The learner will investigate the foundations of the American political system and explore basic values and principles of

American democracy.

Unit 1

Our English Heritage Magna Carta (Great Charter) signed in 1215

Resulted from nobles who rebelled against King John of England

included written rights of citizens and limited the authority and power of the monarch (Pg. 768)Expressed the rights of the noble class (not for peasants)King’s power had certain limitsIncluded equal treatment under the law and jury of peers

1.02 Which documents and people influenced the colonists’ viewpoints on self-government?

Our English Heritage Parliament

Kings who followed King John, met regularly with nobles and church officials to get their adviceBy late 1300s, this group became know as Parliament, which had developed into a legislature (law making body) though the king still ruledEventually Parliament split into two parts (House of Lords and House of Commons)

1.02 Which documents and people influenced the colonists’ viewpoints on self-government?

Our English Heritage Glorious Revolution (1689)

King James was removed in 1688; replaced by William and Mary (James’ daughter) demonstrating Parliament’s power is now greater than the king’s (no blood-shed)

English Bill of Rights (1689)- further restricted the King’s power and gave Parliament power to hold free elections, the right to fair trial, elimination of cruel and unusual punishment.

1.02 Which documents and people influenced the colonists’ viewpoints on self-government?

Our English Heritage Common Law

Originally, England had no laws as we have today and over time, a system of courts developed and the courts’ decisions became the basis of a system of lawWhen judges decided a case, they looked for a precedent (a ruling in an earlier case that was similar)This system of law based on precedent is known as common law

American laws about property, contracts and personal injury are based on English common law

1.02 Which documents and people influenced the colonists’ viewpoints on self-government?

Philosophical Influences During the period of Enlightenment, philosophers stressed the use of reason and scientific method

Colonists were inspired by the philosophers and ideas that grew out of this movement:

John Locke:People were born free, equal, and independent.People also possessed natural rights (life, liberty, and property) government exists for the people; the purpose of government is to protect natural rights (Social contract theory)

1.02 Which documents and people influenced the colonists’ viewpoints on self-government?

Philosophical Influences Jean-Jacques Rousseau- “all men are created equal” people alone had the right to determine how they should be governed Montesquieu:

proposed separation of powers (keep power balanced)

1.02 Which documents and people influenced the colonists’ viewpoints on self-government?

The Colonial Experience Colony: a group of people in one place who are ruled by the government of another placeEnglish citizens became colonists when they settled in America and they had to choose their type of government

Monarchy (Ruled by King and Queen)Democracy (Ruled by the people themselves) Totalitarianism

1.02 How did the colonists’ experiences under the British government influence them to establish a system of self-government?

Types of GovernmentDemocratic Government

Democracy Direct (Ancient Greece)Representative (USA)

Authoritarian Government (Power is held by an individual or group of individuals)Absolute Monarchy (King of Saudi Arabia)Constitutional monarchy (Great Britain)Dictatorships (take power by force)

Saddam HusseinTotalitarianism

The governments control extends to almost all aspects of peoples lives

Objective 1.08: Compare the American system of government to other forms of government.

Types of GovernmentAuthoritarian Government continued

OligarchyForm of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society

AutocracyForm of government in which the political power is held by a single, self-appointed ruler

Theocracyform of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler

Objective 1.08: Compare the American system of government to other forms of government.

The Colonial Experience Jamestown: first permanent English settlement in North America

1607- Virginia Company (joint-stock company) established Jamestown under leadership of John Smith (governor & council)1619- House of Burgesses formed (1st form of representative democracy in North America)

1.02 How did the colonists’ experiences under the British government influence them to establish a system of self-government?

The Colonial Experience The Mayflower Compact

Plymouth Colony (Massachusetts) founded in 1620 by Puritan Separatists (Pilgrims); became second permanent English colony in NA

Before arriving, passengers of the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact out of concern for legitimacy of their colonial charterSigners pledged to obey lawsEstablished a direct democracyTown meetings

1.02 How did the colonists’ experiences under the British government influence them to establish a system of self-government?

The Colonial Experience Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Pilgrims who were being persecuted for their religious beliefs left Mass. and colonized in the Conn. area

There they developed Americas 1st written constitution

Assembly of elected representatives Popular election of a governor and judges

Founding of Providence RITwo religious dissenters, Williams and Anne Hutchison were banished and negotiated for land with Native Americans

1.02 How did the successes and failures of the colonial governments influence the colonists’ attitude about self-government?

