Origins of American Government

Origins of American Government

Magruder Chapter TwoMagruder Chapter Two

Our Political Beginnings

Section OneSection One

Basic Concepts of Government

Ordered GovernmentOrdered Government Colonists from England saw the need for Colonists from England saw the need for

orderly regulation of their relationships orderly regulation of their relationships with one another.with one another.


Limited GovernmentLimited Government Colonists brought with then the idea that Colonists brought with then the idea that

government should not be all-powerful.government should not be all-powerful.


Representative GovernmentRepresentative Government Colonists brought with them the idea that Colonists brought with them the idea that

government should serve the will of the government should serve the will of the people.people.

Landmark English Documents

Magna CartaMagna Carta The Magna Carta established the The Magna Carta established the

principle of limited government and principle of limited government and fundamental rights of English citizens.fundamental rights of English citizens.

Signed in 1215 in Runnymede, EnglandSigned in 1215 in Runnymede, England Signed by King John at the “request of Signed by King John at the “request of

his Barons”his Barons”


The Petition of RightThe Petition of Right The Petition of Right limited the The Petition of Right limited the

monarch’s authority and elevated the monarch’s authority and elevated the power of Parliament wile extending the power of Parliament wile extending the rights of the individual.rights of the individual.


The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights redefined the rights of The Bill of Rights redefined the rights of

Parliament and the rights of individuals.Parliament and the rights of individuals.

Government in the Colonies

The Royal ColoniesThe Royal Colonies Royal Colonies were subject to the Royal Colonies were subject to the

control of the crown and run by control of the crown and run by appointed governors, who were advised appointed governors, who were advised by councils.by councils.


The Proprietary ColoniesThe Proprietary Colonies Proprietary Colonies were owned by Proprietary Colonies were owned by

wealthy individuals who appointed wealthy individuals who appointed governors, who were advised by governors, who were advised by councils.councils.


The Charter ColoniesThe Charter Colonies Charter Colonies were governed by the Charter Colonies were governed by the

colonists themselves through elected colonists themselves through elected governors, who were advised by governors, who were advised by councils.councils.

The Coming of Independence

Section TwoSection Two

Royal Control Because of the distance from England to Because of the distance from England to

America, royal control of the colonies was America, royal control of the colonies was relaxed for much of the colonial period.relaxed for much of the colonial period.

Each colonial legislature assumed broad Each colonial legislature assumed broad lawmaking powers.lawmaking powers.

After 1760, Parliament imposed new taxes After 1760, Parliament imposed new taxes and restrictive regulations, acts that and restrictive regulations, acts that provoked colonial protests of “no taxation provoked colonial protests of “no taxation without representation.”without representation.”

Growing Colonial Unity

Early AttemptsEarly Attempts In the 1600s some colonies banded In the 1600s some colonies banded

together temporarily to defend together temporarily to defend themselves, but the need passed and unity themselves, but the need passed and unity failed.failed.


Early Attempts (con)Early Attempts (con) The Albany Plan of UnionThe Albany Plan of Union

Franklin’s Albany Plan of Union Franklin’s Albany Plan of Union called for annual meetings to deal with called for annual meetings to deal with issues of common concern, but issues of common concern, but colonial governments turned down the colonial governments turned down the plan.plan.


Early Attempts (con)Early Attempts (con) The Stamp Act CongressThe Stamp Act Congress

Harsh tax and trade policies caused Harsh tax and trade policies caused colonists to meet to denounce the colonists to meet to denounce the practices and to organize boycotts and practices and to organize boycotts and other acts of protest.other acts of protest.

The First Continental Congress

In 1774, the Intolerable Acts caused In 1774, the Intolerable Acts caused colonists to send delegates to a meeting to colonists to send delegates to a meeting to discuss matters and to make plans for discuss matters and to make plans for action.action.

The Congress sent a Declaration of Rights The Congress sent a Declaration of Rights to the King, protesting taxes and to the King, protesting taxes and restrictions.restrictions.

The Second Continental Congress

In 1775, Congress met again, but by now In 1775, Congress met again, but by now the Revolution had begun.the Revolution had begun.

The Congress organized a government and The Congress organized a government and established an army, led by Gen. George established an army, led by Gen. George Washington.Washington.

The Congress served as government until The Congress served as government until the Articles of Confederation went into the Articles of Confederation went into effect.effect.

The Second Continental Congress

The Congress was unicameral, exercising The Congress was unicameral, exercising both legislative and executive powers.both legislative and executive powers.

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence announced the independence of the United announced the independence of the United States from Great Britain and listed the States from Great Britain and listed the reasons for rebellion.reasons for rebellion.

The Declaration proclaimed equality and The Declaration proclaimed equality and the rights of the people.the rights of the people.

The First State Governments

Most States wrote their own constitutions.Most States wrote their own constitutions. Most States adopted their own constitutions.Most States adopted their own constitutions.

Common Features of New States

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty The States’ governments existed by the The States’ governments existed by the

consent of the governed.consent of the governed. Limited GovernmentLimited Government

The power of the States’ governments The power of the States’ governments was restricted.was restricted.

