1. AMERICA’S POLITICAL HERITAGE

2. THE COLONIAL EXPERIENCE
heritage: traditions passed down from one generation to the next
Colonists carved roads through the Virginia wilderness.

3. A Voice in Government A Voice in Government
Legislature – a group of people chosen to make the laws
Gave citizens some degree of self-rule (1619) Virginia House of Burgesses
Colonists still subject to English monarch
charter - a document giving permission to create a government
England had final say in colonial government
Preserving Rights
Struggle between elected Legislatures and royally appointed governors
taxes
"Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses"

4. Citizenship in the Colonies
only white land-owners could vote
no slaves/servants could vote
still this system was ahead of most European countries
The Common Good
Serve communities
public education
Signing of the Declaration of Independence, painting by John Trumbull

5. Roots of Freedom Greater Religious Freedoms
Puritans break from Anglican church (Church of England)
Puritans often persecuted non-Puritans
Freedom of religion open to Christianity only

6. Roots of Freedom Freedom of the Press Only source of information
Could not criticize English government
John Peter Zenger & the New York Weekly Journal

7. Signs of Discontent
mid-1700s England tightens its grip on colonies (through appointed governors)
tyranny – abuse of power

8. ROOTS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

9. Looking To Ancient Greece and Rome
Athenians & direct democracy: a form of government in which laws are made directly by the citizens
America’s town hall meetings
Rome & the republic: a government in which representatives are elected to make laws

10. The English Tradition
The Magna Carta 1215 – first example of republic since Roman Empire
nobles forced King John to sign document
listed rights even the monarch could take away
eventually extended to all English citizens
King John Sealing Magna Carta in 1215.

11. The English Tradition The English Bill of Rights - 1689
Parliament establish in late 1200s
Limited monarch powers (could not tax, limit speech without approval)
Extended rights to citizens beyond Parliament
Everyone must obey laws (even government leaders)
English Bill of Rights
In 1689 King William III and Queen Mary II assented to the English Bill of Rights, an important document in terms of English liberty. One of its purposes was to establish the supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy. Shown here is the Clerk of the Crown reading out the Bill to William and Mary in the Banqueting Hall at Whitehall, London.

12. Relying on Reason
natural rights – rights one is born with and cannot be taken away
John Locke
Government exists for the people, not people for the government
Protect natural rights (life, liberty, and property)
Separation of Powers – dividing power among executive, legislative, & judicial
Baron de Montesquieu
Eliminate tyranny – no branch could have total power

13. MOVING TOWARD NATIONHOOD

14. A Clash of Views
Colonists only represented by their legislatures – not in English Parliament
Parliament made little effort to understand colonists needs
Colonists could only trade with England

15. “No Taxation Without Representation”
Parliament taxes colonists to pay off war debts
Gave governors more power over colonies
The Stamp Act of 1765 taxed all paper products - legal documents, business records, even playing cards - and specified that taxes be paid in "hard money."

16. Steps Toward Independence
Committees of Correspondence passed on info to colonies
Unite against tyranny
First Continental Congress forms (1774)
Cut off trade with England; situation doesn’t improve
Second Continental Congress (1775)
Thomas Paine writes Common Sense (1776) – widely read
Some colonists fear independence

17. The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
popular support increasing
need support of European countries
unalienable rights

18. Organizing a New Government
compact – a written agreement to make and obey laws for the welfare of the group
State constitutions written
Limited governors’ terms
Separation of powers

19. The Articles of Confederation
Decentralized government
Each state has one (1) vote in legislature
No executive or judicial branches
All colonies ratified (approved) 1781 (need to agree or lose war)

20. A Limping Government After winning war, America was broke
No confidence in currency
No power to tax goods
(Articles Of Confederation)
English goods cheaper (kind of like China)
No trade allowed with other British colonies

21. Men Fighting During Shays's Rebellion
Shay’s Rebellion
Farmer’s in debt (no market for goods – see F-d.)
States raise taxes on land
Daniel Shays leads rebellion in Massachusetts courthouse
News spreads nationwide
Americans are afraid and call for stronger national government.
Men Fighting During Shays's Rebellion