The English Colonies Jamestown & the Virginia Company

Tobacco quickly grew more popular and with popularity came the need for labor on large plantations

Indentured Servants: lower class of English society who worked for several years then were allowed freeAfrican Slaves: Dutch brought Africans to NA, whom which were treated as indentured servants

Triangular Trade RouteNative American resistance cause need for English protection

Bacon’s RebellionIndentures Servants vs. Wealthy land owners

1.01 How did the unique geographic landscape of each region cause the colonies to develop differently?

The English Colonies

Early American Economy

1.03 How did colonists react to the treatment they received from the British government?

Struggle for an EmpireFrench and Indian War (1754-1763)

What started as a struggle for the Ohio Valley turned into a bloody 9 year warProclamation of 1763

No settlement west of the Appalachians

Problems resulting from the warFinancial CrisisCracking down on colonial smugglingStanding British Army Salutary NeglectSugar Act

Tax on molasses was reduced to ½ Duties on certain imports

Navigation Acts Can now try cases in vice-admiralty courts

The Stirrings of RebellionRepaying war debts

Stamp Act Colonist were required to purchase special stamped paper for all legal documents, playing cards, and dice

Stamp Act CongressSamuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty emerged and immediately began to harass British AgentsThe Stamp Act Congress met to issue a Declaration of Rights and Grievances10 years prior Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union and just now the colonies are beginning to speak as one

1.03 How did colonists react to the treatment they received from the British government?

The Stirrings of RebellionDeclaratory Act

Parliament has the full rights to make lawsTownshend Act

Indirect tax on imported materials (glass, lead, and paint)

A three cent tax on tea“No taxation without representation”More riots, boycotts, and protest emerged

1.03 How did colonists react to the treatment they received from the British government?

The Stirrings of RebellionBoston Massacre

Sons of Liberty use the event to spark colonial hatred Committees of Correspondence

Linking colonies together for protection against England

The Boston Tea PartyTea Act (1773) No tax on tea from British East India CompanyProtestors dressed as Native Americans dumped tea from a British ship in protest

1.03 How did colonists react to the treatment they received from the British government?

The Stirrings of RebellionIntolerable (Coercive) Acts passed to demonstrate Parliaments control restricting colonist rights (no trial by jury)

Boston Harbor is shut downQuartering Act - Colonist forced to house British soldiersBoston under Martial Law

1.03 How did colonists react to the treatment they received from the British government?

Fighting leads to warFirst Continental Congress

In Sept of 1774, 56 delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a Declaration of Colonial Rights

Colonist can run their own affairs, supported protests in Mass., and colonies should fight back if necessary against aggression George III refuses; uses force (Lexington and Concord)

Minutemen (Civilian Soldiers), begin to quietly stockpile armsLexington and Concord

“shot heard around the world” First battle of what would become the Revolutionary War

1.03 What events and actions led the colonies to rebel against Great Britain?

Fighting leads to warSecond Continental Congress

Battle of Bunker HillThomas Paines’ Common Sense

Revolutionary, radical, intellectualCommon Sense

Allow Americans the chance for free tradeAide for war against Great BritainA Chance to be free from tyranny

1.03 What events and actions led the colonies to rebel against Great Britain?

Fighting leads to warSecond Continental Congress

Document to announce America’s independenceThe Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson (main author)

Why Americans had the right to be independentBased on the works of certain philosophers (Rousseau and Locke)Argued that the British government was no longer the rightful government because she did not look after the interests of the colonies or protect their rights In theory the colonies were free, but fighting would take place to make a realityTreaty of Paris

1.03 What events and actions led the colonies to rebel against Great Britain?

The Nation’s First GovernmentState constitutions

Each state legislature created a constitution (written plan of government)Each used the idea of separation of powers (legislature, governor, courts)This system created a weak central government but strong state governmentsEach state had a legislature to create laws. Most were bicameral, like English parliamentEach state had a governor to carry out laws and courts to interpret laws

1.05 How was the role of government different under the new Constitution as compared to the Articles of Confederation?

The Nation’s First GovernmentArticles of Confederation

Delegates needed to create a national government to face Great Britain on a unified frontContinental Congress created a plan for a loose confederation, or an alliance, of independent states; this plan was known as the Articles of ConfederationSet up a one-house legislature called “Congress;” each state was given one vote

1.05 How was the role of government different under the new Constitution as compared to the Articles of Confederation?

The Nation’s First GovernmentCongress was given a few, very limited powers

Power to:declare war, make treaties, and to work out trade agreements between states

CongressLack of power and money

No power to collect taxes, enforce its lawsNo power to regulate trade (the states attempted to regulate imports and exports and to regulate interstate commerce)Lack of central power

