Origins of American Government

Magna Carta

government was not all-powerful first appeared in this English document

jury

group of citizens that listen to a case and give their opinion

limited government

power of monarch, or government, was limited, not absolute

Petition of Rights

limiting king’s power

english bill of rights

document that would later be very important to the American colonies

House of Lords

upper chamber of Parliament, members of the aristocracy

representative government

people elect delegates to make laws and conduct government

House of Commons

lower chamber of Parliament, merchants of property owners elected by other property owners

Two Treaties of Government

John Locke’s book over his political idea, later called “textbook of the American Revolution”

Mayflower Compact

Pilgrims signed in 1620 stands as the first example of many colonial plans for self-government

Great Fundamentals

first basic system of laws in English colonies

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Americans first formal constitution, laid out a plan for government that gave people the right to elect the governor, judges, and representatives to make laws

legislative

makes laws

executive

enforces laws

judicial

interprets the laws

separation of powers

division of government powers among governor, colonial legislatures, amd colonial courts heard cases

Virginia House of Burgesses

first legislature in America

French and Indian War

1754-1763, struggle for land, threatened Britain holds on the continent

Albany Plan of Union

Benjamin Franklin had proposed an innovative plan for uniting the colonies, “Join or die”

Stamp Act (1764)

imposed first tax on colonist; benefiting Great Britain not other colonies

revenue

money a government collects from taxes or other sources

embargo

agreement prohibiting trade, not buying British goods

Intolerable Acts

Parliament passes “Coercive Act”, closing and withdrawing things

Continental Congress

Philadelphia September 5, 1774

Committees of Correspondence

colonies who wanted to stay in touch as events unfolded by Samual Adams in Boston

Battle of Lexington and Concord

First battle of America, place started of Revolutionary War; April 19, 1775

Second Continental Congress

Discussed how much power central government should get and acted as the government for the colonies during the war (purchased supplies, negotiated treaties, support for colonist cause)

Revolutionary War

Start of America gaining its independence

Declaration of Independence

July 4th Congress approved final draft, statement for reasons of independence/list of complaints to George 3rd

ratify

approval; March 1781 all 13 states signed off on Articles of Confederation

unicamel

single chamber

cede

yielded; claims of territory to central government focusing on national unity

American Cincinnatus (Roman Leader)

George Washington for leadership after war

Articles of Confederation

unicameral legislature, 13 legislature=one vote

Articles of Confederation WEAKNESS

Lacked federal court system

Northwest Ordinace

1787 established principles that territories were to be developed for statehood on an equal basis with the older states

1785/1787

survey and division—equality between states

The Ordinance—Northwest Ordinance

Shay’s Rebellion

farmers losing territory do to not paying high taxes, turned articles of confederation bad**

Annapolis Convention inspiration

Wahington’s and Mount Vernon meeting, 12 representatives, 5 from each state

Annapolis Convention goal

address barriers that limited trade and commerce between states

Constitutional Convention

May 25, 1787; all states delegates BUT Rhode Island attended

Virgina Plan

bicameral government; lower chamber chosen by the people, higher chamber chosen by the lower chamber

New Jersey Plan

based on articles of confederation; unicameral congress (one house, one vote per state, congress has power to impose taxes)

Connecticut Plan (Great Compromise)

2 legislatures; house of representatives (based on pop.), senate (two representatives per state)

3/5th compromise

north-slaves count for taxes

south-slaves towards representatives, warned wouldn’t sign constitution

interstate commerce

trade among states and foreign commerce

extralegal

not sanctioned by law

anarchy

political disorder

Federalists

favor of constitution, strong central gov.

Anti-Federalists

against constitution, weak central gov.

Federalists papers

Essays written to get people in favor of constitution

Bill of Rights

first ten amendments, south only agreed to sign constitution if it had these

Ammendments

1791 first session of congress, 12 amendments approved by congress—10 ratified by states

King John

signed Magna Carta in 1215

King Charles 1

forced to sign Petition of Rights in 1628

John Locke

put political ideas into “Two Treaties of Government” =textbook of the American revolution

King George 3

in order to get out of debt taxed everything, laws benefiting Great Britian but not other colonies

Patrick Henry

“Give me liberty or give me death”, anti-federalist

Benjamin Franklin

first American, proposed Albany Plan of Union

Thomas Jefferson

author of Constitution

Samual Adams

established first committee in Boston

Richard Henry Lee

Resolution to congress, “United Colonies are free and independent”

Thomas Paine

wrote Common sense=George the 3rd was the enemy to liberty

Daniel Shays

lead a band that closed Massachusetts state supreme court

Alexander Hamilton

federalist, convinced New York to ratify the Constitution

James Madison

Father of Constitution

John Hancock

was anti-federalist but switched last minute, promise that he would become president if Virgina failed to sign document