American Government and Economics: Foundations of America

Mr. ChortanoffOverview and Insights

Chapter 2

Foundations of American Rights

1215Magna Carta

1689English Bill of Rights

1776Virginia Bill of Rights

1791US Bill of Rights

1200s… 1600s 1700s…

A, B, C A, B, D, E, F, G E, H, I, J, K A to K

RIGHTS: KEY…A. Trial by JuryB. Due ProcessC. Private PropertyD. No cruel

punishmentE. No right to bear

armsF. Right to petition or

write to the government

G. Right to petition

H. No unreasonable searchers and seizures

I. Freedom of speech

J. Freedom of the press

K. Freedom of religion

A number of rights guaranteed in the American Bill of Rights had their origin in two landmark documents of English history

English and Colonial Political Ideas1215:

The Magna Carta was signed by English King John. It ensured the rights of the nobles

(absolute monarchy is banned)

1600s: The colonists brought with them concepts of

limited and representative

government

1600s: The colonists created

local, ordered governments based on those they had known in England

1628: The “Petition of

Rights” was signed. It limited

the monarch’s power.

1689: After the “Glorious

Revolution,” the English “Bill of Rights”

is written and guarantees all citizens (subjects?) rights and prevents more abuses

by the monarch

The Birth of America

EFFECTSCAUSES

British colonial policies after the French and Indian War ended in 1763

Colonists’ tradition of self-government

America’s sense of a separate identity from Great Britain

Enlightenment ideals on reason, observation, and logic—not tradition and Biblical explanations of life and law

Revolutionary War

Native Americans aid the British

France, Spain, the Netherlands aid the Americans

Articles of Confederation is our first constitution

Colonists win independence

US Constitution and Bill of Rights

Major Steps on the Road to Independence

• 1643: New England Confederation formed against Native Americans

• 1754: Albany Plan of Union is proposed and rejected• 1765: Parliament passed the Stamp Act to raise

revenue to pay off French and Indian War debt. Stamp was need for printed items.

• 1770: Boston “Massacre” of five Bostonian mob/protesters• 1773: Boston Tea Party. Colonists (Sons of Liberty) dump British

tea into Boston Harbor• 1774: Parliament passed the Intolerable/Coercive Acts to punish

Boston• 1774: First Continental Congress meets. Helps Boston,

smuggles, and boycotts British goods• April 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord, Mass.• May 1776: Second Continental Congress meets.• July 1776: SCC adopted the Declaration of Independence

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Fearful of strong central government, the states agree to limit the powers of Congress under the AoC.– One vote for each state, regardless of size– Congress can’t tax or collect tariffs– Congress can’t regulate foreign or domestic trade– No president to enforce laws– No national court system– Amendments only with consent of all states– 9/13 majority is required to pass ANY law– AoC is only a “firm league of friendship”

Strengths of the AoC• National government could:– Declared war, make peace, make treaties– Send and receive ambassadors– Borrow money and set up a money system– Establish a post office– Built a navy and raised an army– Fix uniform standards of weights and measures (pounds,

tons, inches, feet)– Settle disputes among the states

• Consequences of the AoC– Much bickering among the states– Economic chaos…unstable currency, bank foreclosures– Daniel Shays’ Rebellion in Mass.

The Constitutional Convention and Congress (many compromises)

Virginia Plan

New Jersey PlanConnecticut Compromise:

Number of Houses: 2

Representation:1. House of Representatives--based on

state population2. Senate—equal number for all states

Creating the Constitution: Thanks James Madison!!!

May 25, 1787: Constitutional Convention begins with unanimous selection of George Washington as the presiding officer

Delegates from most states vote not to revise AoC, but to REPLACE it.

(SELF-INTEREST?)The Virginia Plan proposes a two-house legislature, and the New Jersey Plan proposes a one-house legislature.

Delegates pass the Great Compromise to settle how Congress be organized and elected

Delegates agree to the Three-Fifths Compromise to settle how a state’s population will be calculated for House of Rep’s representation and taxation.

Delegates agree to establish an executive and a judicial branch

Delegates determine how the president will be elected. (Electoral College = filtering system: fear the mob?)

September 17, 1787: 39 Delegates sign the US Constitution

Federalists:WHO?-A. Hamilton-J. Adams-G. Washington?

Anti-FederalistsWHO?-T. Jefferson-J. Madison

Origin of America’s Two-Party System: Rivalries and Compromises!

Supported:-Ratification of the New Federal Constitution to replace the AoC-Strong Central Gov’t-Strong President-Believed the Bill of Rights to be unnecessary-Permanent Military-Federal taxes to support gov’t

-Objected to the new Federal Constitution while it lacked the Bill of Rights.-Feared it would limit civil liberties and gave too much power to the central/federal government and president, instead of to the state and local gov’ts.