2. Ideas behind the forms of Government The origins of Americas
government can be tracedback some 200-300 years. The new colonists
in the Americas as they began to settle along the cost and develop
colonies, ports, and cities, would take ideas from the
Enlightenment Period. In the case of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts,
some groups were escaping persecution in England. Many of the laws
that would come to be created stemmed from the ideas of equal
treatment for all men. 3. Continued The need for an ordered
socialsystem, or government. The idea of limited government, that
is, that government should not be all-powerful. The concept of
representative governmenta government that serves the will of the
people 4. How our government formed over Time 5. Three types of
American Colonies The royal colonies were ruled directly by the
Englishmonarchy. The King granted land to people in North America,
who then formed proprietary colonies. The charter colonies were
mostly self-governed, and their charters were granted to the
colonists. 6. British Colonial Practices Until the mid-1700s, the
colonies were allowed a greatdeal of freedom in their governments
by the English monarchy. In 1760, King George III imposed new taxes
and lawson the colonists. The colonists would eventually: form
aconfederation, propose an annual congress, and began to rebel for
independence. 7. Earliest forms of government Mayflower Compact
Colonist on the Mayflower signed the Compact agreeing to help aid
in the common good of all the people. They agreed to create laws
and follow the laws. This form of government was basically a
classical liberalism. Virginia Colony Known for its rocky start in
which the colony experienced times of hardship, but thanks to James
Smith, Jamestown developed a No work, no food policy and soon
prospered. 8. Origins of Colonial Unity Early Attempts In 1643,
several New England settlements formed the New England
Confederation. A confederation is a joining of several groups for a
common purpose. 9. Origins of Colonial Unity The Albany Plan In
1754, Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union, in which
an annual congress of delegates (representatives) from each of the
13 colonies would be formed. Would inspire some of the basis for
the future Articles of Confederation. 10. The Mid-1700s in America
11. Problems with the British During the mid-1700s, the
Britishwould begin to impose unfair laws such as taxes to the
American colonists. Most of the taxes would be in an effort to
create revenue to fuel the British military campaigns in Canada or
abroad. The Intolerable Acts were a set of laws put forth by
British colonial rulers that imposed unfair treatment of the
American colonies OR imposed heavy taxes upon the colonists, or
goods they purchased. 12. Intolerable Acts Continued 13.
Intolerable Acts Stamp Act of 1765 Required printed documents to be
produced on stamped paper and carry a Revenue (tax) stamp.
Townshend Acts of 1768 Acts that lead to further Taxation
Quartering Act of 1765 An act created by Thomas Gage,
commander-in-chief of the British in America. Used the act to allow
soldiers to stay in the houses of colonists. Tea Act of 1773 An act
to help the struggling British Easy India company survive, as well
as to support the Townshend duties. Also attempted to cut down on
smuggling tea into the Americas. 14. No Taxation without
Representation! A Quote from the 1750s and 1760s in which
manycolonists felt they were not directly represented in the
distant British Parliament. Any laws that were passed that were
aimed at taxing them were illegal under the English Bill of Rights,
1689. This slogan, along with the idea of fair treatment and equal
representation would become further basis for laws in the new
future government. Intolerable Acts angered many Americans and
would be one of the primary factors for Independence. 15. The
Continental Congresses First Continental Congress The colonists
sent aDeclaration of Rights to King George III. The delegates urged
each of the colonies to refuse all trade with England until British
tax and trade regulations were repealed, or recalledSecond
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. 16. American Independence On July 4,
1776, the Second Continental Congressadopted the Declaration of
Independence. Between 1776 and 1777, most of the States
adoptedconstitutions instead of charters. 17. State Constitution
Commonalities Common Features of State ConstitutionsPopular
SovereigntyLimited GovernmentCivil Rights and LibertiesSeparation
of Powers and Checks and BalancesThe principle of popular
sovereignty was the basis for every new State constitution. That
principle says that government can exist and function only with the
consent of the governed. The people hold power and the people are
sovereign.The concept of limited government was a major feature of
each State constitution. The powers delegated to government were
granted reluctantly and hedged with many restrictions.In every
State it was made clear that the sovereign people held certain
rights that the government must respect at all times. Seven of the
new constitutions contained a bill of rights, setting out the
unalienable rights held by the people.The powers granted to the new
State governments were purposely divided among three branches:
executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch was given powers
with which to check (restrain the actions of) the other branches of
the government. 18. Articles of Confederation First attempt at a
federal government system in the colonies Approved November 15,
1777 Est. a firm league of friendship between the states Needed the
ratification of the 13 states March 1, 1781 Second Continental
Congress declared the Articles effective 19. Articles of
Confederation Powers of Congress Make war andpeace Send and receive
ambassadors Make treaties Borrow money Set up a money system Est.
