Chapter 2: Origins of American Government

Section 1: The Colonial PeriodSection 2: Uniting for IndependenceSection 3: Articles of Confederation

Section 4: The Constitutional Convention

Section 1: The colonial period

Section 1: The colonial period

I. An English Political Heritage

A. The English colonists brought with them a heritage of freedom and principles of govt that helped shape the development of the US

B. One of these ideas was the concept of limited government, which the English were familiar with from the Magna Carta (1215)

I. An English Political Heritage

A. The English colonists brought with them a heritage of freedom and principles of govt that helped shape the development of the US

B. One of these ideas was the concept of limited government, which the English were familiar with from the Magna Carta (1215)

C. The English also had the Petition of Right (1628), which had limited the power of the king.

D. The English also had an English Bill of Rights that had been passed by Parliament in 1688.

E. The English were used to representative government since they elected members of the House of Commons

F. The political philosophy of famous Englishmen such as Hobbes and Locke influenced the colonists.

C. The English also had the Petition of Right (1628), which had limited the power of the king.

D. The English also had an English Bill of Rights that had been passed by Parliament in 1688.

E. The English were used to representative government since they elected members of the House of Commons

F. The political philosophy of famous Englishmen such as Hobbes and Locke influenced the colonists.

II: Government in the colonies

II: Government in the coloniesA. The present system

of American govt evolved from colonial governments (salutary neglect)

B. Written plans of government were a key feature of the colonial period (colonial constitutions such as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut or the Mayflower Compact)

A. The present system of American govt evolved from colonial governments (salutary neglect)

B. Written plans of government were a key feature of the colonial period (colonial constitutions such as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut or the Mayflower Compact)

C. The colonies had representative assemblies that were elected by the people starting with the House of Burgesses in Virginia in 1619

D. The principle of separation of powers also developed in the colonial period; the governor, the colonial legislatures and colonial courts shared power.

C. The colonies had representative assemblies that were elected by the people starting with the House of Burgesses in Virginia in 1619

D. The principle of separation of powers also developed in the colonial period; the governor, the colonial legislatures and colonial courts shared power.

Discussion questions for section 1

Discussion questions for section 1

1. Why were John Locke’s ideas considered revolutionary?

2. How did democracy in the colonies differ from democracy in the U.S. today?

1. Why were John Locke’s ideas considered revolutionary?

2. How did democracy in the colonies differ from democracy in the U.S. today?

Section 2: Uniting for Independence

Section 2: Uniting for Independence I. The colonies on their own

A. mercantilism and salutary neglect during the English Civil War

B. The French & Indian Wars (7 years’ war in Europe) changed England’s attitude toward the colonies

C. King George III and his ministers looked to the colonies to help pay for the war effort

I. The colonies on their own A. mercantilism and

salutary neglect during the English Civil War

B. The French & Indian Wars (7 years’ war in Europe) changed England’s attitude toward the colonies

C. King George III and his ministers looked to the colonies to help pay for the war effort

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II: Colonial UnityII: Colonial Unity

A. Harsh British policies and increased taxes helped unite the colonists

B. The colonists organized their protests by setting up committees of correspondence which sent petitions to the king.

A. Harsh British policies and increased taxes helped unite the colonists

B. The colonists organized their protests by setting up committees of correspondence which sent petitions to the king.

C. The First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia in 1774. The main topic of debate was what the colonies should do about their relationship with Britain.

D. When the Second Continental Congress met in 1775, fighting had begun at Lexington and Concord (“shot heard ‘round the world”) This was the government in place during the Revolution.

C. The First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia in 1774. The main topic of debate was what the colonies should do about their relationship with Britain.

D. When the Second Continental Congress met in 1775, fighting had begun at Lexington and Concord (“shot heard ‘round the world”) This was the government in place during the Revolution.

III: IndependenceIII: Independence A. Thomas Paine’s

Common Sense strengthened the independence movement.

B. A committee of delegates sent to the Philadelphia Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 based on Lee’s Resolution.

C. The Declaration set forth the argument the colonists were making for why they were justified in breaking away from Britain

A. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense strengthened the independence movement.

