Civics ch.2 foundations of government

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON11

CIVICSCIVICS IN PRACTICEIN PRACTICEHOLTHOLT

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Foundations of GovernmentFoundations of Government

Section 1:Section 1: Why Americans Have Governments

Section 2:Section 2: The First Government

Section 3:Section 3: A New Constitution



Section 1:Section 1: Why Americans Have GovernmentsWhy Americans Have Governments

The Main IdeaGovernment plays an essential role in every country. A

country’s government affects the lives of its people. Often, it affects people around the world.

Reading Focus What are two main types of government? What are the purposes of government? How does the U.S. government guarantee freedom to

its citizens?



Governments are influenced by:Governments are influenced by:

The people’s beliefs and the country’s historyThe people’s beliefs and the country’s history The “rule of the people” in a democracyThe “rule of the people” in a democracy




Types of GovernmentTypes of GovernmentMonarchsMonarchsA king or queen who rules of a placeA king or queen who rules of a place- United Kingdom has a Monarch- United Kingdom has a Monarch- in todays world much of the time this person - in todays world much of the time this person does not have any real powerdoes not have any real power

DictatorDictatorPerson who rules with complete powerPerson who rules with complete power- this person makes all of the decisions for a place- this person makes all of the decisions for a place



Types of Governments Characteristics of Governments

Democracy People rule directly or indirectly

Monarchy Ruled by a king or queen

Dictatorship

A person or small group has absolute power and does not answer to the people.

Absolute Monarchs have total control.

DirectRepresentative

All voters make decisions together.People elect representatives.




DemocracyDemocracyDemocratic GovernmentDemocratic Government Form of government which people hold the powerForm of government which people hold the power Began in ancient GreeceBegan in ancient Greece There are two forms of DemocracyThere are two forms of Democracy

- direct democracy- people represent themselves- direct democracy- people represent themselves- representative democracy- citizens choose the people who - representative democracy- citizens choose the people who represent them to make laws and other decisionsrepresent them to make laws and other decisions

The U.S. is the oldest representative democracy in the worldThe U.S. is the oldest representative democracy in the world




Democracy Cont.Democracy Cont.Important Principles of DemocracyImportant Principles of Democracy- the people hold the power- the people hold the power(popular sovereignty)(popular sovereignty)- each vote carries the same importance- each vote carries the same importance- elections are competitive- elections are competitive- voting rights can not be restricted by race, - voting rights can not be restricted by race, ethnicity (society), or religionethnicity (society), or religion- Majority rule- if there are differences than the - Majority rule- if there are differences than the majority of votes or people will succeedmajority of votes or people will succeed



Democracy Cont.Democracy Cont.

Important Principles of DemocracyImportant Principles of Democracy- the people hold the power- the people hold the power- each vote carries the same importance- each vote carries the same importance- elections are competitive- elections are competitive- voting rights can not be restricted by race, - voting rights can not be restricted by race, ethnicity (society), or religionethnicity (society), or religion- Majority rule- if there are differences than - Majority rule- if there are differences than the majority of votes or people will succeedthe majority of votes or people will succeed



Roles of GovernmentRoles of Government

Provides a means for cooperation and unity among Provides a means for cooperation and unity among peoplepeople

Enables groups of people to achieve large goalsEnables groups of people to achieve large goals Provides protection, security, transportation, Provides protection, security, transportation,

monetary assistance, education, and health related monetary assistance, education, and health related servicesservices

Provides Provides lawslaws and a Constitution and a Constitution




The Main IdeaThe American ideals that people should rule themselves and that

government should protect human rights are clearly set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

Reading Focus Why is the Declaration of Independence so important? What were the Articles of Confederation, and what were their

weaknesses? What was the effect of a weak national government on the

United States?

Section 2:Section 2: The First U.S. GovernmentThe First U.S. Government



Colonists are RestrictedColonists are Restricted The British government began to tighten its grip on the

American colonies- George III adopted a policy of mercantilism, the theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys- Britain wanted to buy American raw materials at low prices and sell colonists British products at high prices

Britain won land in North America from France in the French and Indian War- To pay off war debts and cover the costs of ruling the new lands, Britain taxed the colonists

Colonists resented the taxes- They had no representatives in Parliament—“No taxation without representation.”



