original documents of american government today’s major standard: 5.1.12.e – analyze the...

Original Documents of American Government

Today’s major standard:

5.1.12.E – Analyze the principles and ideals that shape the United States and compare them to documents of government.

•Declaration of Independence

•PA State Constitution

Today’s objectives:

Analyze the ideas of the Declaration of Independence

Describe the drafting of the first state constitutions and common features

Review weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Review differences and similarities between Virginia and New Jersey Plan

Compare the major “compromises” of the Constitution


Explain how Britain’s colonial policies contributed to colonist

self-government

London was basically in charge of defense and foreign affairs for the colonies as well as money and trade markets - All other aspects were left to self rule – until 1760

King George III became more firm – more taxes and trade restrictions


Identify Steps that led to the growing colonial unity

1643 –New England Confederation

1754 – Albany Plan 1765 - Stamp Act

Congress - “No taxation without representation….”


Compare the 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses.

First Continental Congress (1774) – Congress sent a “Declaration of rights” to King George III…Decided to boycott all British goods….

Second Continental Congress (1775) – Created the Continental Army…wrote the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation


The Second The Second Continental Continental

CongressCongress(1775)(1775)The Second Continental Congress was a body of

representatives appointed by the legislatures of thirteen colonies. It met from May 10, 1775, to March 1, 1781. It adopted the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. During the American Revolution, it acted as the de facto national government of the United States by raising armies, directing strategy, appointing

diplomats, and making formal treaties.

The Second The Second Continental Continental

CongressCongress(1775)(1775)

OLIVE BRANCH PETITION•In July of 1775 the colonies made a final offer of peace to Britain, agreeing to be loyal to the British government if it addressed their grievances (repealed the Coercive Acts, ended the taxation without representation).

•Rejected by Parliament, which in December 1775 passed the

American Prohibitory Act forbidding all further trade with the colonies.

Thomas PaineThomas Paine: : Common SenseCommon Sense

Thomas PaineThomas Paine: : Common SenseCommon Sense

A British citizen, he wrote Common Sense, published on January 1, 1776, to encourage the colonies to seek independence. It spoke out against the unfair treatment of the colonies by the British government and was instrumental in turning public opinion in favor of the Revolution.

John Locke, Second Treatise of Government

Wrote that all human beings have a right to life, liberty, and property

Governments exist to protect those rights. Believed that government was based upon a

"social contract" that existed between a government and its people. If the government failed to uphold its end of the contract by protecting those rights, the people could rebel and institute a new government.

Declaration of Declaration of Independence Independence

(1776)(1776)

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Independence HallIndependence Hall

New New National National SymbolsSymbols

Analyze the ideas of the Declaration of Independence

D.O.I.: Open letter from Thomas Jefferson to King George!

Question to ponder: Who did TJ want to read this letter?



Starting in January 1776 with New Hampshire the states adopted Constitutions laws setting out principles, structures and processes of Government



Common features in all the Constitutions included:

Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Civil Rights and Liberties Separation of

Powers/Checks and balances


Articles of Confederation

The basics:– “a firm league of

friendship”– All 13 States had to ratify,

or approve, the document.

– It took 3 ½ years to get all 13 to ratify.



Structure:– It only set up a unicameral

Congress– Each state had (1) one

vote in the Congress regardless of size or wealth

– NO executive or judicial branch

Powers of Congress– Make war and peace– Send and receive

ambassadors– Make treaties; build a

navy; raise an army– Settle disputes among the

states;



Weaknesses– One vote for each state

regardless of size– Congress powerless to lay

taxes– No national courts to

interpret laws– 9/13 majority to pass laws– 13 for 13 for any

amendments

Problems with the Articles – need for a stronger government

– Meetings in Mount Vernon and Annapolis were set to find better ways to regulate commerce

– Although turnout was poor some persisted and got the states to agree to meet at a convention in Philadelphia – which became the Constitutional Convention.


Creating the Constitution – the writers

Many had fought in the Revolution

Were remarkably young (average age of 42)

Many had attended college in a nation with few

Two would be President (Washington and Madison)

39 had been members of the Continental Congress or Congress of the Confederation

Worked in secret to protect against undue influence


Creating the Constitution – Differences in the main plans

Virginia Plan– Bicameral Legislature

(House of representatives and Senate)

– Representation by population or contribution to National Government

– Strong National Power– Single executive

(President)– Supreme Court (1 or more)

chosen by Congress

New Jersey Plan– Unicameral Congress of

the Confederation– Equal representation for

all states– States have strong power– Group of “Presidents”– Single Supreme Court

chosen by the President


Creating the Constitution – Similarities in the main plans

3 Branches of Government – Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Congress retained powers under the Articles of Confederation

President chosen by the Congress


Compromises

Describe the following compromises of the Constitutional Convention: Connecticut

(Great) Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise, Commerce and Slave Trade

Compromise

original documents of american government today’s major standard: 5.1.12.e – analyze the...

Documents

british government

united states

treatise of government

national government

common sense slide

continental armywrote

stamp act congress

declaration of rights