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In this unit we will discuss what the colonies did to form their own government after gaining independence from Great Britain. We will compare Americas government to that of past governments throughout history.

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Charter a formal document that states the rights and responsibilities o a group of people. Constitution a governing document Legislation laws Veto power of rejecting a law Confederation a loose union of states or nations

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Creditors people who lend money to those that cant pay their debt Inflation rising of prices Amendments additions to the Constitution Ratify to approve a bill to become a law Checks and Balances system to keep each branch of government from having too much power

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In the early 1700s the Native Americans in North America had a governing body. The goal of their government was to keep the peace among the tribes. Unlike other tribes, the Iroquois elected leaders that would be responsible for making important decisions. They stood against wars and conflicts. This government was known as the Iroquois Confederacy.

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The Iroquois Confederacy joined five northeastern groups in what is now central New York Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca. The Europeans called it the League of Five Nations. In 1722, on more tribe know as the Tuscarora joined the confederacy, and they became known as The League of Six Nations.

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The Mayflower Compact was an agreement by the Pilgrims to follow just and equal laws of the colony. This was the first form of democratic government in our country. This means that the laws of their colony would be decided by the majority of the people that lived there. The pilgrims modeled the Mayflower Compact after the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta gave people in England rights to keep the king and queen from having too much power.

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The Virginia Colony was governed by the House of Burgesses. The first meeting was held on July 30, 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. At the meeting there was a governor, his council, two representatives from each Virginia county, and one representative from the College of William and Mary. Each representative was elected by the people and had the right to create legislation, or laws. The governor could then veto the law. Many other colonies followed this type of government.

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1. What did colonists agree to do when they signed the Mayflower Compact? 2. What was the Iroquois Confederacy? 3. Why was the House of Burgesses important?

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The Articles of Confederation were written to unify the colonies under one central government. The articles were adopted in 1777 at the Second Continental Congress. The articles united the 13 states into a confederation. It gave the United States the power to declare war, make agreements with other nations, and decide on issues without the western territories.

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With the Articles of Confederation, there was no president and no political union between the states. Congress could make decisions but had no power to enforce them. All 13 colonies had to approve any changes to the Articles of Confederation. This made it difficult to make the necessary changes that may have strengthened the government.

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The biggest problem with the articles is that Congress lacked the power to tax the states. They could request money, but the people didnt have to pay it. Often, the people would only give part of the money that the government requested. This caused the national debt to grow even larger.

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Because the country was so low on money, soldiers and creditors were not paid what they were owed from their war efforts. In the mid 1780s, and economic depression spread through the colonies. This was caused by inflation. People didnt buy things because the prices were so high. At this time, each state had its own form of money. Farmers were hit especially hard by the depression. Crushing debt forced them to sell their land at low prices. Farmers who could not pay their bills were put into debtors prison.

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Many people became angry and frustrated, and many began to riot. From 1786-1787, a group of poor farmers led by Daniel Shays staged a rebellion in Massachusetts. Shays and his men broke into prisons and freed the jailed farmers. The Articles of Confederation did not allow for Congress to step in and stop the rebellion. Finally, the Massachusetts militia stopped them. Shays Rebellion led to a constitutional convention and the writing of the Constitution.

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What did the Articles of Confederation give Congress the power to do? What powers did Congress lack that made it difficult for the country to run smoothly? What event caused Shays Rebellion?

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The United States Constitution was adopted in its original form on September 17, 1787. It was later ratified by state-selected delegates. These delegates had been elected to represent the citizens of the United States. On March 4, 1789, the Constitution took effect. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.

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In 1791, congress passed a law that put a tax on whiskey. Most whiskey was produced by grain farmers in western Pennsylvania. These farmers depended on whiskey for almost all of their income. They considered the law an attack on their liberty and financial well- being. The farmers held meetings of protest, but rioting eventually started. Some rioters killed a federal officer and burned down the home of a regional tax inspector.

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This time, Congress had the power to stop the riots because of the newly written Constitution. President George Washington decided to use Pennsylvania as a test of federal authority. He ordered federal marshals to serve court orders to protestors. These orders required offenders to appear in federal district court. Washington then called to duty the militias of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. This army of about 13,000 marched through western Pennsylvania to stop the rebellion.

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They were unable to capture all of the suspected rioters; however, they arrested 20 people. Washingtons response proved that the new Constitution worked. The federal government could and would use its authority to keep peace. Americans could question laws they thought were unfair. They could even protest if they wanted to. But all these things had to be done according to law.

