American Political Heritage – Guided Notes (PART 02)
I.
Looking to Greece and Rome


Athens –
o
Created the world’s first _______________________; a form of government in what
laws are made directly by the citizens.
o
Citizens were allowed to vote to pass laws or make decisions.
Rome –
o
II.
III.
IV.
In 509 B.C. founded a _______________________; a government in which
representatives are elected to pass laws.
English Tradition

_______________________________ – In 1215 empowered English noblemen forced King John to
sign a document listing rights that even the monarch could not take away from nobles.

_______________________________ – In 1689 the English legislature, called Parliament, passed a
Bill of Rights which further limited the Monarch’s power.
Relying on Reason

In Europe during the 1600s and 1700s, philosophers wrote that the people have the
power of reason; the ability to think __________________________.

______________________________ - Rights people are born with and that no government can
take away.

___________________________________________ – dividing government power among legislative,
executive, and judicial branches.
Views on Government and Trade

English View –
o

Colonist View –
o

V.
VI.
VII.
Claim that _________________________________ actually did represent the citizens,
including the colonists.
Since no colonists ________________________ in parliament, nor could colonists
_______________________ in parliament, English government did not attend to
colonial needs.
Trade Conflict – Parliament only allowed the colonists to trade with ______________________.
Clashing Views

“No Taxation Without Representation.”

England is in huge ____________________ from over 100 years of war, both in the colonies
and around the world.

When Parliament decided to raise money to pay its debts by _____________________ the
colonies, this enraged many colonists, leading to various protests.
Prelude to Independence

1774: The First _____________________________________________ met in response to the
Intolerable Acts of 1774. How would the colonists respond? It had no effect.

1775: Fighting breaks out in _______________________________, leading to a war.

1775: The ______________________________________________ managed the colonial war effort and
would eventually ratify, or agree with, the Declaration of Independence.

1776: “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine inspired the ______________________________________.
It made a clear case and a pathway for American independence.
Declaration of Independence

It was written by members of the Second Continental Congress, including: Thomas
Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams.

Signed on __________________________________________________.
VIII.
IX.
X.

It announced that the 13 American colonies considered themselves as
____________________________________ states.

It stated that the people give _________________________ to their government so long as that
government _______________________ their rights as citizens.

If the government abuses those rights, it can be changed or done away with by the
people.

It also listed the ways in which England had ______________________ the rights of the
colonists as English citizens – proof that they were being ruled under absolute tyranny.

This ____________________________ their actions against England.
Organizing a New Government

__________________________ – a written agreement to make and obey laws for the welfare of
the group.

Because each individual colony was founded by a charter prior to independence, people
were used to the idea of having a _________________________________ of government.

During and after the Revolution, each state had its own _______________________________.
Articles of Confederation

November 15, 1777: The original compact was created between the soon independent
colonies.

The total _____________________________, or approval, of the Articles of Confederation didn’t
take place until 1781, after the Revolutionary War.

The first state to ratify the Articles was ________________________ in 1777; the last state to
ratify was ______________________________ in 1781.
Organizing the Articles

There was no executive or judicial branch.
XI.
XII.

Allowed for a national legislature, called Congress, with each state having one vote.

Congress had the power to declare war, make treaties of peace with foreign countries,
and form trade agreements between states.

All 13 states must agree on a motion, or bill, for it to pass.
Problems

Unable to deal effectively with European nations.

Many of the states had different opinions on whether there should be a strong central
government or strong state governments – all of the states had to come to an agreement
in order to ________________________________________________.

Congress had ___________________________ a large amount of money to pay for war supplies,
but couldn’t tax the people.

Congress could make decisions, but it was unable to _____________________ trade or enforce
their decisions.

What are your thoughts on what you see here?
Shay’s Rebellion

1786: Hundreds of angry Massachusetts farmers, led by ____________________________________,
revolted to show their anger over poor trade conditions and high state taxes.

Congress didn’t have the power to force other states to help put down the uprising.

Militia violently stops the rebellion, killing 4 and wounding dozens of other farmers.

The incident exposed a weak _________________________________________.