Chapter 2:

The Beginnings
of American
Government

Government Honors

Chapter 2 Section 1 : The Origins of American Ideals

English influence: English Common law (unwritten),
judge made law, English constitutionalism,
government leaders are subject to the law
3 Basic ideas:
Ordered government: Need for government.
Regulates affairs among people
Government maintains order and predictability

Limited government: Government is restricted in what it may

do
Individuals have rights that cannot be taken away

Representative government: government should serve the

will of the people

Chapter 2 Section 1 : The Origins of American Ideals

- Influential Documents and Ideas
The Magna Carta: King John signed the
Magna Carta under force in 1215
Trial by jury
Due process of law
Protection against the arbitrary taking of life,
liberty, or property
Established the idea that the Monarchs power was
not absolute

Chapter 2 Section 1 : The Origins of American Ideals

- Influential Documents and Ideas
The Petition of Right: King Charles I signed
King could no longer imprison without the court
Martial law cannot be declared in peace time
Homeowners cannot be required to shelter the
kings troops without their consent
Parliament has to be the one to pass taxes
Monarchs must obey the law

Chapter 2 Section 1 : The Origins of American Ideals

- Influential Documents and Ideas
The English Bill of Rights:
1689- Glorious Revolution
William and Mary take the crown and signed the
English Bill of Rights
Prohibited a standing army in peacetime (except with
the consent of Parliament)
Parliament elections must be free
Parliament solely has the right to pass laws
Right to a fair trial

Chapter 2 Section 1 : The Origins of American Ideals

- English Colonies
13 colonies were established separately over
the span of 125 years
Virginia 1st- 1607
Georgia 13th- 1733

Shaped by their English origins

Established based on a Charter: written
grant of authority from the King
Grant of land and some governing rights

Chapter 2 Section 1 : The Origins of American Ideals

- English Colonies
3 Different types of colonies:
Royal
Direct control of the crown

Proprietary
Organized by a proprietor that the King gave a grant of
land to

Charter
Much more free in their charters
Supposed to ask permission for their governors from the
king

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Independence

British Colonial Policies

Colonist had become used to a large
measure of self-government
A lot of policies and regulations set by
Parliament were ignored

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Independence

- French and Indian War
AKA 7 years war
1754-1763
Partially fought over American colonies
New taxes were then passed on to the
colonies to help pay for the war
These became enforced

Restrictive trading acts were also passed and

enforced

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Colonial Unity

New England Confederation:

1643 Confederation between
Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Haven,
and Connecticut
To deal with Native American Threats
Once the threat dissolved, so did the
Confederation in 1684

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Colonial Unity

The Albany Plan

Albany Plan of the Union- Written by
Benjamin Franklin
Proposed an annual congress of delegates
from 13 colonies
Could raise military, tax, and collect duties

Failure, but foreshadowing of the future

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Colonial Unity

Stamp Act Congress
October 1765
9 colonies
Not there: Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

1st time a significant number of colonies met to protest
British
Stamp Act ended up being repealed

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Colonial Unity

The First Continental Congress
September 5, 1774- All Colonies there but Georgia
Important people there : George Washington, Sam Adams,
Roger Sherman, John Jay, John Adams, James Wilson

Sent a declaration of Rights to the King

Supported a boycott of British Goods

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Colonial Unity

Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia- May 10, 1775
Lexington and Concord have already happened

New people of note: Ben Franklin, John Hancock,

Thomas Jefferson
Olive Branch Petition
Nations 1st Government (of sorts)

Chapter 2 Section 2 : Colonial Unity

Declaration of Independence
Mostly Written by Thomas Jefferson
Many ideas of John Locke
Natural rights

Became a war of Independence and not just a

rebellion
Ideas of representative government, federalism,
popular sovereignty, and limited government

Chapter 2 Section 2
1st state constitutions
States began turning their charters into constitutions
Massachusettss is the oldest still in practice (John Adams)
Most have popular sovereignty (consent of the governed)
Limited government
Civil rights and liberties (7 had Bill of Rights)
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Legislatures given the most power
Strict voting abilities (adult males, many with property
requirements)

