British tax and trade regulations were repealed, or recalled.

11. Second continental congress
In 1775, each of the 13 colonies sent representatives to this gathering in Philadelphia.
The Second Continental Congress served as the first government of the United States from 1776 to 1781.

12. American independence
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence

13. 6. American Independence!
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence

14. Critical period

15. Articles of confederation
Powers Congress was given the power to declare war, deal with national finance issues, and settle disputes among the States. Obligations The States promised to obey Congress, and to respect the laws of the other States. Most other powers were retained by each State. Articles of Confederation- established a firm league of friendship between the states

16. Weaknesses of The Articles…
Outcomes
Congress had no power to levy or collect taxes
The government never had enough money
Congress had no power to regulate foreign trade
States quarreled and foreign trade was difficult
Congress had no power to enforce its laws
Relied on the states for law enforcement
Approval of 9 states needed to enact laws
Laws were extremely difficult to pass
13 states needed to approve amendments to the Articles
Nearly impossible to change the powers/structure of government
Central government had no executive branch
No way to coordinate the work of the government
No national court system
Central government couldn’t settle disputes among the states

17. Call for stronger government
Representatives from Maryland and Virginia met at Mount Vernon, Virginia, in 1785 to discuss trade issues.
The meeting was so successful that the Virginia General Assembly requested a meeting of all thirteen States, which eventually became the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

18. Leaders of the PhilLY Convention
James Madison: co-author of the Articles of Confederation
Gouverneur Morris: Lawyer, helped develop the U.S. system of money
Alexander Hamilton: was a lawyer who favored a strong central government
George Washington: was the successful leader of the Continental Army

19. Who was missing?!
Patrick Henry said he “smelt a rat” and refused to attend
Samuel Adams and John Hancock were not selected as delegates by their states
Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine were in Paris
John Adams was on diplomatic missions to England and Holland