post offices Build a navy Raise an army byasking the states for
troops Fix uniform standards of weights and measures Settle
disputes among the states 20. Articles of Confederation States
Obligations: Pledge to obey the Articles and Acts of the Congress
Provide the funds and troops requested by the congress Treat
citizens of other states fairly and equally Give full faith and
credit to public acts, records, and judicial proceedings Submit
disputes tocongress for settlement Allow open travel and trade b/w
and among states Primarily responsible for protecting life and
property Accountable for promoting the general welfare of the
people 21. Limitations of the Articles 22. After the War: The 1780s
Revolutionary Warended on October 19, 1781 Signed the Treaty of
Paris With Peace comes hardships Economic problems Political
problems Problems a result of the weaknesses of AofC Problems
included: Central government who could not act States entering into
treaties States taxing on goods and banning trade Debts, public and
private were unpaid Shays Rebellion Farmers were losing their land
Shut down courts Led and attack on Federal arsenal Mass. State
legislature eases the burden of debtors 23. The NEED for a Strong,
Central Government becomes crucial Two states meet to discuss Trade
issues Maryland and Virginia Meet at Mount Vernon The meeting was
so successful that theVirginia General Assembly requested a meeting
of all thirteen States, which eventually became the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia. 24. A Party held in Philly, Again.
Mid-February of 1787 Seven states namedelegates Delaware, Georgia,
NewHampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, a nd
Virginia A meeting:Constitutional Convention 25. Framers of the
Convention 26. Leaders of the Philadelphia Convention James Madison
was the co-author of the Articles ofConfederation. Gouverneur
Morris was a lawyer who 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. 27. Some famous leaders who were NOT at the
Philadelphia Convention Patrick Henry said he smelt a rat and
refused toattend. Patrick Henry was an opponent of a Strong
CentralGovernment Samuel Adams and John Hancock were not selected
asdelegates by their states. Both were in Massachusetts with their
respective jobs. Both also voiced opinions over the Constitution
Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine were in Paris. John Adams was on
diplomatic missions to Englandand Holland. 28. Organization and
Procedures Meet summer of 1787 in Philadelphia Elected George
Washington as president of the convention One vote per State on all
matters Majority of votes needed to pass proposals Worked in
Secrecy 29. Father of the Constitution James Madison: Kept detail
records ofthe convention Conventions Floor leader Contributed more
to the constitution than any other Full body settled allquestions
30. Two Plans Decided upon 31. New Jersey Plan 32. Differences
between the two plans How should the states berepresented in
Congress? Based on population? Financial contribution? State
equality? 4 weeks they deliberated Heated debate Lines drawn in the
sand 33. The Compromises Connecticut Compromise Two houses Senate
equal representation House proportional representation Combination
of Virginia and New Jersey plans AKA: The Great Compromise 34. The
Compromises Three-FifthsCompromise Should Slaves becounted? Split
North v South All free persons will be counted; 3/5 of all other
persons Southerners could count slaves but had to pay taxes on them
The Commerce and SlaveTrade Compromises Congress = power toregulate
foreign and interstate trade Scared southerners Congress: forbidden
the power to tax the export of goods from any state Could not act
on the slave trade for 20 years 35. Influences on the New
Constitution The Framers were familiar with the political writings
of their time Jean Jacques Rousseau (Social Contract Theory) John
Locke (Two Treaties of Government). They also were seasoned by The
Second Continental Congress, The Articles of Confederation and
Experiences with their own State governments. 36. Reactions to the
New Constitution When the Constitution was complete, the
Framersopinions of their work varied. Some were disappointed, like
George Mason of Virginia, who opposed the Constitution until his
death in 1792. Most agreed with Ben Franklins thoughts when he
said,From such an assembly [of fallible men] can a perfect
production be expected? Itastonishes me, Sir, to find this system
approaching so near to perfection as it does 37. Ratifying the
Constitution Federalists Articles of Confederation were weak argued
for the ratification of the Constitution. James Madison Alexander
Hamilton Anti-Federalists objected to the Constitution for
including the strong central government the lack of a bill of
rights. Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Samuel Adams 38. The
Constitution is Ratified Nine States ratified theConstitution by
June 21, 1788, but the new government needed the ratification of
the large States of New York and Virginia. Great debates were held
in both States, with Virginia ratifying the Constitution June 25,
1788. New Yorks ratification was hard fought. Supporters of the
Constitution published a series of essays known as The Federalist.
39. Inaugurating the Government The new Congress met for the
firsttime on March 4, 1789. Congress finally attained a
quorum(majority) on April 6 and counted the electoral votes.
Congress found that George Washington had been unanimously elected
President. He was inaugurated on April 30.
