Origins of Origins of American American GovernmentGovernmentUnit 2Unit 2

Before the United StatesBefore the United States

The United States has existed as a The United States has existed as a nation for more than 200 years. 200 nation for more than 200 years. 200 years before that, however, England, years before that, however, England, France, Spain, and Holland fought over France, Spain, and Holland fought over territories east of the Mississippi River.territories east of the Mississippi River.

Political HeritagePolitical Heritage

The English colonies brought with The English colonies brought with them four important principles: them four important principles:

limited government, limited government, representative government, representative government, individual liberty, individual liberty, rule by lawrule by law..

The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta

CConsidered the foundation of English onsidered the foundation of English constitutional freedoms. constitutional freedoms.

This document put restrictions on King John This document put restrictions on King John of England; established the principle of of England; established the principle of limited government.limited government.

Henry IIHenry II

Royal CourtsRoyal Courts Circuit JudgesCircuit Judges Common LawCommon Law Thomas a Thomas a

BecketBecket

The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta

Barons RevoltBarons Revolt 1215 at 1215 at

RunnymeadeRunnymeade ClausesClauses ParliamentParliament

2 Houses2 Houses

ParliamentParliament

Created from the Magna CartaCreated from the Magna Carta Representative body of government with Representative body of government with

the power to make laws. the power to make laws. Consists of the House of Lords and Consists of the House of Lords and

House of Commons.House of Commons.

English TraditionsEnglish Traditions

Items such as individual liberty (fair trial/jury of Items such as individual liberty (fair trial/jury of peers), peers),

Petition of Right (checks and balances), Petition of Right (checks and balances), The English Bill of Rights (similar to our Bill of The English Bill of Rights (similar to our Bill of

Rights.Rights. Locke’s “social contract” (that the purpose of Locke’s “social contract” (that the purpose of

government is to protect people’s “natural government is to protect people’s “natural rights”) deeply influenced American leaders.rights”) deeply influenced American leaders.

Common lawCommon law: laws based on decisions of : laws based on decisions of judges, based on custom and tradition.judges, based on custom and tradition.

What Are Historical What Are Historical Sources?Sources?

A historical source is something that tells A historical source is something that tells us about History. It may be a document, us about History. It may be a document, a picture, a sound recording, a book, a a picture, a sound recording, a book, a cinema film, a television program or an cinema film, a television program or an object.object.

There are two main types of historical There are two main types of historical source:source:

Primary Sources and Secondary SourcesPrimary Sources and Secondary Sources

What are Historical What are Historical Sources?Sources?

A Primary source is something that originates from the A Primary source is something that originates from the past.past.

A Secondary source is something that has been made A Secondary source is something that has been made recently about the past. recently about the past.

For example:For example: A Roman coin that was made by the Romans is a Primary A Roman coin that was made by the Romans is a Primary

Source, but a drawing of a Roman coin made in 2003 would Source, but a drawing of a Roman coin made in 2003 would be a Secondary Source.be a Secondary Source.

OROR A Book written about the Tudors in 1525 would be a Primary A Book written about the Tudors in 1525 would be a Primary

Source, but a book written about the Tudors in 1995 would be Source, but a book written about the Tudors in 1995 would be a Secondary Source.a Secondary Source.

PracticePractice

Do you know the difference? Try these Do you know the difference? Try these exercises to see:exercises to see:

Look at each of the images, which are Look at each of the images, which are primary resources, and which are primary resources, and which are secondary resources? secondary resources?

Practice 1Practice 1

A piece of the A piece of the original Magna Carta original Magna Carta signed by King John signed by King John in 1215in 1215

PrimaryPrimary

Practice 2Practice 2

The Mona Lisa - The Mona Lisa - Painted by Leonardo Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in 1506da Vinci in 1506

PrimaryPrimary

Practice 3Practice 3

A book about the A book about the Tudors written in Tudors written in 19991999

SecondarySecondary

Practice 4Practice 4

A mug made in 2013A mug made in 2013 PrimaryPrimary

Practice 5Practice 5

A cartoon of A cartoon of Napoleon made in Napoleon made in 19751975

SecondarySecondary

Practice 6Practice 6

Roman Coins made Roman Coins made by the Romans in AD by the Romans in AD 4545

PrimaryPrimary

Practice 7Practice 7

A Poster of a Van A Poster of a Van Gogh Painting made Gogh Painting made in 1975in 1975

SecondarySecondary

Questions to ask a Questions to ask a SourceSource

A A historianhistorian will ask a variety of questions in  will ask a variety of questions in order to find out historical information about a order to find out historical information about a source. The same questions can be asked of source. The same questions can be asked of either a Primary Source or a Secondary either a Primary Source or a Secondary Source. There are six key questions to ask:Source. There are six key questions to ask:

WHO? WHERE? WHAT? WHEN? HOW? WHO? WHERE? WHAT? WHEN? HOW? WHY?WHY?

Listed below are a selection of questions that Listed below are a selection of questions that might be asked of a source by a historian. might be asked of a source by a historian. Please note that not every question will be Please note that not every question will be used for every source.used for every source.

Who?Who?