Common Features of New States Civil Rights and LibertiesCivil Rights and Liberties

Each State clearly announced the rights Each State clearly announced the rights of its citizens.of its citizens.

Separation of Powers and Checks and Separation of Powers and Checks and Balance systemBalance system Each new State government was Each new State government was

organized with independent branches of organized with independent branches of governmentgovernment

The Critical Period

Section ThreeSection Three

The First National Constitution

The Articles of Confederation formed a The Articles of Confederation formed a confederation among the States.confederation among the States.

Government StructureGovernment Structure Government under the Articles was a Government under the Articles was a

unicameral legislature with no executive unicameral legislature with no executive or judiciaryor judiciary


Powers of CongressPowers of Congress Most powers related to common defenseMost powers related to common defense

State ObligationsState Obligations The States agreed to accept several The States agreed to accept several

obligations to the central government, but obligations to the central government, but retained many powers of government for retained many powers of government for themselves.themselves.


WeaknessesWeaknesses The government lacked:The government lacked:

The power to taxThe power to taxThe power to regulate trade between The power to regulate trade between

the Statesthe StatesThe power to make the States obey the The power to make the States obey the

Articles.Articles.

The Critical Period

Disputes among the States highlighted the Disputes among the States highlighted the need for a stronger, more effective National need for a stronger, more effective National Government.Government.

Economic chaos also resulted from a weak Economic chaos also resulted from a weak central government.central government.

The Meetings at Mt. Vernonand Annapolis

A majority of States called for a convention A majority of States called for a convention in Philadelphia to improve the Articles of in Philadelphia to improve the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

This meeting became the Constitutional This meeting became the Constitutional ConventionConvention

Creating the Constitution

Section FourSection Four

The Framers

The delegates to the Constitutional The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were young.Convention were young.

They were remarkably well-educated and They were remarkably well-educated and experienced in politics.experienced in politics.

Organization and Procedure

George Washington was elected president George Washington was elected president of the convention.of the convention.

Each State could cast one vote on an issue, Each State could cast one vote on an issue, and a majority of votes were needed to and a majority of votes were needed to carry any proposal.carry any proposal.

The Decision to Write a New Constitution

The Philadelphia Convention was called to The Philadelphia Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation.revise the Articles of Confederation.

Most delegates agreed that writing a new Most delegates agreed that writing a new constitution was necessary.constitution was necessary.

The Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan called for a strong The Virginia Plan called for a strong National Government with three separate National Government with three separate branches.branches.

It favored large States because the number It favored large States because the number of votes in the legislature would be based of votes in the legislature would be based on a State’s population.on a State’s population.

The New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan resembled the Articles The New Jersey Plan resembled the Articles of Confederation, but with increased power of Confederation, but with increased power of the Federal Government to tax and of the Federal Government to tax and regulate trade.regulate trade.

It favored the small States because each It favored the small States because each State was given equal representation in the State was given equal representation in the legislature.legislature.

The Connecticut Compromise

Disagreement over representation in Disagreement over representation in Congress caused tempers to flare.Congress caused tempers to flare.

The Connecticut Compromise settled the The Connecticut Compromise settled the conflict.conflict.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

The question arose of whether slaves should The question arose of whether slaves should be counted in the population of Southern be counted in the population of Southern States.States.

The delegates agreed to count slaves as The delegates agreed to count slaves as three-fifths of a person for purposes of three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and taxation.representation and taxation.

Article I, Section 2, Clause 3Article I, Section 2, Clause 3

The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Congress was forbidden tax exportsCongress was forbidden tax exports Congress could not act on the slave trade Congress could not act on the slave trade

for at least 20 years.for at least 20 years.

A “Bundle of Compromises”

Great differences of opinion existed among Great differences of opinion existed among the delegates.the delegates.

Compromise was necessary on many issues.Compromise was necessary on many issues.

Sources of the Constitution

The Framers were well-educated.The Framers were well-educated. Delegates drew from history, current Delegates drew from history, current

political thought, and from their own political thought, and from their own experiences.experiences.

The Convention Completes Its Work

The convention approved the Constitution.The convention approved the Constitution. Most delegates agreed that the Constitution Most delegates agreed that the Constitution

was not perfect, but was the best that they was not perfect, but was the best that they could produce.could produce.

Ratifying the Constitution

Section FiveSection Five

Ratification

Federalists favored ratification.Federalists favored ratification. Anti-Federalists opposed it.Anti-Federalists opposed it. Debate about ratification involved the Debate about ratification involved the

increased power of the central government increased power of the central government and the lack of a bill of rights.and the lack of a bill of rights.

Success was achieved when Virginia and Success was achieved when Virginia and New York ratified the document in the New York ratified the document in the summer of 1788.summer of 1788.

Inauguration of the New Government

The new government assembled in its The new government assembled in its temporary capital, New York City, in temporary capital, New York City, in March 1789.March 1789.

In April 1789, George Washington was In April 1789, George Washington was elected President of the United States.elected President of the United States.