FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTNON DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS

MONARCHY: One person holds all the power. Most monarchies are constitutional. Example of this is United Kingdom and Sweden.

DICTATORSHIP: One person rules with absolute power. Oligarchy (group).

THEOCRACY: Controlled by one or more religious leaders who claim to rule in the name of God.

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTSDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS

DEMOCRACY: The people of a nation rule by electing an official who acts on their behalf. “rule of the people”

2 FORMS OF DEMOCRACY

DIRECT DEMOCRACY: Members of a community meet in one place to make laws and take decisions.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: The people elect representatives. This system is called a Republic.

GOVERNMENT SERVICESSCHOOLSPROTECTION FINANCIAL SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE

THE CONSTITUTION THE WRITTEN PLAN OF GOVERNMENT UNDER WHICH AMERICANS LIVE. A

CONSTITUTION SETS FORTH THE PURPOSES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND DESCRIBES HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BE ORGANIZED.

THE LAWS THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE MUST ADHERE TO THE PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

GUARANTEEING FREEDOM THE UNITED STATES WAS FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE PEOPLE

SHOULD RULE THEMSELVES.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE DESCRIBES THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE AS LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPINNESS.

TO PROTECT EACH CITIZEN’S LIBERTY THE LAWS OF THE U.S. GUARANTEES THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE PRESS AND RELIGION.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1775 THE AMERICAN COLONIES WENT TO WAR AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN.

IN 1776 REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 13 COLONIES MET IN PHILADELPHIA AND A COMMITTEE WAS SET UP TO DRAW UP THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

THOMAS JEFFERSON WROTE MOST OF THE DECLARATION AND THE CONGRESS APPROVED IT ON JULY 4TH, 1776.

HUMAN RIGHTS MUST BE PROTECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE THE BASIC RIGHTS TO WHICH ALL PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 1776 STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE KING.

LISTED REASONS FOR CREATING THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.

1777 CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ADOPTS A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT OR ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

IN 1781 ARTICLES ARE APPROVED BY THE 13 STATES AND NEW GOVERNMENT GOES IN EFFECT.

WAR ENDED IN 1783, THE FORMER COLONIES OF GREAT BRITAIN WON AND THEY WERE NOW THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

13 COLONIES VIRGINIA

MASSACHUSSETS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

MARYLAND

CONNECTICUT

RHODE ISLAND

DELAWARE

NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

GEORGIA

13 COLONIES

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR The American Revolution was the political uprising at the end the 18th

century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free of the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America.

The war lasted from 1775 to 1783.

In 1777 the 13 states adopted a plan of government called the Articles of Confederation. In 1781 The Articles were approved by the 13 States and the new government went into effect.

CONFEDERATIONA confederation is a loose association of states.The Articles of Confederation set up a “firm league of friendship”.

Each state had equal powers.In most ways independent from of the other states.

Central government had limited powers.

CONFEDERATION

National government consisted of a law making congress.

Each state had one vote regardless of population size.

Writers of articles wanted to preserve the states’ sovereignty.

NEED FOR CHANGEAfter the war there were many problems. Property damage, slow trade and debt.Disputes over boundary lines and trade (among states)

1787 the congress asked states to send representatives to revise the Articles.

NEED FOR CHANGEA vote of 9 out of 13 to pass laws made it difficult to agree.

The delegates that the States sent, met and wrote a new plan of government.

The new plan became The Constitution.The Constitution describes the relationship between the national government and you as a citizen.

THE CONSTITUTIONThe Constitutional Convention wrote the constitution. 1787.

World’s oldest written constitution still governing a country.

Delegates learned important lessons from the past and wanted Americans to enjoy the rights and freedoms they had been fighting for.