Intro: The Beginnings of Government in America
Government in the English Colonies
A constitution is a set of rules that establishes the framework of a government and the powers of that government
The Framers of the U.S. Constitution had valuable political assets:
English political heritage
Judeo-Christian teachings such as the Ten Commandments
Knowledge of philosophy, political science, law and history
Hands-on political experience during the colonial era
The English crown had little to do with the early colonies
Colonists drew up their own laws and institutions to create systems of self government, or government under the control of the people who lived within the colony
The Virginia Colony
The first permanent English settlement in North America, Jamestown, was established in what is now Virginia
In 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses elected the first legislature, or lawmaking body, in the colonies
Plymouth Colony
The first New England colony was founded in 1620 in Plymouth, Massachusetts
The colonists consisted of Pilgrims, a group of English Protestants who wanted to separate from the Church of England
The Pilgrims established the Mayflower Compact, a social contract that was the first agreement to set out the basic rules for governing in the colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by the Puritans
William Penn was the proprietor of the Pennsylvania colony
Other colonies developed and adopted their own constitutions
By the American Revolution, all colonies had legislatures that carried out the daily business of colonial government
Colonists often tried to limit the power of royal governors assigned by the King
Colonial leaders gained political experience and became familiar with practical problems of governing
The Rebellion of the Colonists
The British victory over France in the Seven Years’ War brought conflict
Part of the peace treaty with Native Americans, the Proclamation of 1763 banned or greatly restricted colonists from settling on land west of the Appalachians, which angered many colonists
The British government imposed taxes on the American colonists to help pay off the war debt
The war inspired colonists to develop a separate identity front he British, as many began to call themselves “Americans”
The Sugar Act (1764)
In 1764, parliament placed a duty, or import tax, on sugar from French and Dutch colonies
The British saw the sugar tax as a way to raise money
The American colonists saw the sugar tax as a violation of their rights
The Stamp Act (1765)
Everyday items were taxed including legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards
Delegates, or chosen representatives, prepared and sent a declaration of rights and grievances to King George III
Popular revolts against the Stamp Act included attacks on tax collectors
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but enacted a law stating that Parliament had full power and authority to make laws concerning the American colonies
Parliament continued to pass more laws and imposed further taxes
Colonists protested and boycotted British products
In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act with 2 goals:
To make sure British tea was the only tea sold in the colonies
To reassert its authority to tax the colonies
The Boston Tea Party occurred when colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor
The British government retaliated width the Coercive Acts
The colonists labeled these laws the “Intolerable Acts”
The First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies gathered in a meeting called the First Continental Congress
A congress is a conference or meeting held to discuss important issues
The delegates called for the repeal of the Coercive Acts and a continued boycott of British goods
Congress organized committees of “safety” or “observation” and militia in the colonies
The Second Continental Congress
The British saw the Congress’ actions as a rebellion
The clashes between colonial militia and British forces in 1775 at Lexington and Concord marked the first battles of the American Revolution
Delegates from all 13 colonies gathered for the Continental Congress
The Congress assumed the powers of a central government and named George Washington as the army’s commander in chief
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Influential pamphlet arguing in favor of independence for the American colonies
He attacked every argument that favored loyalty to King George III
Historians view Common Sense as the single most important publication of the American Revolution
Independence and Revolution
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th, 1776. The document:
Declared that the Americans were a separate nation from Great Britain
Was written by Thomas Jefferson and included a total of 56 signers
Relied on the philosophical ideas of John Locke
Listed the former colonies’ grievances against King George III
Originally contained a passage condemning the slave trade that was removed by Congress
Each colony created a constitution
All constitutions called for a limited government, or a government whose powers and actions are limited by a system of laws
One way to limit government was through the separation of powers, a political idea that spreads functions and powers among different branches of government
Another way to limit government was to include a bill, or list of rights that defined citizens’ civil liberties
\
Republicanism is the belief that a government’s power comes from its citizens and the representatives they choose to make their laws
