Gov total

John Locke & The Declaration of Independence

Why did American colonists revolt against England in 1755?

England was charging American colonists large amounts of tax. England fought with America so England thought that they should charge America for the war reparations.

Major causes of the American Revolution (1755-1781)

High taxes on the American Soldiers

Debts incurred by the French and Indian War

British wars and empires growing around the world

Higher costs of british goods caused planter class to go into debt due to goods bought on credit (Mercantilism)

Resistance to payment caused British government to tighten control over colonies, which further angered colonists

Rallying cry of “Taxation without Representation”

John Locke's influence on the American Revolution

John Locke (1632-1704) was an Enlightenment thinker from England. hHeavily influenced American revolutionary thought and provided justification for rebellion.

Lived at a time when monarchy was being challenged in England ( late 1600s)

Believed when they were born with natural rights and they could not be taken away by the king.

Natural rights were bestowed by God.

Locke’s Second Treatise of Government heavily influenced the Declaration of Independence.

God created man with natural rights and freedom self determined.

Man is able to accumulate wealth through his labor and acquisition of private property

The government's primary duty is to preserve and protect private property

The Governments should be limited (clearly spelled out in writing)

Governments exist to serve the people and only exists through the consent of the governed

Locke’s social contract theory

Citizens have to give up some rights for the sake of public order

However government has to respect basic rights and property

This is a social contract ( agreement between people and the government

If the government violates rights, citizens have the right to revolt and replace their government.

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Development of the U.S. Constitution

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

After winning the war against Great Britain, the Continental Congress drafted our first constitution, the Articles of Confederation

A confederation is a loose association of states that cooperate on specific issues like military defense.

At this time, the 13 states did not have a strong national identity. Therefore, the national government under the articles was very weak.

Weakness of the AoC

National government could not levy taxes, wage war, regulate commerce, or issue uniform currency among all states.

Relied completely on individual states to contribute taxes and soldiers for the continental army.

No executive or Judicial branch

Any law needed support from 9 out of 13 in order to pass

Any amendment to the Articles required unanimous consent from all states.

By 1787, many are arguing that they are very flawed and they needed reform

One of the main concerns was that the government could not sufficiently fund itself or protect itself from internal not sufficiently fund itself or protect itself from internal or external aggression or threats.

Summer of 1787 -> Delegates met in Philadelphia for a Constitutional convention.

Shay Rebellion

1770’s he fought in the revolution.

He led the rebellion

He decided that he didn't think that the government taking money from the citizens after the whole revolution was to prevent that.

Veterans from the war were issued IOU’s. (US ran out of money)

The Mass Gov raises private army/militia in order to kill the rebellion.

Two plans presented at the convention

Virginia Plan

New Jersey Plan

Written by James Madison

Written by William Paterson

States cede a lot of power to the national government.

Very similar to AoC

Bi-Cameral legislature, rep based on state population

Unicameral legislature

Lower house chosen by people, upper house chosen by state legislature

Equal rep regardless of state population

Legislature will choose the chief executive

Multi chief executive chosen by the legislature

Upper house would choose a ‘supreme court”

Compromises at the convention

The Great Compromise (CT compromise)

This compromise addressed the issue of rep in the legislative branch. It created a bicameral legislature with representation in the lower house based on population and equal rep in the upper house, with 2 senators per state.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

This dealt with the issue of how enslaved individuals would be counted for the purpose of determining a state's population and thus its representation in the House of Representatives. It was agreed that each enslaved person would count as three-fifths of a free person for both taxation and representation purposes.

The Electoral College Compromise

The framers of the Constitution were divided on how the president should be elected. The Electoral College was established as a compromise between those who wanted direct popular election and those who preferred election by Congress. Under this system, each state appoints electors who then cast their votes for the president.

Federalist/Anti-Federalist Papers

Brutus 1

National gov has too much power

Lead to tyranny

Supremacy Clause

National law will supersede state law -> so state laws won't matter.

Elastic clause

Congress can make any law

Powers of Congress

Taxation

Raising an army

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