Chapter 2 Section 3 : The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation

Two Biggest debates
How much taxes each state would have to
be
Decision: Based on land value

Votes of each state

Decision: Each state gets one

Chapter 2 Section 3 : The Articles of Confederation

November 15, 1777: Articles of Confederation

were passed
More like an alliance of independent states
Required ratification from each of the 13 states
March 1, 1781- ratified and went into effect

Chapter 2 Section 3 : The Articles of Confederation

Congress was the sole body
Delegates chosen yearly
Each state had one vote
Had a presiding President (not the President of the United
States)

No executive or Legislative Branch

Civil officers were appointed by Congress

Chapter 2 Section 3 : The Articles of Confederation

Powers:
War
Receive Ambassadors
Make Treaties
Borrow Money
Set up a Money System
Establish a Post Office
Build a Navy
Raise an Army (had to ask states for troops)
Decide Standards of weights and measures
Settle disputes among states

Chapter 2 Section 3 : The Articles of Confederation

States have the real power
Weaknesses:
Couldnt tax
Couldnt regulate trade among states
No power to enforce laws
Passing laws required 9 of 13 states
Amendments required all 13

Chapter 2 Section 3 : A Time of Troubles, the 1780s

Revolutionary War ended October 19, 1781
Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783

States bickered with other states

States taxed each others goods
States printed their own money
Early United States became economic chaos

Chapter 2 Section 3 : A Time of Troubles, the 1780s

Shays Rebellion
Led by Daniel Shay in Western Massachusetts
Small farmers were losing land to foreclosure
Fall 1786- armed uprising on the courts
Early 1787 tried to attack an arsenal
Outcome: Massachusetts's legislature eased the burden
on debtors

Chapter 2 Section 3 : A Demand for Stronger Government

Jan. 21, 1786- Virginia Assembly called for a meeting
between the states to settle a plan to regulate
commerce
Only 5 states showed up

Called for a second meeting

7 showed up

Called for a 3rd meeting, this time in Philadelphia

This would become known as the constitutional convention

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Framers had studied Enlightenment thinkers

Believed Government should only exist by the
consent of the governed
Natural rights
Social contract
Separation of power
Checks and Balances

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

12 of 13 states attended the Constitutional

Convention
All but Rhode Island
Delegates became known as Framers
James Madison Father of the Constitution
George Washington, Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Ben
Franklin- all in attendance
Thomas Jefferson (France), Sam Adams (not chosen),
John Adams (England) not there

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

George Washington- President of the

convention
Majority of states were needed to conduct
business
Each State had 1 vote
Majority decided

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Virginia Plan:

3 separate branches
Bicameral congress
Delegates population based (or monetary contribution
based)
House of Representatives: Popular Election
Senate: Elected by state legislatures
Could veto states laws when in conflict with federal
Could use force to make states obey laws passed
Council of Revision could veto laws
Liked by larger states

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

New Jersey Plan:

Unicameral congress
Equal representation
Power to tax and regulate trade
Federal executive (of more than one person)
Liked by small states
More of a revision to the Articles than a whole
new government

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise):

Bicameral Congress
Senate: equal representation
House: Population based

Three-Fifths Compromise:
Every 5 slaves = 3 in population (for both voting and taxes)

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise:

Cant tax Exports
Cant abolish the slave trade for at least 20 years

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Ratification:

Federalists: those that approved of the Constitution

Madison, Hamilton
Weakness of the Articles

Anti-Federalists: those who opposed the Constitution

Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Sam Adams
Worried about the strength of the new government
No Bill of Rights

Federalists promised once adopted they would add a bill of

rights

Chapter 2 Section 4 : Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Federalist papers: written by Hamilton, Madison and

John Jay
Virginia and New York were key states needed to
approve the Constitution, both struggled
NYC was temporary capital
George Washington unanimously elected first
president
John Adams first Vice President