1. Chapter 4 Foundations: Background to American History

2. Washington’s Militia & Army
Militiamen served as home guard and as supplement to the Continental Army
The Continental Army was by contrast trained and more reliable
None were battle-harden & ready to see the horror of war
Continental soldier

3. During the Revolution 1775-1783
Jonathan Trumbull was the only British Governor that sided with the Americans
John Peter Muhlenberg was a Protestant minister who recruited soldiers and rose to the rank of general

4. The Emergence of an American Culture
The Revolution helped excite a sense of common nationality
Celebration of Independence Day
The American Consciousness and the idea of America’s Destiny
Signers of the D. Of I. John Hancock, Ben Rush, Charles Carroll, & John Witherspoon

5. The Articles of Confederation
The period between was a “critical period”
During this period the national government was weak for fear of a British-like central government
The Confederation Congress dealt with the westward land distribution and it established three executive departments: Foreign Affairs, Finance, & War
Dickinson & the Articles of Confederation

6. Calls for a Stronger Government
Americans were losing their fear of a strong central government
Bankers, Merchants, and Mechanics now called for strong gov.
James Madison called for a meeting in 1786 but not all the states came
Alexander Hamilton called for a national convention the next year
James Madison

7. Adopting the Constitution
The delegates who met included many participants from the Revolution
James Madison & The Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Roger Sherman & The Great Compromise
Signing the Constitution, September 17, 1787

8. Other Battles at the Convention
The battle between the Northern & Southern delegates over slavery
3/5 compromise
Women’s rights left out of constitution
In regard to citizenship it gave Congress authority over naturalization
American Indians would not be given citizenship until 1924

9. The Separation of Powers
The Founding Fathers viewed the House as the most democratic
The Senate would be chosen by the state legislatures
The President could veto acts of Congress, appoint diplomats & judges, recommend legislation to Congress, & act as commander-in-chief of the armed forces

10. Checks & Balances The Separation of the three branches of gov.
The President’s veto
The congressional power of impeachment
The Courts right of judicial review
The Senate’s power to approve or reject treaties & appointments
Amendments

11. Checks & Balances The Separation of the three branches of gov.
The President’s veto
The congressional power of impeachment
The Courts right of judicial review
The Senate’s power to approve or reject treaties & appointments
Amendments

12. The First Supreme Court
The Congress setup the structure of the federal court system
Congress set the number on the high court a six and created thirteen federal district courts
Members of the Supreme Court were required to serve on circuit courts as well
The First Chief Justice John Jay

13. The Bill of Rights
B/C MA, NY, VA, & NC had all requested a “bill of rights” James Madison wrote a list of amendments and presented them to congress in 1789
In the late 1700s the US was alone in the world b/c the constitution prevents Congress from establishing an official religion
The 10th Amendment said that powers not given to the national Gov. remained w/ the states or the people
James Madison

14. Freedom of Religion One of the 1st Amendment Rights is religion
The Anglican Church suffered b/c of its association with the British, it changed its name to the Episcopal Church
The Methodist, Baptist, & Presbyterian churches grew bigger
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statue of Religious Freedom
We also got freedom of speech, press, and assembly in the 1st amendment
Jefferson & the Virginia Statue

15. More Amendments 2nd Amendment – the right to bear arms
3rd Amendment – we don’t have to quarter soldiers
4th Amendment – we are protected from unreasonable searches
5th Amendment – protects us from double jeopardy, from incriminate yourself, and gives the government eminent domain.

16. More Amendments 6th Amendment - right to public trail, jury, & lawyer
7th Amendment – right to jury in some civil cases
8th Amendment – court can’t inflict cruel and unusual punishment
9th list rights but doesn’t deny other rights
10th gives power to the states if not in the constitution

17. Alexis de Tocqueville
A French man that visited the United States in 1831 believed America was great b/c of five values:
Liberty – freedom, rule of law, and religious faith
Egalitarianism – we are a society of equals
Individualism – we are free to flourish w/o government
Populism – common man free to participate in politics
Laissez-faire – gov. has a “hands-off” approach to the economy