Origins of American Government

1
Origins of American Government Our Political
Beginnings
Objectives

• Understand ideas of English
• government brought by
• colonists.

2. Compare colonial governments.
2
Origins of American Government Our Political
Beginnings

• Basic concepts of government

• ordered - need for orderly
• regulation of relationships

• limited - not all-powerful

3
Origins of American Government Our Political
Beginnings

• representative government
• should serve the will of the
• people
• government of, for, by the
• people

4
Origins of American Government The Coming of
Independence
Objectives
1. Explain changing relationship between
the British and colonies.
2. Understand why Declaration of
Independence was revolutionary.
3. Describe the new government.
5
Origins of American Government The Coming of
Independence

• 1754 - The Albany Plan Ben
• Franklins plan addressed trade,
• defense, and duties.
• Rejected by colonies.

• 1765 - Stamp Act Congress
• - united colonies against
• taxation without
• representation

6
Origins of American Government The Coming of
Independence

• 1774 1st Continental Congress
• Declaration of Rights to George III

• 1775 2nd Continental
• Congress organized army
• for the Revolution,
• - 1st national government

• 1776 - Declaration of
• Independence

7
Origins of American Government The Coming of
Independence
Review
1. How did our relationship with the
British change?
2. What was our new government like?
8
Origins of American Government The Critical Period
Objective

• Explore the Articles of
• Confederation.

2. Examine steps to the Constitutional
Convention of 1787.
9
The Critical Period
10
Origins of American Government The Critical Period

• Articles of Confederation - 1777

- ratified in 1781
- a league of friendship

• only had powers not delegated
• to the states

11
Origins of American Government The Critical Period

• Government structure

- unicameral Congress
- each state had one vote

• no executive or judicial
• branches

• one member of Congress
• chosen each year to be
• presiding officer

12
Origins of American Government The Critical Period

• Powers of Congress

- make war and peace
- send and receive ambassadors
- make treaties

• borrow money/set up
• monetary system

- raise army and navy
- fix standards, settle disputes
13
Origins of American Government The Critical Period

• State Obligations

- provide funds for troops
- treat all citizens fairly

• give full faith and credit to
• other states

- surrender fugitives
- submit disputes to Congress
- allow open travel and trade
14
Origins of American Government The Critical Period

• Weaknesses

• one vote per State,
• regardless of size

- Congress unable to tax
- Congress cant regulate trade
- no executive, no national court
15
Origins of American Government The Critical Period

• Weaknesses

• amendment with consent of
• all states

• a 9/13 majority needed to
• pass laws

• only a firm league of
• friendship

16
Origins of American Government The Critical Period

• States bickered among themselves

• refused to support national govt

• some made agreements with
• foreigners

• taxed each others goods

• printed their own money

• economic chaos, debts unpaid

17
Origins of American Government The Critical Period
Review

• What were the basic weaknesses
• of the Articles?

2. Why were the 1780s called critical?
18
Origins of American Government Creating the
Constitution
Objective

• Describe how the Constitution
• was written.

2. Explain why compromises were necessary.
19
The Constitutional Convention
20
Origins of American Government Creating the
Constitution

• May 25, 1787 in Philadelphia

• all but Rhode Island represented

• 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended

• 7 governors
• 8 signed Declaration of
• Independence

21
Origins of American Government Creating the
Constitution

• 31 attended college

• 2 college presidents, 2 professors

• 2 became president,
• 1 Vice President

• 17 served in Senate, 11 in House

22
Origins of American Government Creating the
Constitution

• Notables not at the convention

- Patrick Henry refused to attend
- Samuel Adams, John Hancock Richard Henry
Lee were not selected
- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were serving
as ambassadors in Europe
23
Origins of American Government Creating the
Constitution

• Organization and procedure

- met in Independence Hall
- 29 delegates present on May 25

• George Washington elected
• president

24
Origins of American Government Creating the
Constitution

• Organization and procedure

- met 89 of 116 days
- one vote per state

• all questions settled by full
• body

• James Madison Father
• of Constitution

25
Origins of American Government Creating the
Constitution

• purpose of the convention
• redefined

• Articles of Confederation trashed

• Edmund Randolphs proposal
• that a national Government
• ought to be established consisting
• of a supreme Legislative,
• Executive and Judiciary

26
Origins of American Government

• The Virginia Plan (Madison)

• three branches, expanded power

• Bicameral legislature

• representation by population

• House members elected

• Senators chosen by House

• Congress had powers of Articles

• Congress chose executive and
• Judiciary

27
Origins of American Government

• The New Jersey Plan

• Unicameral legislature

- limits to tax and regulate trade

• Plural executive

• Congress had powers of Articles

• Judiciary tribunal

• Dispute over how states would be
• represented - equal

28
Origins of American Government

• The Connecticut Compromise

• often called the
• Great Compromise

• smaller Senate represented
• equally

• House based on population

29
Origins of American Government

• The Three-Fifths Compromise

• should slaves be counted?

• count 3/5 of all other persons

• also fixed taxing by Congress

• negated by 13th Amendment in
• 1865

30
Origins of American Government

• The Commerce and Slave
• Trade Compromise

• Congress forbidden power to tax
• exports

• leave slave trade alone for at
• least 20 years

31
Origins of American Government

• Despite differences, delegates
• agreed on

- popular sovereignty
- limited government
- representative government
- checks and balances
- separation of powers
32
Principles of Government
Review
Why were compromises necessary?
What were the major compromises?
33
Origins of American Government Ratifying the
Constitution
Objective
1. State Anti-Federalists objections.
2. Describe how the Constitution was ratified.
34
Origins of American Government
Federalists and Anti-Federalists

• Federalists favored ratification

• led by Madison Hamilton

• stressed weaknesses of Articles

35
Origins of American Government
Federalists and Anti-Federalists

• Anti-Federalists opposed
• ratification

• led by Henry, Lee, Hancock

• opposed increased powers of
• central government and lack
• of bill of rights

36
Origins of American Government
Success

• Delaware first to ratify

• New Hampshire 9th to approve,
• June 21, 1788

• Virginia 10th, New York 11th

• The Federalist - 85 essays
• written by Hamilton, Madison
• and Jay supporting constitution

37
Origins of American Government
Inauguration of a new government

• Sept. 13, 1788 Congress chose
• New York as temporary capital

• George Washington elected
• president

• John Adams elected Vice President

38
Principles of Government
Review
Why did the Anti-Federalists oppose
ratification?
39
Origins of American Government The Critical Period
Review
List some powers of Congress under the Articles
of Confederation
List some obligations of the states.