2.1, 2.2, 2.3

John Locke

-believed men were entitled to natural rights: life, liberty and property
-social contract: people sacrificed small portion of freedom in exchange for protection
-believed anyone who invested labor into “the commons” may take as much as necessary but not too much that others couldn’t
-government is legitimized through consent of the governed
-law of nature: men agree to not harm one another
-man can dissolve government if government acts unjustly

Magna Carta

-promise from King John to his subjects that he & future monarchs would not harm the people of England
-promised against unfair trials & due process
-intended to protect British nobles

English Bill of Rights

-King James removed in the Glorious Revolution for breaking Magna Carta’s promise→ Bill of Rights passed
-a list of liberties & protections possessed by a nation’s citizens
-no cruel/unusual punishement
-right to bear arms
-right to petition
-limited executive reach

Authority of the Continental Congress

-exchange ambassadors
-make treaties w/ foreign governments & Indian tribes
-declare war
-coin currency & borrow money
-settle disputes between states

Economic problems of AOC

-national government couldn’t impose taxes on citizens. could only request money from states → request for taxes not honored. no funding.

-national government couldn’t regulate foreign trade nor interstate commerce→ unable to prevent foreign countries from hurting domestic economy through low prices and unable to prevent states from passing laws to interfere w/ domestic trade.

the straw that broke the camels back for the AOC

national government couldn’t raise an army. had to request state militia → state governments wouldn’t honor Congress request. unable to defend properly

-Shay’s Rebellion was the breaking point as the national government was unable to defend.

Government problems of AOC

-each state = one vote regardless of size → populated states under represented
-unanimous vote required to change AOC → problems couldn’t easily be addressed
-no national judicial system