Chapter 2: Origins of American Government

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Chapter 2 Origins of American Government

• 2.1 Our Political Beginnings
• 2.2 The Coming of Independence
• 2.3 The Critical Period
• 2.4 Creating the Constitution
• 2.5 Ratifying the Constitution

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2.1 Our Political Beginnings

• The colonists used many English documents (Magna
  Carta, Petition of Right, English Bill of Rights)
  as resources when creating Americas government.
  They took things that that liked and disregarded
  the rest.

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Basic Concepts of U.S. Government

• 1. Ordered Government government is needed to
  keep order in society every governmental
  position is important (president, congressman,
  mayor, sheriff, coroner, etc.)
• 2. Limited Government government is not
  all-powerful every individual has rights that
  the government cannot take away (the government
  is restricted in what it can do).
• 3. Representative Government the government
  exists to serve the will of the people the
  people decide what the government should/should
  not do.

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English Colonies

• The 13 original colonies were settled over 125
  years Virginia was the first / Georgia was the
  last.
• Each colony was established by a charter a
  written grant of authority from the king. Over
  time, other types of colonies emerged

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Types of Colonies

• 1. Charter largely self-governing leaders
  were elected by property owners could make many
  of their own laws (Conn / RI).
• 2. Proprietary organized by a proprietor
  (person who the king had granted land) governor
  was appointed by proprietor less freedom than
  charter colonies (MY / DE).
• 3. Royal royal crown organized most of
  government all new laws needed approval least
  freedom of the 3 types (8 by time of Amer. Rev.)

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• Americans would draw from these methods when
  creating the new government of the United States
  they would keep the good and lose the bad.

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2.2 The Coming of Independence

• In the beginning, colonists were given a decent
  amount of freedom and self-government. Over
  time, England (King George III) began to restrict
  this freedom.
• The colonists had no representatives in English
  Parliament, which they greatly resented.
• England was more than 3,000 miles (and 2 months
  journey) away.
• When England began passing restrictive laws, the
  colonists soon considered a revolution

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The Final Straw

• The Stamp Act England required all tax stamps
  on all documents within the colonies. The
  colonists felt that this was taxation without
  representation and several smaller revolts
  (Boston Massacre/Boston Tea Party) soon followed .

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• Colonists sent delegates to the First (1774) and
  Second (1775) Continental Conventions in order
  voice grievances, and eventually declare
  independence, to England.
• In 1776, 56 delegates signed the Declaration of
  Independence, which created the United States of
  America, and severed ties with England

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2.3 The Critical Period

• The Articles of Confederation was the foundation
  document of the United States.
• It established a firm league of friendship
  between the 13 states and was ratified
  formally approved in 1781.

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• The Articles of Confederation
• Congress was unicameral its powers were very
  limited and each state had one vote (regardless
  of its population).
• The States agreed to follow the acts of
  Congress, provide funds and troops requested by
  Congress, treat citizens of other state fairly
  and equally, and allow open travel and trade
  between states (among other things).

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• Its Weaknesses the powers of government were too
  limited could not tax (could only borrow or
  request ), could not regulate trade between the
  states, and could not make states obey its laws.
• The Articles could only be amended if all 13
  states agreed

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• States instantly became jealous and suspicious of
  one another (Congress couldnt act). States
  refused to follow Congressional decisions, taxed
  each others goods, banned trade, and organized
  their own militaries and currencies. Violence
  and economic chaos broke out.
• Very quickly, leaders realized that a new
  foundation of government was needed. In 1787,
  state delegates met in Philadelphia in order to
  construct this new foundation. This meeting
  became known as the Constitutional Convention.

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2.4 Creating the Constitution

• 55 delegates travelled to Philadelphia in order
  to create a new constitution. These men became
  known as the framers of the constitution and
  included some of the most famous thinkers in
  American history (Washington, Madison, Hamilton,
  Franklin).
• Each state had one vote in each matter
  sometimes disagreements occurred.

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The Virginian Plan

• Called for a national government with expanded
  powers and three branches. Congress would be
  bicameral and representation in each house would
  be based on each states population or on the
  amount of money it donated to the central
  government. This plan favored larger, wealthier
  states.

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The New Jersey Plan

• Called for a national government with limited
  extra powers. Congress would be unicameral, with
  each state represented equally. This plan
  created an equal playing field for smaller, less
  wealthy states.

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The Connecticut Compromise

• Created a bicameral Congress in the smaller
  Senate, each state would be represented equally.
  In the larger House, representation of each state
  would be based on population.
• This plan satisfied both large and small
  states and became known as the Great Compromise.

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• When it came time to determine each states
  number of seats in the house, the question arose
  as to whether or not slaves should be counted in
  population totals. Southern states said yes,
  while northern states said no.

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The Three-Fifths Compromise

• Stated that all free persons would be counted,
  and so would three-fifths of all other persons.
  Taxes paid by each state was based on
  population this compromise came at a price for
  southern states.
• The U.S. Constitution became known as a bundle
  of compromises. While details were often
  argued, the major principles were unanimous
  limited government and popular sovereignty.

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2.5 Ratifying the Constitution

• Many people opposed the new constitution two
  opposing sides quickly emerged
• Federalists favored the new constitution
  believed the Articles of Confederation were too
  weak and that a new government was necessary.
• Anti-Federalists opposed the new constitution
  believed the new government had too much power
  and that there should be a bill of rights that
  guaranteed individual freedoms.

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• After much debate, the Federalists won the
  argument and the U.S. Constitution was ratified
  in 1788. New York was chosen as the nations
  temporary capital and George Washington was
  elected president by unanimous vote.

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Is Flag-Burning Free Speech?

• Review the court case given on p 59
• 1. What is the background of the case.
• 2. Why was Texas v. Johnson important to this
  case?
• 3. What are 3 arguments in favor of the U.S.?
• 4. What are 3 arguments in favor of Eichman?
• 5. What was the Supreme Courts ruling?
• 6. What do you think? Was this the right decision
  or not? Explain in a paragraph.

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Group Activity

• In groups of 3 or 4 describe the following
  arguments that took place when creating the
  constitution
• 1. The Virginia Plan (how was government set up?)
• 2. The New Jersey Plan (how was government set
  up?)
• 3. The Connecticut Compromise (how was it
  settled?)
• 4. The 3/5 Compromise (how were slaves dealt
  with?)