Outcome A: Intro to Government and the Constitution Essential Features of a State/Nation ● Population ● Territory - Fixed Boundaries ● Sovereignty, absolute authority ● Government-maintain order, ensure stability President Theodore Roosevelt Theories of the Origin of the State ● Evolutionary Theory – idea that gov’t grew from the family ● Force Theory – people were “forced” together for support, strongest person wins Theories of the Origin of the State ● Divine Right Theory – chosen by God, kings and pharaohs ● Social Contract Theory – John Locke, Thomas Hobbes – people trade freedoms for civility, created for best interests, influenced democracy King Henry the 8th of England The Purposes of Government ● Maintain Social Order ● Providing Public Services ● National Security ● Economic Decisions Major Types of Governments • Democracy - “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” - -Citizens have the most influence - Direct or representative US=Democratic Republic • People elect officials to run the government and make decisions Three Branches • Executive: enforce laws • Legislative: make laws • Judicial: interpret laws Federalism • Power is shared between the central and local governments. • Limited Government Developed in Europe - England Magna Carta Glorious Revolution/English Bill of Rights English Bill of Rights 1 – Monarchs do not have absolute authority – they rule with the consent of the people’s representatives. 2 – Monarch needs Parliament’s permission to raise taxes or maintain an army. 3 – People have a right to a speedy and fair trial by a jury of their peers. •Representative Government •John Locke •Mayflower Compact •House of Burgesses Section 2: Uniting for Independence Turn: Washington’s Spies-Series Overview Turn: Washington’s Spies-Season 1 Promo Turn: Washington’s Spies-Season 2 Promo NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION • To pay its debts from the French and Indian War, The British increased taxes on colonies • The Sugar Act and the Stamp Act are the two most notorious. Showed need for representative government TENSION MOUNTS IN BOSTON • The atmosphere in Boston was extremely tense • The city erupted in bloody clashes and tax protest, all of which pushed the colonists and England closer to war • “Boston Massacre” was in 1770 when a mob taunted British soldiers – 5 colonists were killed BOSTON TEA PARTY 1773 THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS - 1774 PHILLY ATTENDEES INCLUDED SAMUEL ADAMS, PATRICK HENRY, AND GEORGE WASHINGTON INDEPENDENCE MINDED • Public opinion shifted toward Independence • Several commentators made their case (Thomas Paine’s Common Sense) – “It’s time to part” HUGE BEST SELLER, “COMMON SENSE” 1776 SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS • May 1775, Colonial leaders met for a Second Continental Congress • Delegate John Dickinson called for an Olive Branch Petition • Petition fails - George Washington gets the “troops” ready for war John Adams Miniseries: Olive Branch Petition DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE • On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress signs the Declaration of Independence • Purpose: create a new government, show violations of king, announce separation JEFFERSON, ADAMS, & FRANKLIN Give me your John Hancock! •“There” he said, signing his name. BIG, BOLD, FAT. “King George won’t need spectacles to see that!” “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness…” Thomas Jefferson According to the Declaration… • All people are created equal • Everyone should have freedom to pursue their dreams • Governments need to protect their citizens John Adams Miniseries: Declaration Drafting John Adams Miniseries: Case for Independence Section 3: Articles of Confederation • In 1781, the 2nd Continental Congress issued a set of laws called the Articles of Confederation National government was very weak - why? What can your country do for you? • What role does the government play in our lives? • What services does it provide? • What does the government need to accomplish all of this? Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation • Congress could not collect TAXES – states were to provide new government with money voluntary • Weak national government + strong state governments • No executive branch or national court system • Amendments needed the consent of all 13 states • Required 9/13 vote to pass laws Achievements of the Articles • 1. Ended the War – Treaty of Paris • 2. Created the basic structure of Executive Branch • 3. Land Ordinance of 1785 divides Western lands into manageable townships • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 set the rules for statehood Shays’ Rebellion Mid-1780’s Mass., high taxes cause many farmers to lose land, jails packed w/debtors Daniel Shays leads 1,500 men in raid of federal arsenal – This caused many Americans to agree to a strong national government. Articles of Confederation-Parody Video Section 4: Constitutional Convention May, 1787: 55 delegates (not RI) meet in Philadelphia to discuss problems and solutions Present: G. Washington, B. Franklin, J. Madison, ¾ were rep’s in Continental Congress Not Present: P. Henry, J. Adams, T. Jefferson, Native Americans, African Americans, women Organization of the Convention - Washington elected president of convention - One vote per state - No meetings could be held unless delegates from at least 7 of the 13 states were present - Convention was to be private so delegates would have the freedom to talk freely Key Agreements Purpose: Create a government strong enough to maintain order but also protect individual rights Delegates soon realized they had to compromise and create an entirely new Constitution Constitutional Convention Crash Course The Virginia Plan Edmund Randolph and J. Madison offered a plan of government Virginia Plan: Became the basic framework of the final document • Edmund Randolph Legislature – makes laws Executive - enforces the laws Judiciary – interprets the laws Two houses of legislature – Representatives based on population The New Jersey Plan After weeks of debate, William Paterson offered an alternate plan • William Paterson New Jersey Plan: One house of Congress – each state has one vote CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE After a deadlock that dragged on & on, the Connecticut/Great Compromise, satisfied both big & small states Two houses of Congress with House of Rep’s based on population and Senate based on equality Three-Fifths Compromise • Next issue: Slavery • Southern states want slaves counted for Representation, not for taxes • Northern states want the opposite • Compromise was to count each slave as 3/5ths of a person • Delegates also agree slave trade cannot be abolished until 1808 Ratifying the Constitution Constitutional Convention adjourned on September 17, 1787, the new document was sent to the colonies for ratification According to Article 7, nine states were needed to put the Constitution into effect Ratification The Framers knew the new document would cause controversy. Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists. Those opposed were called Anti- Federalists. Federalists Led by Alexander Hamilton & James Madison (“Father of the Constitution”). Support from wealthy and city dwellers. Realized the Constitution was not perfect but felt it was far superior to the Articles of Confederation. They favored a strong central government – James Madison ANARCHY!!! “Father of the Constitution” Anti-Federalists • Anti-Federalists felt the states were too weak and individual rights of the people were not protected. • Led by Thomas Paine & Thomas Jefferson, the Anti- Federalists feared that a strong executive might become a tyrant or king. John Adams Miniseries: Hamilton v. Jefferson The Battle for Ratification • By June, 1788, 9 states had ratified the Constitution making it the official ‘law of the land.’ • But New York and Virginia had not cast their vote. Without these two large and powerful states, the Constitution would be meaningless. Adoption of the Bill of Rights To satisfy the Anti-federalists, a Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to guarantee individual freedoms The Bill of Rights was adopted in December of 1791 - three years after the Constitution was ratified First Ten Amendments.