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What event led to the writing of the new Constitution? How many states had to approve the Constitution before it could become law? Which event tested the new Constitution? What steps did George Washington take to stop the Whiskey Rebellion?

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Delegates at the first meeting of Congress in 1789 had a difficult job ahead of them. The Constitution did not outline the powers of the executive and judicial branches of government. The powers and duties of those branches had to be decided. Congress also had to begin discussing amendments to the Constitution. These amendments included a Bill of Rights. Many states agreed to approve the Constitution ONLY if a Bill of Rights that would protect their freedoms was added to it.

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The Bill of Rights is made up of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Creating an amendment is a long process. Two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House of Representatives must approve it. Next, each state must ratify it in order for the amendment to be added. The Bill of Rights started out as 17 amendments. But after the process of adding them to the Constitution, only 10 of them were approved by Congress and the states.

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IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS TO MEMORIZE: Amendment 1: These rights include freedom of speech, freedom to write and print opinions, the freedom to gather as a group, and the freedom to practice any religion. Amendment 5: This amendment says that there is no trial unless there is enough evidence against a person for a trial to be necessary. Amendment 6: This includes the right to a speedy and fair trial for the person accused. Amendment 8: This says that the people have protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

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What amendments make up the Bill of Rights? What steps have to be taken for an amendment to be added to the Constitution? What do Amendments 1, 5, 6, and 8 state?

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The United States and federal governments is divided into 3 branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The three branches work together to uphold and protect the Constitution. Click the picture to watch the brain pop.

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The president heads the executive branch. His duties include: -being the countrys leader -commander in chief of the military -sign or veto bills -pardon criminals -appoint Supreme Court judges and federal judges Although he has these powers, they are limited by the other branches government.

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The vice president is also part of the executive branch. He is the second highest official in U.S. government. The executive branch also includes department leaders or cabinet members, and the heads of government agencies. These officials help the president enforce laws. Cabinet members and other agency heads also give the president advice.

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The legislative branch is made up of 2 separate groups: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together, the 2 groups are called Congress. The Senate has 2 representatives from each state. In the House of Representatives, the number of members is based on the population of each state. The bigger the population, the more representatives they have. The main job of Congress is to pass federal laws, including laws on taxes, government budgets, and trade. Congress has the power to declare war on other countries.

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In the United States, the judicial system is made up of various courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. The most important job of the Supreme Court is to interpret the Constitution. The Supreme Court has complete authority over all federal courts, but has limited power over state courts. All federal and state courts must abide by the Supreme Courts interpretation of federal law and the Constitution.

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A series of checks and balances keeps each branch of government from gaining too much power and disobeying the Constitution. The system allows each branch to change or undo the act of another branch. For example, the legislative branch (Congress) can make a law, the executive branch (President) can sign it, but then the judicial branch (Supreme Court) can declare in unconstitutional and it would not become a law. Also, the legislative and judicial branch can approve a law, and the executive branch can veto it. Another example is that the judicial and executive branch can approve a law, and the legislative branch can veto it. No branch has more power than any other.

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What two chambers make up the Unites States Congress? What branch is Congress? What branch is the President head of? Who is in the judicial branch of government? Why do we have a system of checks and balances?

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State governments provide many services, such as fixing roads, taking care of parks, and offering public education. To pay for these services, the state collects tax money from the people that live in the state. To state government decides how much tax the people should pay, and what the tax money should be spent on.

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State governments are set up similar to the federal government. Each state has its own three branches of government. In Tennessee, all bills go through the states legislative branch. The states legislative branch is broken into two groups as well: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The people that live in Tennessee get to vote for those that are in the states legislative branch.

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The governor heads the executive branch of government on a state level. The jobs and duties of the governor are similar to that of the president. Except the governors duties are carried out on a state level. State governments also have a judicial branch as well. Each court in the branch has different responsibilities just like the federal courts system.

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Tennessee was originally known as Franklin. The first governor of Franklin (what is now Tennessee) was John Sevier. Tennessees state legislative branch is known as the General Assembly. Tennessees highest court is called the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Our country has had two past presidents from Tennessee Andrew Jackson (Old Hickory) elected in 1828. He was the 7 th president. James K. Polk elected in 1844. He was the 11 th president.

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What is the legislative branch of the Tennessee government called? How is a state government similar to that of the federal government? Who was the first governor of Tennessee?