Notes
Chapter 2-1
Nondemocratic Government
Citizens have no power to rule
1. Monarchy – Kingdom or empire led by a royal leader,
often ceremonial, in past ruled with force and was an
Absolute Monarchy. Example: Jordan
2. Dictatorship – One ruler with absolute power; often
use force, ruler answers to self only. No public opinion
or rights. Example: Iraq, formerly.
3. Totalitarian – Ruled by one party, absolute power,
similar to dictatorship. Example: China, North Korea
4. Theocracy – Controlled by one or more religious
leaders who rule on behalf of God or gods. Rule by
divine right, not public needs. Example: Iran
Democratic Government
Rule of the people
1. Direct Democracy – ALL citizens meet
together and make decisions and vote, smaller
communities. Example: Ancient Greece
2. Representative Democracy – People elect
representatives to speak and govern for them.
People ruled by elected officials who rule for the
public. This type of government is called a
Republic. Example: U.S.A. & India
Purposes of Government
Help People Cooperate – Unite, solve,
and cooperate to make safer and easier.
Providing Services – provides important
or expensive services such as financial
assistance and education. Protection from
other countries. Money, roads, libraries.
Providing Laws - Laws guide and protect
us and our rights.
Guaranteeing Freedom
 Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
 Freedoms set up to be protected and
not taken away

All citizens must take an active role in
protecting and preserving those rights and
freedoms.
Notes
Ch. 2
Sec 2
Declaration of Independence
1775 – Colonies war with Gr. Britain.
July 4th 1776 – Declaration of
Independence written and approved by 1st
Continental Congress in Philly.
Dec. of Ind. Lists reasons for parting:
taxation without consent or
representation, powerless people.
Explains that government is meant to
protect basic human rights.
Declaration of Independence (cont)
“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”
Equal rights under American law.
Ideals were difficult but worth “our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
Articles of Confederation
Declaration was NOT a plan for a government.
Articles were.
1781 – All 13 colonies approve Articles of
Confederation. Rev. War ends in 1783.
Confederation – Loose government of statecentered governments.
Americans feared a strong central government,
due to their past with a Monarchy.
State Sovereignty – Absolute power given to the
states.
Weaknesses of Articles
National, or central, government had little to no
power.
Each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of
the size of the state.
Articles gave states sovereignty, absolute power.
No national court to interpret laws or judge those
who broke them.
No currency to pay back the National debt. Could
not pay soldiers from Rev. War.
No one to make sure laws passed by Congress
were carried out.
Need for Change
War left the new country in a mess, and Articles did
not give the country the power to clean it up.
People thought of themselves as State citizens, not
Americans.
Took 9 of 13 votes for any law to pass. Hard to do
with a divided nation.
National debt was not able to be lowered due to no
National currency.
No executive branch to ensure laws were carried out.
No courts to interpret or mediate the laws.
Fixing the Articles
Internal disputes swept the land, and National
government was powerless to end it.
Trade
Boundary lines
Domestic troubles made United States look
weak to other countries.
1787 – Congress asked each state to send a
representative to a meeting to discuss fixing
the Articles.
Notes
Ch. 2
Sec 3
The Constitution
Constitutional Convention
The Articles of Confederation needed a lot
of change due to some major weaknesses.
Many past documents influenced the new
government including the following from
England.
Magna Carta - made King John give free
men right to trial by jury, and protected
Parliament from Monarchs.
English Bill of Rights – Right to petition for
change of laws, fair punishment, right to bear
arms, no taxation without representation.
Parliament – bicameral, 2 parts or houses,
similar to our 2 part system Representatives
And Senate.
Secret Meetings
Constitutional Convention – To avoid outside
coercion and pressure, meetings to discuss
new government held in secret.
James Madison - “Father of the
Constitution”
Writing the Constitution
Federalism – power divided between
Federal and State. Federal gets more power,
states still govern own concerns.
GREAT COMPROMISE – Make 2 parts of
Congress, due to fight between small states
(Senate) and large states (Representatives).
Constitution Complete
Federal Powers added – coin and print
money, raise armed forces, regulate trade
among states, set taxes, and foreign trade.
Also established a Supreme Court.
Sept 17th, 1787 – Constitution Complete.
Now needed to be ratified by 9 of 13
states.
Federalist vs. Antifederalists
Major debates over ratification. Newspapers,
pamphlets, and speeches for and against.
Federalists – Strong central government was
needed to keep country united and strong.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison
Antifederalists –Fed. government defeated
purpose of Revolutionary War. Not protect states’
power or people’s freedom. Patrick Henry, Samuel
Adams
Constitution is Ratified!
Federalists gain support, but people
wanted a list of Rights for the people.
The 9th and final state to ratify was
Rhode Island. June 1788
George Washington sworn in as first
U.S. president on April 30th, 1789.