Foundations of the
American Democracy
English Roots to the US
Constitution
I. Colonial
Democracy
A. Traditions
1. Legislatures-people's voice in the government.
These varied from colony to colony.
2. Protection of rights
3. Voting-privilege of the wealthy and educated.
4. Religious freedom-Roger Williams and Anne
Hutchinson established.
5. Freedom of Press-John Peter Zenger case
established.
I. Colonial
Democracy
B. Roots-The American System derived from these main
sources:
1. Ancient Greece and Rome
2. Magna Carta (1215)-limited the power of the
king.
3. English Bill of Rights (1689)-Parliament listed the
rights of all citizens.
4. John Locke-2 ideas:
(1) 3 Natural Rights
(2) Social Contract-consent of the governed.
5. Montesquieu-separation of powers prevented
tyranny.
II. The Articles of
Confederation
Several questions to be answered after the
Revolution:
Representation by population or equal
representation?
Division of power in the government?
What to do with western lands?
One Big Problem: Lack of Cooperation
II. The Articles of
Confederation
A. Provisions
1. The Articles created a "loose union" of
states where states' rights were
important.
2. Created a unicameral legislature
3. Each state received one vote
II. The Articles of
Confederation
B. Weaknesses
1. Too much emphasis on states' rights
2. Limited power to tax and raise an army
3. No president or court system to settle
disputes between states
4. Total Lack of cooperation
II. The Articles of
Confederation
C. Articles in Action
1. Unity between states diminished after the
Revolution
2. *Northwest Ordinance of 1787
-Provided for a statehood process in western
lands when population reached
60,000
-Prohibited slavery in these territories
III. Changes in the New
Nation
A. Spain-still controlled the Mississippi and other western
lands
B. Shay's Rebellion-Massachusetts 1786
-Poor western farmers rebelled after being taxed by
the
local government
-Led by Revolutionary war veteran Daniel Shay's
C. Lack of Nationalist Outlook
-People were still concerned with their local or state
affairs.
-Many local or state politicians were unsuccessful on
the
national level.
D.
III. Changes in the New
Nation
North Carolina after the Revolution
1. Before the war, 2/3 of the state’s trade was with
Great Britain.
2. Large numbers of Loyalists were persecuted.
Land was taken and sold to pay off debts
3. 1789-University of North Carolina established
4. Capital moved from New Bern to Raleigh in 1792.
5. North Carolina gives up western lands that became
the
state of Franklin and later became the state of
Tennessee.
III. Changes in the New
Nation
E. Constitutional Convention-May 1787, Philadelphia
-All states were represented except for Rhode Island.
NC
sent William R. Davie, Richard Dobbs
Spaight, William Blount, Alexander Martin, and
Hugh Williamson.
-Plan was to revise the Articles but that was
impossible.
-Delegates began to start over.
IV. Drafting the Constitution
Purpose:
to
Revise the Articles of Confederation. Decided
start over. All done in secret.
Debates:
Small groups would become dominant in
government
Where should the power go: states or central
government?
IV. Drafting the Constitution
A. Compromise
1. The Virginia Plan-drafted by James Madison"father of
the constitution"
-Bicameral legislature based on population
-System of checks and balances between 3 branches
of
government so that no one part becomes too
powerful.
2. The New Jersey Plan-drafted by William Patterson
-called for equal representation
IV. Drafting the Constitution
3. The Great Compromise-drafted by Roger Sherman
big states vs. small states
-House of Representatives-representation based on
population
-Senate-equal representation
4. 3/5 Compromise-slave states vs. free states
-Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representation
IV. Drafting the Constitution
5. Slave TradeAllowed to continues for at least 20 years
6. Electoral College-compromise on how we elect
the president. Electors in each state cast votes
for the President based on the popular vote in
their state.
IV. Drafting the Constitution
B. Divided Power & Checks and Balances
Delegated powers-national government
Reserved powers-state
government
Central government is supreme
Branches:
Executive-can veto acts of Congress and
appoints members of judiciary
Legislative-can impeach president and
confirms members of judiciary
Judicial-can rule acts of Congress and
president unconstitutional
Amending: 2/3 vote of Congress
3/4 vote from states
IV. Drafting the Constitution
• Federalists
• Antifederalists
Supported the Constitution
Opposed the Constitution
Wanted stable central
government
Wanted to protect state
rights
The Federalist Papers
• Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay
wrote essays supporting the
Constitution that were
published in newspapers.
They were instrumental in
the ratification of the
Constitution.
IV. Drafting the Constitution
-By July 1788, 11 of 13 states had ratified.
-NC voted 184 to 83 against the Constitution in
July of 1788.
-NC reconvened and voted 194 to 77 in favor of the
Constitution.
-Reasons for change:
1. James Madison introduced the Bill of
Rights
2. George Washington elected as first
president
- Rhode Island ratified by May1790.