EARLY GOVERNMENTFOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP

EARLY GREEK DEMOCRACY

• ATHENS, 500 B.C. AGE OF ACHIEVEMENT, DRACO-LEADER

• CREATED SYSTEM OF LAWS THAT WERE VERY PUNITIVE AND HARSH

• PEOPLE HATED DRACO

• SOLON, TWEAKED DRACO’S SYSTEM; MAKING MORE ACCEPTABLE TO AVERAGE CITIZEN

• HIS PLAN ALLOWED:

• ALL MEN MUST BE PART OF ASSEMBLY

• ALL MEN COULD SERVE ON JURIES

• WEALTHY MEN ONLY ALLOWED TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE

• ALL MALES OVER 20 MUST DO MILITARY DUTY AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT (VOTE, VOTE, VOTE)

DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• PERICLES, LEADER

• ALL MALE CITIZENS TO VOTE ON MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE

• 3 PART ASSEMBLY:

• GENERAL ASSEMBLY (ALL MALE CITIZENS PARTICIPATE)

• COUNCIL OF 500 (ELECTED BY ASSEMBLY)

• COURT SYSTEM

JOHN LOCKE1690

“TWO TREATIES OF GOVERNMENT”

1. INALIENABLE RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY

(CHANGED BY JEFFERSON TO “PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS)

2. SOCIAL CONTRACT – PEOPLE MUST BE WILLING TO GIVE UP

SOME PERSONAL FREEDOMS FOR PROTECTION BY GOVERNMENT

INFLUENCES ON MODERN GOVERNMENT

• 2. BLACKSTONE'S COMMENTARIES (4 VOLUME SET)• WILLIAM BLACKSTONE (18TH CENT.)

• THEORIES ON COMMON LAW; SAID GOD CREATED THOSE LAWS AND FOR MAN TO ADOPT LAWS FOR COMMON ISSUES

• 2 MAJOR IMPACTS ON AMERICAN POLICY:

• 1. IMPEACHMENT OF HIGH OFFICIALS (HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS)

• 2ND AMENDMENT (RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS)

• SELF-PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION ALL IMPORTANT

ADDITIONAL INFLUENCES• 3. JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

• SAID LAW SEPARATES HUMANS FROM ANIMALS

• LAW WAS A CIVILIZING FORCE

• PEOPLE SHOULD RESPECT LAWS THAT RESTRAIN “CIVIL FREEDOMS”; PROTECTION OF SOCIETY

• 4.THOMAS HOBBES

• 1651, WROTE LEVIATHAN

• SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

• SAID HUMANS HAD 2 DRIVING FORCE:

• FEAR OF DEATH

• NEED FOR POWER & CONTROL

5. BARON CHARLES DE MONTESQUIEU

• 1748, WROTE THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW

• HE WROTE ABOUT THE NEED FOR SEPARATION OF POWERS

• “BEST WAY TO SECURE LIBERTY AND TO PREVENT GOVERNMENTAL CORRUPTION WAS TO DIVIDE POWER AMONG DIFFERENT SEGMENTS WHO WOULD CHECK ON THE OTHERS”

• JAMES MADISON READ MONTESQUIEU AND ADDED HIS IDEAS TO OUR GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE

• DESIGNED “CHECKS AND BALANCES” WITH IDEAS, AND

• CREATED 3 BRANCH SYSTEM:

• 1. EXECUTIVE (PRESIDENT)

• 2. JUDICIARY (COURT SYSTEM)

• 3. LEGISLATIVE (CONGRESS)

STRUCTURES OF GOVERNMENTS“WAYS TO TELL US WHAT TO DO”

DEMOCRACY

• IN A DEMOCRACY, THE GOVERNMENT IS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE HAS A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR SAY OVER WHO RUNS THE COUNTRY. IT IS DISTINCT FROM GOVERNMENTS CONTROLLED BY A PARTICULAR SOCIAL CLASS OR GROUP (ARISTOCRACY; OLIGARCHY) OR BY A SINGLE PERSON (DESPOTISM; DICTATORSHIP; MONARCHY).

• A DEMOCRACY IS DETERMINED EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

OLIGARCHY

• A GOVERNMENT IN WHICH A FEW PEOPLE SUCH AS A DOMINANT CLAN OR CLIQUE HAVE POWER.

MONARCHY

• A MONARCHY HAS A KING, QUEEN, EMPEROR OR EMPRESS.• THE RULING POSITION CAN BE PASSED

ON TO THE RULER’S HEIRS. • IN SOME TRADITIONAL MONARCHIES,

THE MONARCH HAS ABSOLUTE POWER. • BUT A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY,

LIKE THE UK, ALSO HAS A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT THAT LIMITS THE MONARCH'S CONTROL.

