Chapter Two

Colonists brought 3 ideas from England

Limited govt – individuals have certain rightsOrdered govt – the creation of local govts.Representative govt – should serve the will

of the people and people should have a voice

Historical British Documents

With your partner use section 1 of the chapter and the chart on page 29 to find an example of how British documents helped shape the ideas of:ordered governmentlimited governmentrepresentative government

You will present your information to the class.

Dig a little deeper

Journal #4

• Read pg 33 of the textbook about the Magna Carta

• Answer questions at the end

Summary of Landmark English Documents

• Magna Carta – 1215 – trial by jury, due process prevent taking of life, liberty or property. Power of monarchy no longer absolute

• Petition of Right – 1628 – political critics cannot be jailed w/out jury of peers at trial, no martial law during peace, quartering of troops & Parliament must consent on taxation

• English Bill of Rights – 1689 – guaranteed citizens’ rights and elevated Parliament

Our political beginnings• There were 3 types of colonies developed by the

British: “13 schools of government” span of 125 years• Royal colonies – direct control of the Crown. King

named a governor (executive) and council (upper house of legislative). Lower house of legislative was elected by qualified voters.

• Proprietary colonies – charter was granted by the Crown to one individual who then had the right to choose governor and council. Structure was much like the royal colonies. People had little to say in government.

• Charter colonies – the charter was granted to the whole group and they had the choice of governor and council. The people had the say in government.

The Coming of Independence

1643: The New England Confed.-”league of friendship” to defend against Nat. Am.

1754: Albany Plan of Union,Unite 13 col.Create annualcongress

1765: Stamp Act Congress, opposed Brit. Govt for 1st time

1774: 1st Cont. Con. Called for enforcement of boycotts

May, 1776: 2nd Cont. Con. urged colonies to write constitutions

July 4, 1776: Dec. of Indep.

Writing style

Written by Jefferson

1776-1777: States draft and adopt constitutions

Common feature of state constitutions

• Popular sov.

• Limited govt

• Civil rights and liberties

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

The Critical Period

1777-1781 took all 13 states to ratify the Articles of Confed.

In your workbook, answer page 22 #1-14

Most power was left with the states

1. Powers of Congress:

2. State obligations:

3. Structure:

4. Weaknesses:

• Powers of Congress:

Set up postal service

make war and peace

make and borrow money

State obligations:

provide funds and troops

return fugitives

accept laws from other states

• Structure:1 vote per state

no executive branch to enforce laws

no judicial branch

Weaknesses:

could not uphold laws

no power to tax

no power to regulate trade

amendment only with consent of ALL states

Events leading to the Constitutional Convention

• Printing own money

• Shays’ Rebellion

• Mount Vernon – trade disputes between Maryland and Virginia

• Annapolis - only 5 of 13

The Constitutional Convention• 1787

• 12 of the states attended

• Original mission – amend the Art. Of Con.

• In your workbook pg 23 – each group will look up one plan and present answers to the class

The Virginia Planwritten by James Madison

• Bicameral leg. – one elected by pop. vote and other by the elected house

# in the houses based on population

• Power to tax

• Fed leg could veto state laws

• Single exec appointed by leg

• Nat jud. elected by leg

• Supports strong central govt

The New Jersey Plan

• In response to Virginia Plan• 1 house leg w/ = rep• Power to tax and regulate commerce• Plural exec and could be removed by leg if state

leg requested• Jud appointed by execs• Supremacy clause – Const. is highest law of the

land• Supported greater states rights

The Connecticut Compromise

• Also called the Great Compromise

• Issue over representation was greatest argument

• Delegates left the convention over the issues

• Bicameral leg – one on pop. other =

• Single exec

Other compromises

• Ensured acceptance of the Const. by most delegates

• 3/5 Compromise – how to count slaves for rep. and taxation

• Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise – slave trade would not be regulated for 20 years & no export taxes

• Only 39 on the 55 delegates signed in Sept. 1787

Ratification

• 9 of the 13 states needed to ratify

• Disagreement over ratification would create political parties

Federalists

• Favor ratification

• Led by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton

• Used Articles as an example

• The Federalist – essays written in support of ratification – used to convince NY to ratify, John Jay, Hamilton and Madison

Anti-Federalists

• Opposed the Const.

• Led by Patrick Henry, John Hancock and Samuel Adams

• Reasons for dislike of Const.

• Greatly increased powers of the central govt

• Lack of a bill of rights

Finalizing the government

• Delaware – first to ratify

• June, 1788, New Hampshire was #9

• Without VA and NY govt would not be a success

• Last state – RI ratified in May, 1790