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Chapter Two. Origins of American Government. Basic Concepts of 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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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.
Landmark English Documents
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
Landmark English Documents
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
Landmark English Documents
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
Landmark English Documents
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…….
The Coming of Independence
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
The Coming of Independence
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 Coming of Independence
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 Coming of Independence
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
The Coming of Independence
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
Articles of Confederation
Breaking down the Articles…
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
Articles of Confederation
Breaking down the Articles…
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
Articles of Confederation
Breaking down the Articles…
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
Articles of Confederation
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