AUTOCRACY

• GOVERNMENT BY A SINGLE PERSON HAVING UNLIMITED POWER; DESPOTISM (DOMINATION THROUGH THREAT OF PUNISHMENT AND VIOLENCE) .

DICTATORSHIP

• A COUNTRY RULED BY A SINGLE LEADER. THE LEADER HAS NOT BEEN ELECTED AND MAY USE FORCE TO KEEP CONTROL.

• IN A MILITARY DICTATORSHIP, THE ARMY IS IN CONTROL.

ANARCHY

• ANARCHY IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT. THIS CAN HAPPEN AFTER A CIVIL WAR IN A COUNTRY, WHEN A GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DESTROYED AND RIVAL GROUPS ARE FIGHTING TO TAKE ITS PLACE.

• ANARCHISTS ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT IS A BAD THING IN THAT IT STOPS PEOPLE ORGANIZING THEIR OWN LIVES.

COMMUNIST

• IN A COMMUNIST COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT OWNS PROPERTY SUCH AS BUSINESSES AND FARMS.

• IT PROVIDES ITS PEOPLE'S HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND WELFARE.

REPUBLIC

• A REPUBLIC IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS NO MONARCH.

• THE HEAD OF THE COUNTRY IS USUALLY AN ELECTED PRESIDENT.

TOTALITARIAN

• THIS IS A COUNTRY WITH ONLY ONE POLITICAL PARTY. • PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO DO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT TELLS THEM AND MAY ALSO BE PREVENTED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

‘FATHER OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

HE USED LOCKE’S IDEAS WHEN WRITING D OF I

American democracy

INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTBOSTON MASSACRE

5 COLONISTS KILLED

1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

SEPT. 4, 1774

12/13 COLONIES REPRESENTED

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

FORMED “MINUTEMEN”

“SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD”

• LEXINGTON & CONCORD

• FIRST MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN ENGLISH AND COLONISTS

• 8 COLONISTS KILLED

• PAUL REVERE’S FAMOUS RIDE

• “1 IF BY LAND, 2 IF BY SEA”

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION• FIRST WRITTEN STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN

GOVERNMENT

• RATIFIED BY CONGRESS MARCH 1781

• SPECIFICALLY GAVE EACH STATE 1 VOTE

• UNICAMERAL HOUSE (1)

POWERS OF GOVERNMENT UNDER ARTICLES

• 1. MAKE WAR/PEACE

• 2. SEND/RECEIVE AMBASSADORS

• 3. ENTER INTO TREATIES

• 4. RAISE & EQUIP NAVY

• 5. MAINTAIN ARMY; REQUEST TROOPS FROM STATES

• 6. APPOINT SENIOR MILITARY OFFICERS

• 7. SET STANDARDS FOR MEASUREMENTS

• 8. REGULATE INDIAN AFFAIRS

• 9. ESTABLISH POST OFFICES

• 10. SETTLE DISPUTES AMONG STATES

WEAKNESSES OF ARTICLES (7)• 1. NO POWER TO SET A

TAX (COULD ASK, BUT NO PUNISHMENT FOR NON-PAYMENT)

• 2. NO TRADE REGULATIONS

• 3. COULD NOT FORCE ANYONE TO FOLLOW LAW

• 4. 9/13 HAD TO RATIFY NEW LAW

• 5. 13 HAD TO PASS ANY AMENDMENTS

• 6. NO EXECUTIVE BRANCH (NO UNITY IN POLICY)

• 7. NO NATIONAL COURT SYSTEM (DIFFICULT TO SETTLE DISPUTES AMONGST STATES)-NO FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT POWER

REVOLUTIONARY WAR

WAGED ON UNTIL OCT. 19, 1781

LORD CORNWALLIS

SURRENDERED AT YORKTOWN

DEFEATED BY AMERICANS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM FRANCE

GOVERNMENTAL ISSUES….

• WITHIN 10 YEARS, US GOVERNMENT:

• LARGE DEBTS OWED TO FOREIGN NATIONS (LOANS)

• NO POWER TO TAX LEFT US +40 MILLION IN DEBT

• TO OTHER NATIONS AND AMERICAN MILITARY (DID NOT GET PAID FOR YEARS IN SERVICE)

SHAY’S REBELLION

DANIEL SHAYS – MASS

REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO

EVICTED FOR NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES

+2,000 OTHER FARMERS, MARCHED ON STATE HOUSE OF

MASS

MILITIA PUT DOWN “REBELLION”

GEORGE WASHINGTONSETS UP ANNAPOLIS CONVENTION

IN 1786 (MEETING OF 5 STATES TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS)

TOO MANY PROBLEMS TO CORRECT

CALLS FOR MEETING IN 1787 IN PHILADELPHIA TO “FIX” ARTICLES

PHILADELPHIA CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 1787

• MEETING TO “FIX” ART.

• GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF CONVENTION

• BIG QUESTION???? HOW TO DECIDE ON REPRESENTATION NUMBERS

• 1. VIRGINIA PLAN (LARGE STATE, REP. BASED ON POPULATION)

• WANTED TO COUNT SLAVES IN ##

• 2. NEW JERSEY PLAN (SMALL STATE, REP. BASED EQUALLY)

• DID NOT WANT SLAVES COUNTED IN ##

GREAT COMPROMISE

• ESTABLISHED BICAMERAL HOUSE OF REPS. (2 HOUSES)

• 1. SENATE (EACH STATE REP. EQUALLY: 2 SENATORS FROM EACH STATE)

• NOT DIRECTLY ELECTED BY PEOPLE

• SELECTED BY HOUSE MEMBERS (MILLIONAIRE’S CLUB)

• 2. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (# BASED ON POPULATION)

• DIRECT ELECTION BY CITIZENS

• POSITION RESTRICTED TO PROPERTY OWNING WHITE MALES

CREATED ANOTHER ISSUE…HOW TO COUNT SLAVES???

3/5 COMPROMISEANSWER: EACH SLAVE WOULD

COUNT AS 3/5 OF A PERSON

NORTHERN STATES DID NOT LIKE THIS, BUT AGREED TO RESOLVE THE

DIFFERENCE

ISSUE # 2: WHAT KIND OF GOV’T???

3 BRANCHES

1. EXECUTIVE (PRESIDENT)

2. LEGISLATIVE (CONGRESS)

3. JUDICIAL (COURTS)

WOULD SHARE POWER AMONG THE 3; EACH WOULD BE ABLE TO “CHECK” THE OTHER TWO TO

PREVENT CORRUPTION OF POWER

ISSUE # 3: WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE???

HOW WOULD GOV’T TREAT PEOPLE IF IT WAS TOO POWERFUL??

DEBATE OVER RATIFICATION OF “PROPOSED” GOV’T:

1. ANTIFEDERALIST (WANTED NO POWERFUL NATIONAL GOV’TJ)

2. FEDERALIST (SAID WE NEEDED STRONG NATIONAL GOV’T: WITH

LIMITS)

SHARING POWERLEGISLATIVE:

CONGRESS HAS POWER TO MAKE LAWS

PRESIDENT CAN VETO LAWS

SUPREME COURT INTERPRETS {JUDICIAL REVIEW} LAWS (CAN VOID

LAWS AS WELL)

SHARING EXECUTIVE POWER

PRESIDENT CAN MAKE TREATIES WITH FOREIGN NATIONS

CREATE NATIONAL BUDGET

CONGRESS CAN IMPEACH PRESIDENT

CONGRESS; APPROVE/DENY BUDGET

PRESIDENT APPOINTS SUPREME COURT JUDGES FOR LIFE

DEMOCRACY (US STYLE)

• REPUBLICAN DEMOCRACY: ONE STEP AWAY FROM DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• REP. ARE ELECTED BY PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEM

• CREATES “FEDERAL” SYSTEM

• MEANS POWER IS SHARED BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOV’T AND STATES

• BOTH ARE ABLE TO MAKE AND ENFORCE THEIR OWN LAWS

PRESIDENT

“HEAD OF STATE”

IN CHARGE OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH

POWER TO APPOINT JUDGES, CABINENT MEMBERS

RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING FOREIGN POLICY

ABLE TO INITIATE DOMESTIC LEGISLATION

GOOD OLD AMERICAN VALUES…

• 1. EQUALITY

• INALIENABLE RIGHTS

• EACH HUMAN HAS SAME RIGHTS AT ANOTHER

• 2. LIBERTY

• FREEDOMS GIVEN TO US BY THE CONSTITUTION

• 3. JUSTICE

• CERTAIN FREEDOMS/RIGHTS THAT GOV’T CANNOT TAKE AWAY; HUMANS SHOULD EXPECT FAIR TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW

OUR PART OF THE EQUATION

• AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE EXPECTED TO:

• BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY

• GO TO SCHOOL, WORK, & MAINTAIN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

• BE MEMBERS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES

EXPECTATIONS

• FOR US:

• WE CAN EXPECT SELF-GOVERNMENT

• PEOPLE CAN ASPIRE TO RULE THEMSELVES

• VALUE OF THE INDIVIDUAL

• AMERICAN DEMOCRACY PLACES HIGH VALUE ON INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT

• RULE OF LAW

• US GOV’T AND IT’S OFFICIALS ARE UNDER LIMITS ON IT’S POWER