Most patriots were republicans, as they wanted to form a republic
State constitutions reflected republican ideas and embraced popular sovereignty, the idea that the people hold the ultimate power of government
Popular sovereignty was limited in that, for the most part, only white men who were property owners were allowed to vote
Some leaders were nationalists who favored an effective central authority
Others favored republican views that called for more control by the individual states
Tension between the two views would continue beyond the end of the war
The Confederation of States
The delegates to the Second Continental Congress formed a committee to draft a plan of confederation, or a voluntary association of independent states
The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution and established the Congress of the Confederation as the sole governing body
This Congress was unicameral, meaning it had one legislative house
The Congress named a president to preside over meetings, but the official had no direct government powers
The Congress had the sole power to wage war, to make peace, and settle states’ claims
The Congress had no power to raise revenues or force states to meet military quotas
Passing laws was difficult because 9 states had to approve any law
Under the Articles of Confederation, states would enter into independent agreements with other countries and tax imports from other states
By 1784, the nation was suffering from an economic crisis, which led to inflation, or an overall rise in prices
Shays’ Rebellion broke out in 1786
Similar disruptions occurred, frightening many Americans into supporting the creation of a true national government
The Annapolis Meeting
A meeting of the states was called in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1786 to consider extending national authority to matters of interstate commerce
Only 5 of the 13 states sent delegates to the meeting, so the issue could not be addressed effectively
In 1787, delegates Alexander Hamilton and James Madison persuaded others to call for a convention in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Convention evolved into a meeting “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation,” which became known as the Constitutional Convention
Drafting and Ratifying the Constitution
The Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia on May 25th, 1787
The 55 delegates included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton
The majority of delegates were wealthy elites among the most privileged and powerful members of society
The Constitutional Convention met in secrecy
The Virginia Plan
Bicameral (two chamber) legislature, with the large chamber chosen by the people
National executive branch, elected by the legislature
Greater influence for states with larger populations
The New Jersey Plan
Congress to regulate and impose taxes
Each state to have one vote
Acts of Congress to be the supreme law of the land
Executive office consisting of more than one person, elected by Congress
National supreme court appointed by the executive
The Great Compromise was a set of different rules for representatives in the 2 houses of the new legislature
In the House of Representatives, the number of representatives for each state would depend on the state’s population and representatives would be elected by the people
In the Senate, each state would have 2 senators chosen by the state legislature
The Three-Fifths Compromise
Southern states feared having less power than more populous states in the North
In these states, enslaved populations made up around 40% of the population
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement that the number of representatives would be determined by adding “three-fifths of all other person” to “the total number of free persons”
Some delegates wanted slavery banned, and Southern delegates did not accept this, so they compromised by agreeing that Congress could prohibit the importation of enslaved people, beginning in 1808
Under the Constitution, the president would:
Be commander in chief of the army, navy and the state militias
Have extensive appointment powers, with Senate approval
Be elected by an electoral college, or group of electors selected in each state
A problem under the Confederation was a lack of judiciary, or system of courts, so:
The Constitution established the U.S. Supreme Court
Congress established lower courts to review cases before they went to the Supreme Court
Framers wanted to ensure the removal of dishonest or corrupt leaders, so the Constitution provides that an official suspected of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” may be impeached - charged with wrongdoing
When the Second Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation, all 13 states had to ratify, or formally approve, it
Federalists favored a strong central government and the new Constitution
The Federalist Papers addressed fears expressed by the Constitution’s critics, outlining how federal officials would be chosen “directly or indirectly” by the people and the benefits of the separation of powers into three branches
Federalists clearly stated they favored a strong federal government - one that shared power with the state governments
Anti-Federalists opposed a strong central government and the new Constitutions
Critics claimed that the central government created by the Constitution was too powerful and argued the Constitution need a bill of rights to uphold important freedoms
The Constitution was ratified in 1790, which was helped by the promise to add a bill of rights