WHO made it?WHO made it? WHO used it?WHO used it? WHO is in the picture?WHO is in the picture? WHOSE opinion does it show?WHOSE opinion does it show?

Who? PracticeWho? Practice

Who made it? Who made it? The The Romans in AD 45Romans in AD 45

Who used it? Who used it? The The RomansRomans

Who is in the Who is in the picture? picture? The head The head on the coins show on the coins show who was emperor.who was emperor.

Where?Where?

WHERE?WHERE? WHERE is it?WHERE is it? WHERE was it?WHERE was it? WHERE was it made?WHERE was it made? WHERE was it used?WHERE was it used?

Where? PracticeWhere? Practice

Where is it? Where is it? It is in the It is in the Louvre art gallery, Paris.Louvre art gallery, Paris.

Where was it? Where was it? It was in It was in Italy. It is now in the Italy. It is now in the Louvre gallery, Paris.Louvre gallery, Paris.

Where was it made? Where was it made? It It was made in Italy by was made in Italy by Leonardo da Vinci.Leonardo da Vinci.

Where was it used? Where was it used? It It was used to hang on a was used to hang on a wall for decoration.wall for decoration.

When?When?

WHEN?WHEN? WHEN was it made?WHEN was it made? WHEN was it used?WHEN was it used? When does it show?When does it show?

When? PracticeWhen? Practice

When was it made? When was it made? It It was made in 1215.was made in 1215.

When was it used? When was it used? It It was used in 1215 to was used in 1215 to forceforce King John to grant  King John to grant concessions to the concessions to the baronsbarons

When does it show? When does it show? It It shows the feelings of the shows the feelings of the barons in 1215.barons in 1215.

HowHow

HOW?HOW? HOW was it made?HOW was it made? HOW was it used?HOW was it used? HOW has it survived?HOW has it survived?

How? PracticeHow? Practice

How was it made? How was it made? It was It was made in a factory - there may made in a factory - there may be a stamp on the base of the be a stamp on the base of the mug that gives details of the mug that gives details of the factory or potter.factory or potter.

How was it used? How was it used? It was/is It was/is used for people to drink hot used for people to drink hot beverages from.beverages from.

How has it survived? How has it survived? It has It has survived because it was survived because it was made this year.made this year.

Why?Why?

WHY?WHY? WHY was it made?WHY was it made? WHY has it survived?WHY has it survived?

Why? PracticeWhy? Practice

Why was it Why was it made? made? Because people Because people like Van Gogh paintings like Van Gogh paintings and because there is and because there is only one original only one original painting; posters like this painting; posters like this enable many people to enable many people to see art.see art.

Why has it survived? Why has it survived? It It has survived because it has survived because it is fairly new and has is fairly new and has been looked after.been looked after.

FederalismFederalism

Government in the Government in the ColoniesColonies

By the mid 1700’s, the colonists had grown By the mid 1700’s, the colonists had grown used to ruling themselves. When Britain used to ruling themselves. When Britain tried to tighten its control, the colonists tried to tighten its control, the colonists fought back.fought back.

Colonial GovernmentsColonial Governments Anyone who wanted to establish a colony in Anyone who wanted to establish a colony in

English North America had to get both land and English North America had to get both land and permission from the English monarch – permission from the English monarch – charter.charter.

ProprietorsProprietors: individuals who set up trading : individuals who set up trading companies in the colonies. These were usually companies in the colonies. These were usually friends or relatives of English nobility.friends or relatives of English nobility.

Colonial GovernmentColonial Government

Colonial governments were similar in that all Colonial governments were similar in that all had a governor, a council of advisors, and a had a governor, a council of advisors, and a court system.court system.

Early in colonial history, colonists claimed Early in colonial history, colonists claimed their right to choose elected their right to choose elected assembliesassemblies, or , or legislatures.legislatures.

Mayflower CompactMayflower Compact: compact drawn up by : compact drawn up by the first settlers to agree to have “just and the first settlers to agree to have “just and equal laws”; elected one governor.equal laws”; elected one governor.

Colonial GovernmentsColonial Governments

Three reasons for the freedom in the Three reasons for the freedom in the colonies: colonies: colonial legislators had the backing of public colonial legislators had the backing of public

opinion, opinion, the assemblies claimed the right to se the the assemblies claimed the right to se the

governor’s salary and impose local taxes governor’s salary and impose local taxes the colonial assemblies generally had their the colonial assemblies generally had their

way because the British governments way because the British governments colonial politics allowed them to do so.colonial politics allowed them to do so.

British Colonial PoliciesBritish Colonial Policies

Because of the huge war debt, King George III Because of the huge war debt, King George III taxed the colonist to recover the debt.taxed the colonist to recover the debt.

Albany PlanAlbany Plan: a plan by Ben Franklin that called : a plan by Ben Franklin that called for a unification of the colonies.for a unification of the colonies.

Stamp ActStamp Act: a law that placed a tax on all : a law that placed a tax on all printed material.printed material.

Townshend ActsTownshend Acts: taxed everyday items and : taxed everyday items and suspended colonial assemblies.suspended colonial assemblies.

