origins of american government. early units of government/offices most of the earliest units of...

Chapter Two

Origins of American Government

Early Units of Government/Offices

Most of the earliest units of government are still with us today Sheriff, Coroner, Assessor, JP, grand jury,

counties, townships Also had belief in a limited government

Individual has certain rights that gov’t cannot take away

Basic Concepts of Government

Representative Government

Government should serve the will of the people Gov’t of, by, and for the people

Basic Concepts of Government

Three Important documents

These documents molded the minds of the people responsible for the formation of our government The Magna Carta The Petition of the Right The English Bill of Rights

Landmark English Documents

The Magna Carta (The Great Charter)

Signed by King John after being forced to do so in 1215

Seeking protection of heavy-handed and arbitrary acts of the king

Included fundamental rights such as: Taking of life, liberty, or property Unfair taxes Excessive military campaigns

Originally only for the nobles, but over time, became standard for everyone.


The Petition of Right

Overtime, Magna Carta was replaced by other Monarchs (400 years)

Parliament grew stronger – Representative body that had power to make laws

1628 – King Charles I asked Parliament to raise taxes Refused Forced king to sign petition of Right

Limited the Kings power Could no longer issue punishment ir imprison others

without consent lawfully of his peers


The Petition of Right

Also insisted that king could not impose martial law – Rule by the military in time of peace

Could not force homeowners to shelter troops without consent

No taxes without parliament approval Challenged idea of divine right – monarch must

obey law of the land


The English Bill of Rights

1689 Included

No standing army in peacetime Parliamentary elections be free No laws without parliamentary consent No money usage by crown without consent of

parliament People can petition the king without fear of prosecution Right to a fair trial No excessive bail or cruel/unusual punishment


Three different kinds of colonies

Each colony had to have a Charter issued to become a colony

Led to the development of three types of colonies Included

Royal Colonies – Under direct rule of crown New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey,

Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia Proprietary Colonies – Person granted a piece of land

Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware Charter Colonies – Charters granted to colonists, self

governing Connecticut and Rhode Island

The English Colonies

Discuss – What was England’s interest in

colonization in the first place? Turn and talk to your group Come up with at least three reasons

The Coming of Independence

The Stamp Act Congress

Colonies/colonist’s were taxed heavily Passed in 1765 Taxed everything from legal documents, business

agreements, to newspapers Colonists view was that this was taxation without

representation October 1765, all but four colonies sent reps to the

Stamp Act Congress in New York Prepared a Declaration of Rights and Grievances Parliament repealed the Stamp Act But stage was set…….


First Continental Congress

Prompted by new laws/taxes – Mostly from the actions of the colonists…Boston Tea Party

Called the Intolerable Acts Declaration of Rights

Sent to the King Protested the unfair taxes Took two months to create Urged colonies to refuse trade with England


Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775 Britain was not complying Even tighter restrictions Fighting had begun though in Lexington and Concord Basically became our nations first government

Continental army was created – George Washington John Hancock President of Congress Britain looked at it as treason Lasted five years through the Articles of Confederation


The Declaration of Independence

Committee was formed to prepare a document of Independence

Actually Richard Henry Lee’s idea - Resolution Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert

Livingston, Thomas Jefferson


The Declaration of Independence

Adopted on July 4th, 1776 Proclaimed the existence of a new

nation With these brave words, the United

States of America was born 13 colonies became free and

independent states


Each state now had to replace their charters

with a constitution New Hampshire was the first – January, 1776 Common features

Popular sovereignty – Limited Government – Civil Rights and Liberties – Separation of Powers/Checks and balances -

State Constitutions

Working in your groups….

You will define what the meaning of each of the four common features of state constitutions from previous slide

Put all information in your notes.

State Constitutions

Proposed by Richard Henry Lee who called for

a “plan of confederation.” Deliberated for 17 months November 15, 1777 – Articles of Confederation

approved by Second Continental Congress. Ratified by 11 states within a year

Delaware – 1789 Maryland - 1781

Articles of Confederation

Breaking down the Articles…

Government Structure A unicameral congress

Delegates chosen by states (however they saw fit)

Each state had one vote in congress No executive or judicial branch

Handled by committees in congress Congress would choose one of its members as

president (presiding officer) All civil positions appointed by congress



Powers of Congress Could make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors Make treaties Borrow money Establish money system Build a navy Raise an army – ask states for troops Standard weights and measures Settle disputes among states



State obligations Had to obey Articles Provide funds and troops requested by

congress Treat citizens of other states fairly and equally Surrender fugitives from justice to one another Submit disputes to congress for settlement Allow open travel and trade among the states Responsible for protecting life and property



Weaknesses Congress did not have power to tax Had to borrow or ask states!!!! Could not regulate trade between states Lack of power to make states obey Articles

9 of 13 states had to agree Difficult to amend articles

All 13 states had to agree


Need for a stronger government

Why? Who was responsible for this demand?


The Framers (Delegates) Constitutional Convention – May, 1787 -

Philadelphia 12/13 States represented – No Rhode Island

delegates Most were very prestigious men Average age – 42, many in their 30’s Real leaders

James Madison – 36 Gouverneur Morris – 35 Edmund Randolph – 34 Alexander Hamilton – 32 Benjamin Franklin – 81 – oldest George Washington - 55

Creating the Constitution

Differing plans for the Constitution The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan

Compromises The Connecticut Compromise The Three-Fifths Compromise The commerce and Slave Trade

Compromise In your groups, complete the chart for

the different plans and compromises that were presented to the Second Continental Congress

Creating the Constitution

origins of american government. early units of government/offices most of the earliest units of...

Documents

english colonies

important documents

legal documents

petition of right limited

consent of parliament

coming of independence

royal colonies

types of colonies