Colonists are Restricted Cont.Colonists are Restricted Cont.Britain taxes the ColonistsBritain taxes the ColonistsDeclaratory Act- Britain has the right to tax the Declaratory Act- Britain has the right to tax the coloniescoloniesTownshend Acts- taxes needed goods imported to Townshend Acts- taxes needed goods imported to the coloniesthe coloniesTea Act- raised prices on teaTea Act- raised prices on tea- this sparked the Boston Tea Party- this sparked the Boston Tea PartyCoercive Acts- in response to the Tea Party Coercive Acts- in response to the Tea Party Parliament limited the rights of colonistsParliament limited the rights of colonists



Continental CongressContinental Congress The First Continental Congress The First Continental Congress

- The colonies sent delegates, or representatives, to a meeting in - The colonies sent delegates, or representatives, to a meeting in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia- demanded that King George III restore their rights- demanded that King George III restore their rights- The king responded with force.- The king responded with force.

The Revolutionary War The Revolutionary War - began with battles at Lexington and Concord- began with battles at Lexington and Concord- Colonists began talking about independence, or self-reliance and - Colonists began talking about independence, or self-reliance and freedom from outside controlfreedom from outside control

Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress- some delegates wanted independence- some delegates wanted independence- Others still felt loyal to Britain. - Others still felt loyal to Britain. - Thomas Paine’s pamphlet - Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense Common Sense swayed publicswayed public opinion opinion toward independencetoward independence- Finally, the Second Continental Congress agreed.- Finally, the Second Continental Congress agreed.



The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

What is the Declaration of Independence?What is the Declaration of Independence?

Why is it so important?Why is it so important?





The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence- written mostly by Thomas Jefferson- written mostly by Thomas Jefferson- explained why the United States should be a free nation- explained why the United States should be a free nation- argued that the British government did not look after the interests - argued that the British government did not look after the interests of the colonistsof the colonists- said that the purpose of government is to protect the rights of the - said that the purpose of government is to protect the rights of the peoplepeople- Government is based on consent of the people- Government is based on consent of the people- If it disregards their rights or their will, the people are entitled to - If it disregards their rights or their will, the people are entitled to change or overthrow it.change or overthrow it.




Limitations of the Articles of the Confederation:Limitations of the Articles of the Confederation:

Congress had difficulty passing important measures.Congress had difficulty passing important measures. There was no executive branch to ensure that new laws would There was no executive branch to ensure that new laws would

be carried out.be carried out. There were no national courts to interpret the laws and uphold There were no national courts to interpret the laws and uphold

them.them. A unanimous vote was required to make changes to the A unanimous vote was required to make changes to the

Articles of the Confederation.Articles of the Confederation. There was no money to pay for expenses or services.There was no money to pay for expenses or services. Each state regulated its own trade and had its own currency.Each state regulated its own trade and had its own currency.




Limitations of the Articles of the ConfederationLimitations of the Articles of the Confederation

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion- Daniel Shays, an indebted farmer, felt the state - Daniel Shays, an indebted farmer, felt the state had no right to take his farm away because of a had no right to take his farm away because of a problem the state had createdproblem the state had created- He led an uprising which swayed leaders - He led an uprising which swayed leaders toward revising the Articles of Confederation to toward revising the Articles of Confederation to create a stronger national government.create a stronger national government.




WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

difficult to change Articles because unanimous vote was

needed

no means to regulate

trade with foreign

countries

no execu-tive branch to enforce

laws

difficult to pass laws because

9 out of 13 states’ approval

was needed

no judicial branch to interpret

laws

lacked power to collect taxes



Effects of a weak national government:Effects of a weak national government:

Had no power to operate effectively or settle Had no power to operate effectively or settle disputesdisputes

The country lacked a national identity.The country lacked a national identity. The states quarreled over boundary lines and The states quarreled over boundary lines and

trade.trade. The country looked weak to other nations.The country looked weak to other nations.




