Origins of American Government Chapter 2. How does the Constitution reflect the times in which it was written?

Origins of American Government

Chapter 2

How does the Constitution reflect the times in which

it was written?

OUR POLITICAL BEGINNINGS

Chapter 2 Section 1

What ideas and traditions influenced government in

the English colonies?

BASIC CONCEPTS OF GOVERNMENT

THE ENGLISH COLONIST BROUGHT TO NORTH AMERICA THREE BASIC NOTIONS THAT HELPED SHAPED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE USA.

ORDERED GOVERNMENT

• Orderly regulation of relationships with each colony

• Saw a need for government• Examples: sheriff, justice of the

peace

LIMITED GOVERNMENT

• Government is restricted in what it can do

• Each individual has rights that the government cannot take away

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

• The idea that government should serve the will of the people

• People should have a voice of what the government should and should not do

LANDMARK ENGLISH DOCUMENTS

Ordered government, limited government, and representative government can be traced to several landmark documents in English history.

1. The MAGNA CARTA – provides protection against the government.

2. The PETITION OF RIGHTS – limited the king’s power.

3. The ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS –protected citizens rights

Magna Carta1215

• Government is not all-powerful• Provided for the basis of limited government• Protection against unjust punishment, loss of life,

liberty, and property• Certain taxes could not be levied with out popular

consent

Petition of Rights1628

• Severely limited the king’s power• Could not collect tax without Parliament’s consent• Could not imprison people without just cause• No quartering of troops without permission of the

homeowner• Cannot declare marital law unless the country was

at war

English Bill of Rights

1689

• Set clear limits on what a leader could or could not do

• Stated Monarchs do not have absolute authority; rule with consent of the people

• Must have consent from Parliament to suspend laws, levy taxes., maintain army; right to fair and speedy trial

• People protected against cruel and unusual punishment

An English Political Heritage

FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN RIGHTS

The rights established in these landmark documents were revolutionary in their day and influenced government in many countries.

1215Magna Carta

1689English Bill of

Rights

1776Virginia Bill of

Rights

1791Bill of Rights

Trial by jury √ √ √ √

Due Process √ √ √

Private Property √ √ √

No Cruel punishment √ √ √

No excessive bail or fines √ √ √

Right to bear arms √ √ √

Right to petition √ √

No unreasonable search or seizures √ √

Freedom of speech √ √

Freedom of press √ √

Freedom of religion √ √

The Thirteen ColoniesThe settings in

which Americans first started to learn government.

First permanent English settlement was in Jamestown, Virginia.

North America was an escape for more personal and religious freedom

THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE

Chapter 2 Section 2

What events and ideas led to American

independence?

Britain’s Colonial PoliciesColonist became

use to self-government◦ Great Britain was

3,000 miles away; 2 months to sail to receive correspondence

Great Britain responsible for:◦ Colonial defense◦ Foreign affairs◦ Uniform money

system◦ Market for

colonial tradeLittle taxes were

taken from the colonies

King George II was the king of Great Britain at this time.

Britain's Colonial PoliciesKing George III

◦ Came to throne in 1760

◦ Started to deal with the colonists more “firmly”

◦ Restricted trading and enforced taxes to support British troops in North America

The Stamp Act CongressStamp Act

◦ Required the use of tax stamps on all legal documents, certain business agreements, and on newspapers

◦ The Act was denounced by the colonies because they thought the taxes were too high

◦ This tax brought the colonies together; they formed the Stamp Act Congress

◦ Nine of the thirteen colonies sent delegates

◦ Sent a letter to the King called the Declarations of Rights and Grievances

◦ Parliament repealed the Stamp Act; frictions still mounted

Britain’s harsh tax and trade policies brought resentment to the colonies.

First Continental CongressIntolerable Acts

◦ Britain passed new laws for troubles in Boston (Massacre/Tea Party)

◦ Wrote the Declaration of Rights Urged colonist to

boycott (refusal to buy) all trade with England

Second Continental Congress

Nation’s first government◦ President = John

Hancock◦ Commander-in-Chief =

George Washington◦ Condemned by the

British as a act of treason

John HancockPresident

George Washington

Commander-in-Chief

The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson◦ Main author of the

DeclarationDeclared

independence on July 4, 1776.

King George III -- To Late to Apologize