Government in the English Colonies
A constitution is a set of rules that establishes the framework of a government and the powers of that government
The Framers of the U.S. Constitution had valuable political assets:
English political heritage
Judeo-Christian teachings such as the Ten Commandments
Knowledge of philosophy, political science, law and history
Hands-on political experience during the colonial era
The English crown had little to do with the early colonies
Colonists drew up their own laws and institutions to create systems of self government, or government under the control of the people who lived within the colony
The Virginia Colony
The first permanent English settlement in North America, Jamestown, was established in what is now Virginia
In 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses elected the first legislature, or lawmaking body, in the colonies
Plymouth Colony
The first New England colony was founded in 1620 in Plymouth, Massachusetts
The colonists consisted of Pilgrims, a group of English Protestants who wanted to separate from the Church of England
The Pilgrims established the Mayflower Compact, a social contract that was the first agreement to set out the basic rules for governing in the colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by the Puritans
William Penn was the proprietor of the Pennsylvania colony
Other colonies developed and adopted their own constitutions
By the American Revolution, all colonies had legislatures that carried out the daily business of colonial government
Colonists often tried to limit the power of royal governors assigned by the King
Colonial leaders gained political experience and became familiar with practical problems of governing
The Rebellion of the Colonists
The British victory over France in the Seven Years’ War brought conflict
Part of the peace treaty with Native Americans, the Proclamation of 1763 banned or greatly restricted colonists from settling on land west of the Appalachians, which angered many colonists
The British government imposed taxes on the American colonists to help pay off the war debt
The war inspired colonists to develop a separate identity front he British, as many began to call themselves “Americans”
The Sugar Act (1764)
In 1764, parliament placed a duty, or import tax, on sugar from French and Dutch colonies
The British saw the sugar tax as a way to raise money
The American colonists saw the sugar tax as a violation of their rights
The Stamp Act (1765)
Everyday items were taxed including legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards
Delegates, or chosen representatives, prepared and sent a declaration of rights and grievances to King George III
Popular revolts against the Stamp Act included attacks on tax collectors
Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but enacted a law stating that Parliament had full power and authority to make laws concerning the American colonies
Parliament continued to pass more laws and imposed further taxes
Colonists protested and boycotted British products
In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act with 2 goals:
To make sure British tea was the only tea sold in the colonies
To reassert its authority to tax the colonies
The Boston Tea Party occurred when colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor
The British government retaliated width the Coercive Acts
The colonists labeled these laws the “Intolerable Acts”
The First Continental Congress
Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies gathered in a meeting called the First Continental Congress
A congress is a conference or meeting held to discuss important issues
The delegates called for the repeal of the Coercive Acts and a continued boycott of British goods
Congress organized committees of “safety” or “observation” and militia in the colonies
The Second Continental Congress
The British saw the Congress’ actions as a rebellion
The clashes between colonial militia and British forces in 1775 at Lexington and Concord marked the first battles of the American Revolution
Delegates from all 13 colonies gathered for the Continental Congress
The Congress assumed the powers of a central government and named George Washington as the army’s commander in chief
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Influential pamphlet arguing in favor of independence for the American colonies
He attacked every argument that favored loyalty to King George III
Historians view Common Sense as the single most important publication of the American Revolution
Independence and Revolution
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th, 1776. The document:
Declared that the Americans were a separate nation from Great Britain
Was written by Thomas Jefferson and included a total of 56 signers
Relied on the philosophical ideas of John Locke
Listed the former colonies’ grievances against King George III
Originally contained a passage condemning the slave trade that was removed by Congress
Each colony created a constitution
All constitutions called for a limited government, or a government whose powers and actions are limited by a system of laws
One way to limit government was through the separation of powers, a political idea that spreads functions and powers among different branches of government
Another way to limit government was to include a bill, or list of rights that defined citizens’ civil liberties
\
Republicanism is the belief that a government’s power comes from its citizens and the representatives they choose to make their laws