The Main IdeaThe framers of the U.S. Constitution drew upon a history of

democratic ideals while developing a document that would establish a new, stronger federal government.

Reading Focus What historical principles of government influenced the

delegates to the Constitutional Convention? How did the U.S. government become stronger under the

Constitution? How did the viewpoints of Federalists and Antifederalists

differ, and how were these differences resolved?

Section 3:Section 3: A New ConstitutionA New Constitution



Principles of Great Britain’s government Principles of Great Britain’s government that influenced the delegates:that influenced the delegates:The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta The English brought with them a history of limited and representative The English brought with them a history of limited and representative

governmentgovernment England was ruled by a monarch—a king or queen, but nobles held England was ruled by a monarch—a king or queen, but nobles held

much power.much power. The nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta which upheld:The nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta which upheld:

- rights of landowners - rights of landowners - equal treatment under the law- equal treatment under the law- trial by one’s peers.- trial by one’s peers.

This limited the power of the king or queenThis limited the power of the king or queen




Principles of Great Britain’s government that Principles of Great Britain’s government that influenced the delegates:influenced the delegates:ParliamentParliament Nobles and church officials who advised Henry III developed into a Nobles and church officials who advised Henry III developed into a

legislature (a lawmaking body) known as Parliamentlegislature (a lawmaking body) known as Parliament In a power struggle, Parliament removed King James II from the In a power struggle, Parliament removed King James II from the

throne. This peaceful transfer of power was the Glorious Revolution. throne. This peaceful transfer of power was the Glorious Revolution. Parliament drew up the English Bill of Rights it required the monarch Parliament drew up the English Bill of Rights it required the monarch

to get Parliament’s consent to:to get Parliament’s consent to:- impose taxes- impose taxes- raise an army- raise an army- create special courts- create special courts- It guaranteed free elections, free speech, a fair jury, and no cruel and - It guaranteed free elections, free speech, a fair jury, and no cruel and unusual punishments.unusual punishments.



The U.S. government became The U.S. government became stronger under the Constitution.stronger under the Constitution. A federal system was established.A federal system was established. Powers included the coining and printing of Powers included the coining and printing of

money, raising armed forces, trade money, raising armed forces, trade regulations, and levying taxes.regulations, and levying taxes.

Provisions for an executive and a judicial Provisions for an executive and a judicial branch were established.branch were established.





A STRONGER U.S. GOVERNMENT

Powers Dealing with LawsPowers of the National GovernmentPrint moneyRaise armed forcesRegulate tradeSet taxes

Provide a president to carry out the country’s laws

Establish the Supreme Court and other national courts to interpret laws



Differences among Federalists and Differences among Federalists and Antifederalists:Antifederalists: FederalistsFederalists——strong national government would strong national government would

keep the country unitedkeep the country united AntifederalistsAntifederalists——strong national government strong national government

would not protect the people’s freedoms and would not protect the people’s freedoms and would take power from the stateswould take power from the states

A bill of rights was proposed to outline the rights A bill of rights was proposed to outline the rights of the people under the Constitution.of the people under the Constitution.




1. What are two of the major factors that shape a country’s government?

2. How are a democracy and other types of governments different?

3. What were the key purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

4. What were some of the problems the country faced after independence was declared?

5. In what ways did the colonists’ English political heritage influence American ideas about government and individual rights?

6. What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention?7. What were the arguments of the Federalists and

Antifederalists?

1. What are two of the major factors that shape a country’s government?

2. How are a democracy and other types of governments different?

3. What were the key purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

4. What were some of the problems the country faced after independence was declared?

5. In what ways did the colonists’ English political heritage influence American ideas about government and individual rights?

6. What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention?7. What were the arguments of the Federalists and

Antifederalists?

Chapter 2 Wrap-Up

Education

Civics ch.2 foundations of government