No executive or judicial branchRules too rigid

Approval of nine states needed to pass lawsCould not amend Articles without approval of all 13 states

1.05 How was the role of government different under the new Constitution as compared to the Articles of Confederation?

The Nation’s First GovernmentShay’s Rebellion

Many farmers fell into debt because of the heavy state taxes

Farmers faced threat of losing landIn 1786, Daniel Shays, former war hero, led 1200 farmers to rebelMassachusetts had to use its own state militia to stop the rebellion (received no help from Congress)Many Americans began to call for a stronger national government

1.05 How was the role of government different under the new Constitution as compared to the Articles of Confederation?

The Constitutional ConventionThe AOC were scrapped and a new constitution would be written

A total of 55 delegates from 12 states were in attendanceRhode Island sent no delegate because it opposed a stronger central government (beginnings of conflict between large and small states)All were white men, Most were professional and businessmenOver half of the delegates were under the age of 40 and college graduates who had experience in govt. Several had been active in the fight for independence (Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington was chosen to preside over the Convention)

1.05 To what extent were the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention necessary and appropriate?

The Constitutional ConventionKey Decisions

Each state would have only one vote, regardless of the number of delegates it sent to the ConventionIssues would be decided by a simple majority vote (in this case, seven votes were needed to approve anything)The world of the Convention would be kept secretAllowed delegates to speak freely—they did not have to worry about reaction of their constituencyResult—we have no official records of the Convention

1.05 To what extent were the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention necessary and appropriate?

The Constitutional Convention Virginia delegates proposed a plan, designed by James Madison.

What the Virginia plan called for:Government with 3 branches

Legislative branch ( the lawmakers) Divided into two houses, in each house, states would be represented on the basis of their population

Executive branch (carry the laws out)Judicial branch (system of courts to interpret and apply the laws)

1.05 How were the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan both incorporated in the compromise of the Connecticut Plan?

The Constitutional Convention The New Jersey PlanAlso called for three branches One house, where each state received one vote regardless of their population

1.05 How were the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan both incorporated in the compromise of the Connecticut Plan?

The Constitutional Convention Roger Sherman (Conn.) headed a committee that decided on a compromise between the Virginia and NJ plans.The Great Compromise

Two houses in CongressSenate: each state would have 2 representatives House of Representatives: based on a states population

1.05 How were the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan both incorporated in the compromise of the Connecticut Plan?

The Constitutional Convention The Three-Fifths Compromise

Northern states did not want to count slaves towards the population of a stateSouthern states wanted to count them towards population Enslaved persons would be counted as (3/5) of a person

1.05 To what extent were the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention necessary and appropriate?

The Constitutional Convention Commerce & Trade Compromise

Northern states wanted Congress to be able to regulate trade between the states and trade with other countriesSouthern states thought Congress would use this power to tax exports and stop the slave tradeThe compromise reached was that Congress could regulate trade between the states as well as with foreign countries, but Congress would not interfere with the slave trade before 1808

1.05 To what extent were the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention necessary and appropriate?

The Constitutional Convention Electoral College Compromise

Option #1—President will be chosen by members of CongressOption #2—President will be elected by the people

Compromise—delegates decided on a system called the Electoral College where each state legislature would choose a number of electors who would select the President and Vice President

1.05 To what extent were the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention necessary and appropriate?

Balancing ViewpointsDelegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and decided it would take nine out of the thirteen states to ratify the document

1.05 To what extent were the compromises made during the Constitutional Convention necessary and appropriate?

Balancing ViewpointsSupporters of the document became known as Federalists

Federalists: they choose this name because they wanted to emphasize that the Constitution would create a system of federalism

Those who opposed the document became the Anti-Federalists

1.06 What were the contrasting viewpoints of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

President Strong leader for nation Feared would become dictator

Role of Congress Strong Congress to make laws for nation State legislatures to have most power

Courts Handle disputes that affect nation State courts most power

Role of States National gov’t supreme State gov’t supreme

Bill of Rights? No need, each state already had one Must have one to prevent abuse

Federal gov’t Division of power would keep federal under control

Federal gov’t would abuse rights of citizens (like King)

Examples Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Federalist Papers NC, Anti-Federalist essays

Federalist Anti-FederalistRole

Balancing ViewpointsA compromise was met with the Bill of RightsDelaware was the first state to ratify the document on December 17, 1787On June 21, 1788 New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, putting it into effectNorth Carolina ratifies Constitution on November 1, 1789, the 12th state to do soRhode Island was the last to ratify the Constitution in 1790

1.06 What were the contrasting viewpoints of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?