Most patriots were republicans, as they wanted to form a republic
State constitutions reflected republican ideas and embraced popular sovereignty, the idea that the people hold the ultimate power of government
Popular sovereignty was limited in that, for the most part, only white men who were property owners were allowed to vote
Some leaders were nationalists who favored an effective central authority
Others favored republican views that called for more control by the individual states
Tension between the two views would continue beyond the end of the war
The Confederation of States
The delegates to the Second Continental Congress formed a committee to draft a plan of confederation, or a voluntary association of independent states
The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution and established the Congress of the Confederation as the sole governing body
This Congress was unicameral, meaning it had one legislative house
The Congress named a president to preside over meetings, but the official had no direct government powers
The Congress had the sole power to wage war, to make peace, and settle states’ claims
The Congress had no power to raise revenues or force states to meet military quotas
Passing laws was difficult because 9 states had to approve any law
Under the Articles of Confederation, states would enter into independent agreements with other countries and tax imports from other states
By 1784, the nation was suffering from an economic crisis, which led to inflation, or an overall rise in prices
Shays’ Rebellion broke out in 1786
Similar disruptions occurred, frightening many Americans into supporting the creation of a true national government
The Annapolis Meeting
A meeting of the states was called in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1786 to consider extending national authority to matters of interstate commerce
Only 5 of the 13 states sent delegates to the meeting, so the issue could not be addressed effectively
In 1787, delegates Alexander Hamilton and James Madison persuaded others to call for a convention in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Convention evolved into a meeting “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation,” which became known as the Constitutional Convention
Drafting and Ratifying the Constitution
The Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia on May 25th, 1787
The 55 delegates included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton
The majority of delegates were wealthy elites among the most privileged and powerful members of society
The Constitutional Convention met in secrecy
The Virginia Plan
Bicameral (two chamber) legislature, with the large chamber chosen by the people
National executive branch, elected by the legislature
Greater influence for states with larger populations
The New Jersey Plan
Congress to regulate and impose taxes
Each state to have one vote
Acts of Congress to be the supreme law of the land
Executive office consisting of more than one person, elected by Congress
National supreme court appointed by the executive
The Great Compromise was a set of different rules for representatives in the 2 houses of the new legislature
In the House of Representatives, the number of representatives for each state would depend on the state’s population and representatives would be elected by the people
In the Senate, each state would have 2 senators chosen by the state legislature
The Three-Fifths Compromise
Southern states feared having less power than more populous states in the North
In these states, enslaved populations made up around 40% of the population
The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement that the number of representatives would be determined by adding “three-fifths of all other person” to “the total number of free persons”
Some delegates wanted slavery banned, and Southern delegates did not accept this, so they compromised by agreeing that Congress could prohibit the importation of enslaved people, beginning in 1808
Under the Constitution, the president would:
Be commander in chief of the army, navy and the state militias
Have extensive appointment powers, with Senate approval
Be elected by an electoral college, or group of electors selected in each state
A problem under the Confederation was a lack of judiciary, or system of courts, so:
The Constitution established the U.S. Supreme Court
Congress established lower courts to review cases before they went to the Supreme Court
Framers wanted to ensure the removal of dishonest or corrupt leaders, so the Constitution provides that an official suspected of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” may be impeached - charged with wrongdoing
When the Second Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation, all 13 states had to ratify, or formally approve, it
Federalists favored a strong central government and the new Constitution
The Federalist Papers addressed fears expressed by the Constitution’s critics, outlining how federal officials would be chosen “directly or indirectly” by the people and the benefits of the separation of powers into three branches
Federalists clearly stated they favored a strong federal government - one that shared power with the state governments
Anti-Federalists opposed a strong central government and the new Constitutions
Critics claimed that the central government created by the Constitution was too powerful and argued the Constitution need a bill of rights to uphold important freedoms
The Constitution was ratified in 1790, which was helped by the promise to add a bill of rights
