Unit 2

Origins of United States Government

Origins of the United States Government

Section 1: Early Influences

Ideas from England

Limited Gov.

Rep. Gov.

Petition of Right

Bill of Rights

4 English Ideas Explained0 1. Limited gov.

0One person does NOT have all the power0Magna Carta01215 England0Citizens force King John to sign0Limited power of king0Rule of law—gov leaders must act according to a set of laws

0 2. Representative gov0Bicameral0Two houses of legislative branch

0 3. Petition of Right016280Parliament forces Charles I to sign it0Limited power of the monarch0Parliament (elected by people) had more power

0 4. English Bill of Rights0Citizens rights from gov violations

English Documents Explained

0Magna Carta webpage0Petition of Right 0English Bill of Rights

Colonies

0Charters0English monarchs gave settlers right to establish a colony0Most charters included limited and rep gov.

0Governments0As number of colonies grew, each developed limited and

rep gov.

Origins of United States GovernmentSection 2: Independence

Searching for Unity0a. Tough to unite 0i. Colonies formed for different reasons 01. Profit 02. Religion 03. Georgia: refuge for debtors

0ii. Different economies and geography 01. New England: fishing and lumber 02. South: crops

13 Original Colonies

Attempts at Unity

• 1643• Vs. Indians• Had little power• Little cooperation among

colonies

New England Confederation

• Council of reps• Levy taxes to raise army• Regulate trade with Indians• Colonies rejected the plan

Albany Plan of Union

An Ocean Apart0a. Anger over British taxes unite the colonies 0b. First Continental Congress 0i. Protest British policies 0ii. Send King George III the Declaration and

Resolves of the First Continental Congress 0iii. British tighten control 0iv. Colonists declare independence in 1776

Origins of United States GovernmentSection 3: The First National Government

Articles of ConfederationYear

Established• 1777

How? • All 13 states had to ratify. Done in 1781

How powerful?

• Not very. Most did not want a powerful national gov

Legislative Powers

• Each state had 1 legislative vote• majority rule• 9 votes needed for major decisions

Limits on power

• Could not tax• Could not regulate trade• No executive branch• No judicial brandh

Articles of Confederation DID NOT WORK

0Reasons:01. each colony was very different

including issue of slavery02. size of new nation was

large/communication was slow03. states did their own thing—ignored

federal laws and taxes04. A of C HAD NO POWER!

What next?

0Many felt we needed a strong federal government0Otherwise, we would have no country!0Example: Shays’s Rebellion

Origins of the United States GovernmentSection 4: The Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention

General Info

0 *Delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation

0 *However, delegates moved quickly to form a stronger national gov.

0 *worked 4 months in a hot Phila summer in secrecy

8 singed Dec of Ind

7 on 1st Cont. Cong.

7 state governors

Wealthy/educated

The Delegates

Key People

0George Washington0Benjamin Franklin0Alexander Hamilton0 James Madison

George Washington

Benjamin Franklin

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Alexander Hamilton

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James Madison

Rival PlansVirginia Plan New Jersey Plan

Powers of National Government

1. Levy taxes2. Make national laws3. Regulate trade

1. Levy taxes2. Regulate trade

Executive Branch Strong executive chosen by legislature

Weak executive controlled by the legislature

Legislative Branch 1. Bicameral2. Membership based on

state population3. 1st house elected by

people4. 2nd house elected by

1st house

1. Strong unicameral 2. Each state has 1 vote3. Reps chose by state

legislatures

Judicial Branch Supreme Court and lower courts

Supreme Court with justices named by legislature

The Great CompromiseLegislative Branch 1. Bicameral legislative branch

a. House: based on populationb. Senate: 2 per state

Executive Branch The Electoral College

Trade 1. Congress could not ban import of slaves before 18082. Congress could not tax goods on exports

Slavery 1. North: believed it was wrong; also believed they should not count towards population2. Southern states want slaves to count3. 3/5 compromise: each slave counted as 3/5 of a free person

Finalizing the Constitution

0Most signed the new Constitution, even though many still opposed.

Origins of the United States GovernmentSection 5: Ratifying the Constitution

Federalists vs. Anti Federalists

a. Federalistsi. Constitution would protect rights and was necessary to hold nation together

b. Antifederalistsi. Did not want the new gov.ii. Constitution would create a gov. that would threaten people’s rights and state’s rights

RATIFICATION!

0After a lot of debate, all states eventually ratified (passed) the Constitution