foundations of the american democracy english roots to the us constitution

Foundations of Foundations of the American the American DemocracyDemocracy

English Roots to the US English Roots to the US ConstitutionConstitution

I. Colonial I. Colonial DemocracyDemocracy

A. TraditionsA. Traditions1. Legislatures-people's voice in the 1. Legislatures-people's voice in the

government. government. These varied These varied from colony to colony.from colony to colony.

2. Protection of rights2. Protection of rights3. Voting-privilege of the wealthy and 3. Voting-privilege of the wealthy and

educated.educated.4. Religious freedom-Roger Williams 4. Religious freedom-Roger Williams

and Anne and Anne Hutchinson Hutchinson established.established.

5. Freedom of Press-John Peter Zenger 5. Freedom of Press-John Peter Zenger case case established.established.

I. Colonial I. Colonial DemocracyDemocracy

B. Roots-The American System derived B. Roots-The American System derived from these main from these main sources:sources:

1. Ancient Greece and Rome1. Ancient Greece and Rome2. Magna Carta (1215)-limited the 2. Magna Carta (1215)-limited the

power of the king.power of the king.3. English Bill of Rights (1689)-3. English Bill of Rights (1689)-

Parliament listed the Parliament listed the rights of all rights of all citizens.citizens.

4. John Locke-2 ideas: 4. John Locke-2 ideas: (1) 3 Natural Rights (1) 3 Natural Rights (2) Social Contract-consent of (2) Social Contract-consent of

the governed.the governed.5. Montesquieu-separation of powers 5. Montesquieu-separation of powers

prevented tyranny.prevented tyranny.

II. The Articles of II. The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

Several questions to be answered Several questions to be answered after the Revolution:after the Revolution:

Representation by population or Representation by population or equal equal representation?representation?

Division of power in the Division of power in the government?government?

What to do with western lands?What to do with western lands?

One Big Problem: Lack of CooperationOne Big Problem: Lack of Cooperation


A.A. ProvisionsProvisions

1. The Articles created a "loose 1. The Articles created a "loose union" of union" of states where states' states where states' rights were important.rights were important.

2. Created a unicameral 2. Created a unicameral legislaturelegislature

3. Each state received one vote3. Each state received one vote


B.B. WeaknessesWeaknesses

1. Too much emphasis on 1. Too much emphasis on states' rightsstates' rights

2. Limited power to tax and 2. Limited power to tax and raise an armyraise an army

3. No president or court 3. No president or court system to settle system to settle disputes disputes between statesbetween states

4. Total Lack of cooperation4. Total Lack of cooperation


C.C. Articles in ActionArticles in Action

1. Unity between states diminished 1. Unity between states diminished after the after the Revolution Revolution

2. *Northwest Ordinance of 17872. *Northwest Ordinance of 1787

-Provided for a statehood -Provided for a statehood process in western process in western lands lands when population reached 60,000when population reached 60,000

-Prohibited slavery in these -Prohibited slavery in these territoriesterritories

III. Changes in the III. Changes in the New NationNew Nation

A. Spain-still controlled the Mississippi and A. Spain-still controlled the Mississippi and other western landsother western lands

B. Shay's Rebellion-Massachusetts 1786B. Shay's Rebellion-Massachusetts 1786-Poor western farmers rebelled after -Poor western farmers rebelled after being taxed by the being taxed by the local governmentlocal government-Led by Revolutionary war veteran Daniel -Led by Revolutionary war veteran Daniel Shay'sShay's

C. Lack of Nationalist OutlookC. Lack of Nationalist Outlook-People were still concerned with their -People were still concerned with their local or state local or state affairs.affairs.-Many local or state politicians were -Many local or state politicians were unsuccessful on the unsuccessful on the national level.national level.


D.D. North Carolina after the RevolutionNorth Carolina after the Revolution

1. Before the war, 2/3 of the state’s 1. Before the war, 2/3 of the state’s trade was with Great trade was with Great Britain.Britain.2. Large numbers of Loyalists were 2. Large numbers of Loyalists were persecuted. persecuted. Land was taken and sold to pay off Land was taken and sold to pay off debtsdebts3. 1789-University of North Carolina 3. 1789-University of North Carolina establishedestablished4. Capital moved from New Bern to 4. Capital moved from New Bern to Raleigh in 1792.Raleigh in 1792.5. North Carolina gives up western lands 5. North Carolina gives up western lands that became the that became the state of Franklin and state of Franklin and later became the state of later became the state of Tennessee.Tennessee.