How the Colonists How the Colonists ReactedReacted

March 1770, Boston Massacre: 5 colonists March 1770, Boston Massacre: 5 colonists were accidentally killed because they were were accidentally killed because they were protesting the taxesprotesting the taxes

1772, Sam Adams organized committees 1772, Sam Adams organized committees throughout the colonies to oppose British throughout the colonies to oppose British policies.policies.

1773, Tea Act: Parliament passed a law to help 1773, Tea Act: Parliament passed a law to help the East India trading company have special the East India trading company have special advantages in selling tea in America. advantages in selling tea in America.

Dec. 16, 1773, sixty colonist dressed as Dec. 16, 1773, sixty colonist dressed as Indians dumped 300 crates of tea in Boston Indians dumped 300 crates of tea in Boston harbor in protest.harbor in protest.

Moving toward RebellionMoving toward Rebellion

September 5, 1774, representatives from every September 5, 1774, representatives from every colony (except Georgia), met in Philadelphia to colony (except Georgia), met in Philadelphia to consider the colonies’ relations with Britain consider the colonies’ relations with Britain (First Continental Congress). (First Continental Congress).

Decided to have the “Constitutional Decided to have the “Constitutional Association”, which put a ban on all British Association”, which put a ban on all British imports. They also decided to meet the imports. They also decided to meet the following May to review what re-evaluate the following May to review what re-evaluate the situation.situation.

Second Continental Second Continental CongressCongress

May, 1775May, 1775 All 13 colonies represented, each got 1 All 13 colonies represented, each got 1

votevote Acted as a government until 1781Acted as a government until 1781 Not everyone wanted to break with Not everyone wanted to break with

Britain, Thomas Paine’s Britain, Thomas Paine’s Common SenseCommon Sense converted many peopleconverted many people

A Decision for A Decision for IndependenceIndependence

Congress appointed John Adams, Roger Congress appointed John Adams, Roger Sherman, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston and Sherman, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson to write a declarationThomas Jefferson to write a declaration

Approved Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for Approved Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for Independence July 2, the declaration July 4, Independence July 2, the declaration July 4, 1776.1776.

Declaration had 3 functionsDeclaration had 3 functions Stated reasons for the break with BritainStated reasons for the break with Britain Rallied world sentiment for the American causeRallied world sentiment for the American cause Unified American public opinionUnified American public opinion

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Contained multiple partsContained multiple parts Why it was written/basic principles: limited government, Why it was written/basic principles: limited government,

representative government, individual liberty, rule of lawrepresentative government, individual liberty, rule of law List of charges against King George III, showing how the List of charges against King George III, showing how the

British had broken the Americans’ natural rightsBritish had broken the Americans’ natural rights Explanation of the colonists’ attempts at a peaceful settlement.Explanation of the colonists’ attempts at a peaceful settlement.

Signed 1st by John Hancock, then 55 others.Signed 1st by John Hancock, then 55 others. Ben Franklin said “If we don’t hang together, we will Ben Franklin said “If we don’t hang together, we will

surely hang separately.surely hang separately. Franklin was a master calligrapher, and many of the Franklin was a master calligrapher, and many of the

signers’ signatures on the Declaration don’t match their signers’ signatures on the Declaration don’t match their other signatures. Could have been a built in defenseother signatures. Could have been a built in defense

New State GovernmentsNew State Governments

Even before Independence colonies Even before Independence colonies started behaving as statesstarted behaving as states Replaced Royal Charters with ConstitutionsReplaced Royal Charters with Constitutions Mostly bicameral legislaturesMostly bicameral legislatures Weak executives, sign of royal powerWeak executives, sign of royal power Adult male property owners could voteAdult male property owners could vote

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

The First National ConstitutionThe First National Constitution Finally ratified in March 1781Finally ratified in March 1781 The Declaration was unclear if the colonies The Declaration was unclear if the colonies

became 1 united nation or 13 Independent became 1 united nation or 13 Independent states.states.

The Articles created a Confederation, a “league The Articles created a Confederation, a “league of friendship”. While the states would work of friendship”. While the states would work together for the common good, each state was together for the common good, each state was independent.independent.

The ArticlesThe Articles

A Weak Central GovernmentA Weak Central Government Very weak central governmentVery weak central government Unicameral legislature, with 1 vote per stateUnicameral legislature, with 1 vote per state No executive or judicialNo executive or judicial

The ArticlesThe Articles

Congress could:Congress could: conduct foreign relationsconduct foreign relations declare wardeclare war make treatiesmake treaties settle conflicts between statessettle conflicts between states borrow moneyborrow money direct Indian affairsdirect Indian affairs

Congress needed 7 votes to do anything, no Congress needed 7 votes to do anything, no one could ever agreeone could ever agree

The ArticlesThe Articles

Congress couldn’tCongress couldn’t Collect taxesCollect taxes Create an army (couldn’t pay them)Create an army (couldn’t pay them) No control of foreign or interstate tradeNo control of foreign or interstate trade Couldn’t enforce its policiesCouldn’t enforce its policies Settle disputes between states, no national Settle disputes between states, no national

courtscourts