Creation of the Federal Creation of the Federal GovernmentGovernment1607-1791

English InfluencesEnglish Influenceson American Governmenton American GovernmentLimited

Government◦ Magna Carta

(1215)◦ English Bill of

Rights (1689)Representative

Government◦ The Parliament

The House of Commons

The House of Lords

John Locke◦ Two Treaties on

Government “Life, Liberty,

Property”

◦ “Natural Rights” vs “Natural Obligations”

◦ Consent of the People

Government of the Government of the ColoniesColoniesMayflower

Compact◦ Direct Democracy◦ Town Halls

Virginia House of Burgesses◦ Representative

Democracy◦ Power of the

Purse

13 Colonies with…◦ Written

Constitutions◦ Guaranteed basic

liberties◦ Legislatures of

Elected Representatives

◦ Separation of Powers

Colonies on Their OwnColonies on Their OwnMercantilismSalutary

Neglect◦3,000 miles

2 months by boat

◦Weak Royal Governors

◦Monetary Gain

Conflict Abroad and at Conflict Abroad and at HomeHomeThe West

◦Quebec◦Indian Territories

Treaties Made and Broken

7 Years WarFrench and Indian War

◦Army Dispatched to American Colonial Defense

George III

Britain Tightens ControlBritain Tightens ControlThe Cost of DefenseNew Taxes

◦ Stamp Act◦ Townshend Act◦ Tea Act

Boston◦ Massacre◦ Tea Party

Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts◦ End of Self-

Governance◦ Close Boston Harbor

Colonies UniteColonies Unite1754- The Albany Plan of Union1765- Stamp Act Congress1773- Committees of

CorrespondenceSeptember 5th, 1774- First

Continental Congress◦Embargo◦The Petition to the King

April 19, 1775- The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

Second Continental Second Continental CongressCongressDefense of Massachusetts

◦George WashingtonFurther Action?Independence

◦The Lee Resolution◦The Adams Committee◦The Declaration of Independence

The DeclarationThe DeclarationIdeology

◦“Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”◦John Locke

“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”

Specific Complaints◦27 Paragraphs

Separation◦“These colonies are, and of right ought

to be Free and Independent States…”

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation“League of

Friendship”13 fully

independent statesFeatures

◦ Unicameral Legislature Equal Representation

◦ No executive◦ No judicial◦ Specificly Delegated

Powers

Powers of the Articles◦ Make War and Peace◦ Send and Receive

Ambassadors◦ Enter into Treaties◦ Raise and Equip an Navy◦ Maintain an Army by

“requesting” troops from the states

◦ Fix Standards of Weight◦ Regulate Indian Affairs◦ Establish Post Offices◦ Settle (some) disputes

among the states

Achievements of the Achievements of the ArticlesArticlesPeace with Great BritainNorthwest Ordinance of 1787 Ummm… Uh… Post Offices?

The Articles StinkThe Articles StinkWeaknesses

◦No power to regulate trade◦No authority to enforce the laws◦9 States needed to pass a law◦13 States needed to amend the Articles◦Rule by Committee◦No legal precedents◦No power to tax

No power at all

Stupid Government. Bad, Stupid Government.

Need for Stronger Need for Stronger GovernmentGovernmentGrowing Problems

◦ Tariffs New York-New

Jersey-Connecticut

◦ Boundary Lines Virginia-Maryland

◦ International Relations Piracy New York City-

Detroit West Florida

◦ Non-Payments of Debt The PA Militia The French, The

Dutch, The Spanish

Shays’ RebellionShays’ RebellionDaniel Shays

◦Apple Farmer