1492-1877

Powhatan in Virginia

Many die from European diseases

Different views on land ownership

1620-Pilgrims sign Mayflower Compact – 1st written government, social contract.

Puritans seeking religious freedom “City on a Hill”

Intolerant of others

Settled by Dutch & Germans

Quakers in PA & Jews in NY

Religious toleration & middle class

Good relations with Indians

Jamestown 1607– 1st permanent English colony

Established by the Virginia Company

Strong ties to England

Tobacco/cotton are labor intensive crops on plantations- slavery

John Locke

“Natural rights of Life, liberty, and property can not be taken away. Power comes from the consent of the governed – a social contract.” – English philosopher who most influenced Founders.

Thomas Paine – author of Common Sense pamphlet

Encourages Revolution

Written by Thomas Jefferson

Uses ideas of Locke & Paine

List of grievances against the king

“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal”

July 4, 1776

Equal voting rights to women & African-Americans

Liberty – eventually abolishing slavery, civil rights gained

Regulating free enterprise, economics

“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 – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.”

http://soomopublishing.com/declaration

John HancockPresident of 2nd Continental

Congress; signed Declaration of Independence

Benjamin FranklinAdvocated colonial unity and

helped secure aid from FrancePart of committee that drafted the

Declaration of IndependenceGeorge Washington

Leader of the Continental Army1st President of the United States

John AdamsPart of committee that drafted the

Declaration of IndependenceNegotiated Treaty of Paris (1783),

ending the war with Britain2nd President of the United States

John JayNegotiated Treaty of Paris (1783)1st Chief Justice of the Supreme

Court

American Revolution 1775-1783

Cause: French and Indian War-1754-1763

British government starts taxing colonist to pay for debts occurred by the war without the colonies approval.

Colonist think taxes violates their rights- “No taxation without Representation”

Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775- First battle of the Revolution

2nd Continental Congress- appoints George Washington the commander and chief over the New Continental Army

1789

George Washington – chairman

James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”

Big states vs. smalls states

Slaves counting toward population

3 Branches of Government

2 House Legislature (Senate & House)

3/5 Compromise on slavery

Strong National government

Promote economic development

See government’s role in solving national problems

Madison & Washington

Fear an overly powerful government

Want states to have more power

Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect people

Leads to today’s conservatives of free

market & no interference

Patrick Henry & George Mason

1st Ten Amendments to the Constitution

Written by James Madison

1791

3 Branches of Government

2 House Legislature (Senate & House)

3/5 Compromise on slavery

“We the People, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for us and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

* “We the People” – idea of popular sovereignty

Principles of the ConstitutionLimited Government-powers of the government limited to those provided in the Constitution.

Republicanism- A democratic government of representatives elected by the people

Popular Sovereignty- The people are “sovereign”- they hold the supreme power. Power of gov. comes from the people

Federalism- powers of gov. divided between the national government and state

Separation of Powers-Divided the powers of the federal government among three separate branches, the congress, the President and Supreme Court

Checks and Balance- To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, the Constitution gave each branch ways to stop or “check” the other branches.

Basic Structure:Article 1 – Legislature (Congress)Article 2 – Executive Article 3 – Judiciary Article 4 – Relations between statesArticle 5 – Amendment processArticle 6 – Supremacy of the ConstitutionArticle 7 – Ratification 27 Amendments

Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments)

The Bill of RightsFirst Amendment•Freedom of•religion •speech•Speech•Press• assembly•Petition

Second AmendmentRight to Bears Arms

Third Amendment No quartering of Soldiers

Fourth Amendment- No unreasonable search or seizures.

Fifth Amendment•Eminent Domain•Indictment Needed•Double Jeopardy•No Self- Incrimination

Sixth Amendment- Fair and impartial jury

Seventh Amendment- Trial by a jury

Eighth Amendment- No Cruel and unusual punishment.

Ninth Amendment- rights reserved for the people (“catch all” in case it was not mentioned previously)

Tenth Amendment– powers reserved for the states

1st – freedom of religion, press, speech, petition, assembly2nd – right to bear arms3rd – no quartering of soldiers4th – no unreasonable search or seizure5th – rights of the accused6th – speedy, public trial7th – right to trial in civil cases8th – no cruel or unusual punishment or excessive fines9th – rights of people cannot be abridged10th – powers reserved for States11th – States cannot be sued w/out their own consent12th – separate votes for Pres. & VP

13th – outlaws slavery & involuntary servitude14th – rights of citizens cannot be denied15th – universal male suffrage16th – graduated income tax17th – direct election of senators18th – Prohibition of alcohol19th – woman suffrage20th – inauguration moved to January21st – repealed 18th; end of Prohibition22nd – Pres. limited to two terms23rd - citizens of D.C. can vote24th – no poll taxes25th – Presidential succession26th – 18 yr. old vote27th – pay increases for legislators don’t take effect until next term

What Are Americans?

•Populism•Egalitarianism•Liberty•Laissez-Faire•Individualism

1. French social scientist2. 2. Democracy in America (1835) described these values as

crucial to the success of America’s constitutional republic:

“America is great because she

is good. If America ceases to be

good, America will cease to be

great.”

“I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.”

“There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.”

“Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”

“Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.”

“The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.”

“Slavery...dishonors labor. It introduces idleness into society, and with idleness, ignorance and pride, luxury and distress. It enervates the powers of the mind and benumbs the activity of man.”

“E Pluribus Unum” (1782)out of

many, one (Latin)

Unofficial motto

“The Star-Spangled Banner” Written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812Officially made the national anthem in 1931

“In God We Trust” (1956)Official motto of U.S.

Defn.: the idea that the United States is the exception to the rule; the US is and should be a model for other countries to follow.

Background:1630 – John Winthrop’s “city on a hill” speech1840s – Manifest Destiny1860s-1920 – American imperialism

The “white man’s burden”

20

19th Century

20

Louisiana Purchase- 1803

Monroe Doctrine-

1823 Manifest Destiny- 1840’s

Reconstruction of the South - 1865-1877

Civil War 1861-1865