B. A committee of delegates sent to the Philadelphia Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 based on Lee’s Resolution.

C. The Declaration set forth the argument the colonists were making for why they were justified in breaking away from Britain

D. The Declaration had 3 parts:

1. A statement of purpose

2. A list of specific complaints

3. A statement of the colonists’ intent to separate from Great Britain.

D. The Declaration had 3 parts:

1. A statement of purpose

2. A list of specific complaints

3. A statement of the colonists’ intent to separate from Great Britain.

Discussion Questions for section 2

Discussion Questions for section 2

1. Why did the British government allow its American colonies to develop representatives?

2. When did the Second Continental Congress become the colonies’ acting government?

1. Why did the British government allow its American colonies to develop representatives?

2. When did the Second Continental Congress become the colonies’ acting government?

3. Why did Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence stir the hearts and minds of the American people?

3. Why did Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence stir the hearts and minds of the American people?

Section 3: The Articles of Confederation

Section 3: The Articles of Confederation

I. Government under the Articles

A. The nation’s first govt had a single chamber Congress with limited powers.

B. Each state had one vote in Congress; there was no executive branch or national court system.

I. Government under the Articles

A. The nation’s first govt had a single chamber Congress with limited powers.

B. Each state had one vote in Congress; there was no executive branch or national court system.

II: weaknesses of the Articles

A. Congress depended on the states for money. It couldn’t collect taxes, regulate trade or enforce laws (no $)

B. Amending the Articles had to be unanimous.

No executive branch; the central govt carried out its work through congressional committees.

State courts enforced and interpreted national laws (why is this a problem?)

II: weaknesses of the Articles

A. Congress depended on the states for money. It couldn’t collect taxes, regulate trade or enforce laws (no $)

B. Amending the Articles had to be unanimous.

No executive branch; the central govt carried out its work through congressional committees.

State courts enforced and interpreted national laws (why is this a problem?)

III: AchievementsIII: Achievements

A. The Confederation government prevented civil war by coming up with a fair way to handle developing western lands.

B. The Confederation govt signed the peace treaty with England.

A. The Confederation government prevented civil war by coming up with a fair way to handle developing western lands.

B. The Confederation govt signed the peace treaty with England.

C. Set up several departments that became the basis for the cabinet departments we have today.

C. Set up several departments that became the basis for the cabinet departments we have today.

IV: The Need for Stronger Government

IV: The Need for Stronger Government

A. Several states had disputes with each other over territorial boundaries

B. the government couldn’t afford to pay the soldiers for serving in the war.

A. Several states had disputes with each other over territorial boundaries

B. the government couldn’t afford to pay the soldiers for serving in the war.

C. An economic depression after the war led to an uprising called Shays’ Rebellion.

D. Political leaders who thought these problems showed that the govt should be stronger met at the Annapolis Convention in 1786, and agreed to meet again in Philadelphia that summer to revise the AOC.

C. An economic depression after the war led to an uprising called Shays’ Rebellion.

D. Political leaders who thought these problems showed that the govt should be stronger met at the Annapolis Convention in 1786, and agreed to meet again in Philadelphia that summer to revise the AOC.

Discussion Questions for Section 3

Discussion Questions for Section 3

1. Why did the delegates who planned the Confederation government give nearly all powers to the central government (Congress) instead of to a strong executive?

2. What do you consider the biggest weakness of the Articles? Why?

1. Why did the delegates who planned the Confederation government give nearly all powers to the central government (Congress) instead of to a strong executive?

2. What do you consider the biggest weakness of the Articles? Why?

3. How did the Confederation government provide for the future growth of the nation?

4. How did Shays’ Rebellion show the need for a stronger government?

3. How did the Confederation government provide for the future growth of the nation?

4. How did Shays’ Rebellion show the need for a stronger government?

Section 4: The Constitutional Convention

Section 4: The Constitutional Convention

I. The Convention Begins

A. The delegates to the convention included well-known politicans and signers of the Declaration of Independence.

I. The Convention Begins

A. The delegates to the convention included well-known politicans and signers of the Declaration of Independence.

B. The delegates held their meetings in secret. They elected James Madison as secretary and agreed not to discuss the convention outside of their meetings. Ben Franklin needed a chaperone to protect the secrets!