E.E. Constitutional Convention-May 1787, Constitutional Convention-May 1787, PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia-All states were represented except for -All states were represented except for Rhode Island. NC Rhode Island. NC sent William R. sent William R. Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, William Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, William Blount, Alexander Martin, and Hugh Blount, Alexander Martin, and Hugh Williamson.Williamson.-Plan was to revise the Articles but that -Plan was to revise the Articles but that was impossible.was impossible.-Delegates began to start over.-Delegates began to start over.

IV. Drafting the IV. Drafting the ConstitutionConstitution

Purpose: Purpose: Revise the Articles of Revise the Articles of Confederation. Decided to Confederation. Decided to start start over. All done in secret.over. All done in secret.

Debates: Debates: Small groups would become Small groups would become dominant in dominant in governmentgovernment

Where should the power go: Where should the power go: states or central states or central government?government?


A. CompromiseA. Compromise1. The Virginia Plan-drafted by James 1. The Virginia Plan-drafted by James Madison-"father of Madison-"father of the constitution"the constitution"

-Bicameral legislature based on -Bicameral legislature based on populationpopulation

-System of checks and balances -System of checks and balances between 3 branches of between 3 branches of government government so that no one part becomes too so that no one part becomes too powerful.powerful.

2. The New Jersey Plan-drafted by 2. The New Jersey Plan-drafted by William Patterson William Patterson

-called for equal representation-called for equal representation


3. The Great Compromise-drafted by Roger 3. The Great Compromise-drafted by Roger ShermanSherman

big states vs. small statesbig states vs. small states-House of Representatives--House of Representatives-

representation based on representation based on populationpopulation

-Senate-equal representation-Senate-equal representation

4. 3/5 Compromise-slave states vs. free 4. 3/5 Compromise-slave states vs. free statesstates

-Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person -Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representationfor representation


5. Slave Trade-5. Slave Trade-

Allowed to continues for at Allowed to continues for at least 20 yearsleast 20 years

6. Electoral College-compromise on 6. Electoral College-compromise on how we elect the president. how we elect the president. Electors in each state cast votes for Electors in each state cast votes for the President based on the popular the President based on the popular vote in their state.vote in their state.


B. Divided Power & Checks and BalancesB. Divided Power & Checks and BalancesDelegated powers-national governmentDelegated powers-national government

Reserved powers-state Reserved powers-state governmentgovernment

Central government is supremeCentral government is supremeBranches: Branches: Executive-can veto acts of Executive-can veto acts of Congress and Congress and appoints appoints members of judiciarymembers of judiciary

Legislative-can impeach Legislative-can impeach president and president and confirms confirms members of judiciarymembers of judiciary

Judicial-can rule acts of Judicial-can rule acts of Congress and Congress and president unconstitutionalpresident unconstitutional

Amending:Amending: 2/3 vote of Congress2/3 vote of Congress3/4 vote from states3/4 vote from states


• Federalists

Supported the Constitution

Wanted stable central government

• Antifederalists

Opposed the Constitution

Wanted to protect state rights

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers

• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote essays supporting the Constitution that were published in newspapers. They were instrumental in the ratification of the Constitution.

IV. Drafting IV. Drafting thethe ConstitutionConstitution

-By July 1788, 11 of 13 states had -By July 1788, 11 of 13 states had ratified. ratified.

-NC voted 184 to 83 against the -NC voted 184 to 83 against the Constitution in July of 1788.Constitution in July of 1788.

-NC reconvened and voted 194 to 77 -NC reconvened and voted 194 to 77 in favor of the Constitution.in favor of the Constitution.

-Reasons for change: -Reasons for change: 1. James Madison introduced 1. James Madison introduced

the Bill of Rightsthe Bill of Rights2. George Washington elected 2. George Washington elected

as first presidentas first president- Rhode Island ratified by - Rhode Island ratified by

May1790.May1790.

foundations of the american democracy english roots to the us constitution

Documents