C. The delegates decided to scrap the AOC and write a new constitution.

B. The delegates held their meetings in secret. They elected James Madison as secretary and agreed not to discuss the convention outside of their meetings. Ben Franklin needed a chaperone to protect the secrets!

C. The delegates decided to scrap the AOC and write a new constitution.

II: Decisions and Compromises

II: Decisions and Compromises

A. The Virginia Plan Featured a strong

executive, national judiciary, two-house legislature (bicameral), in which the people choose the lower house and the upper house members are chosen by the members of the lower house. The VA Plan favored states with large populations. (why?)

A. The Virginia Plan Featured a strong

executive, national judiciary, two-house legislature (bicameral), in which the people choose the lower house and the upper house members are chosen by the members of the lower house. The VA Plan favored states with large populations. (why?)

B. The New Jersey PlanFeatured a weak

executive made up of three people elected by Congress, a national judiciary with limited power, and a unicameral (one-house) legislature in which each state got one vote. This plan favored small states. (why?)

B. The New Jersey PlanFeatured a weak

executive made up of three people elected by Congress, a national judiciary with limited power, and a unicameral (one-house) legislature in which each state got one vote. This plan favored small states. (why?)

II: continuedII: continued

A. What were the key points of debate at the Convention?

1. Representation 2. Election of the

executive3. Slavery and

commerce

A. What were the key points of debate at the Convention?

1. Representation 2. Election of the

executive3. Slavery and

commerce

B. How were these debates resolved?

1. The “Great” Compromise a.k.a. the Connecticut Compromise.

2. The Three-Fifths Compromise

3. Set up the electoral college to select the executive & a 4 year term.

B. How were these debates resolved?

1. The “Great” Compromise a.k.a. the Connecticut Compromise.

2. The Three-Fifths Compromise

3. Set up the electoral college to select the executive & a 4 year term.

III: Ratifying the Constitution

III: Ratifying the Constitution

A. The delegates returned home to the job of getting the new constitution adopted. Why would some people have been opposed to the Constitution?

B. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

A. The delegates returned home to the job of getting the new constitution adopted. Why would some people have been opposed to the Constitution?

B. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

The Federalists supported a strong national government (hence the name) to solve the problems the country faced under the weak AOC.

C.The Anti-federalists opposed the new document because. . .

The Federalists supported a strong national government (hence the name) to solve the problems the country faced under the weak AOC.

C.The Anti-federalists opposed the new document because. . .

Anti-Federalists’ Objections

Anti-Federalists’ Objections

1. The new constitution had been written in secret and without approval of the Congress or the state legislatures who sent delegates.

2. They thought the stronger national government came at the expense of the states.

1. The new constitution had been written in secret and without approval of the Congress or the state legislatures who sent delegates.

2. They thought the stronger national government came at the expense of the states.

3. They wanted a Bill of Rights added to prevent the new stronger central government from having too much power. Remember that most of the colonial/state constitutions had bills of rights

3. They wanted a Bill of Rights added to prevent the new stronger central government from having too much power. Remember that most of the colonial/state constitutions had bills of rights

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers

Here are the key ideas from the Federalist Papers:

The importance of the union

Defects of the Articles Arguments for the

type of govt set up by the new constitution

Explanations of how each branch would work

Here are the key ideas from the Federalist Papers:

The importance of the union

Defects of the Articles Arguments for the

type of govt set up by the new constitution

Explanations of how each branch would work

RepublicanismFederalismSeparation of

PowersFree Government

RepublicanismFederalismSeparation of

PowersFree Government

Discussion questions for section 4

Discussion questions for section 4

1. Why were the delegates able to work out their disagreements?

2. Why does the word slave not appear in the Constitution?

1. Why were the delegates able to work out their disagreements?

2. Why does the word slave not appear in the Constitution?

3. Why did ratification of the Constitution cause great debate among people in the various states?

3. Why did ratification of the Constitution cause great debate among people in the various states?