Cambridge IGCSE
American History (US)
Kofa High School
2012-13
Theme 1
Government and the People
1754-2000
Key Question 1
How did Americans develop the US Political
System during the period from 1754 to
1865?
1. What role did political ideas have before
1776?
2. How was the constitution created?
3. How and to what extent did the political
system move toward democracy?
4. How important was the principle of states
rights before 1861?
The Thirteen
Original
Colonies
Colonists Response to British Rule
1754-76
Royal Colonies-owned directly by the king
Proprietary Colonies-land grant, somewhat
free
Charter Colonies-almost totally free
ACTIVITY - Identify the colony types on a
map.
Colonists Response to British Rule
1754-76
Until the mid-1700s, colonies allowed
freedom.
In 1760, King George III imposed new taxes
and laws on the colonists.
Stamp Act – printed material
Sugar Act
Townsend Act – high taxes on multiple things
Intolerable Acts – main one is tea
Colonists Response to British Rule
1754-76
Sons of Liberty form-led by Samuel Adams
– “No Taxation Without Representation”
Key events lead us towards revolution
– Boston Massacre
– Boston Tea Party
– Lexington and Concord
– Colonies meet in representative Congresses
Question: Why do people in Boston seem to
want to protest more?
Adams, Jefferson, Paine
Adams urges revolution in Congresses
– What was the original purpose of these
various Congresses?
Paine-publishes “Common Sense”
– What is it about?
– What effect does it have?
Jefferson-authors Declaration of
Independence
Creation of the Constitution and Bill
of Rights 1781-90
Victorious colonies stay with Articles of
Confederation as their government.
What were the positive/negative aspects
to this type of government?
Event pushes US to fix their government.
– Shay’s Rebellion
The Articles of Confederation
“a firm league of friendship” among the
States.
Powers
Obligations
• Declare war
• Obey Congress
• Deal with national finance
issues
• Respect the laws of the
other States.
•Settle disputes among the
States.
Creation of the Constitution and Bill
of Rights 1781-90
Constitutional Convention is called.
Issues at first between big state and small
states.
Why? What were the plans of big and
small states when it came to the legislative
branch?
Conflicting Plans
Virginia Plan
3 branches
2 houses of congress
– bicameral
Number of reps
determined by
population
New Jersey Plan
3 branches
1 house of congress
Equal number of reps
for all states
The Great Compromise
Also known as the Connecticut
Compromise
Combine Plans
– 2 houses of congress
House of Reps – based on population
– Slaves count as 3/5 of a person
Senate – 2 reps per state
Large and Small states benefit
Identify these other
Compromises
3/5ths compromise
Commerce and Slave Trade compromise
Creation of the Constitution and Bill
of Rights 1781-90
Constitution drafted Sept 17th, 1787
Disagreement immediately on whether or
not it should be approved and ratified.
Two Rival Groups form
– Federalist
– Anti-Federalist
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists
Federalists
Supported constitution
strong federal gov’t
Would create a strong
stable nation
Anti-Federalists
opposed constitution
Power in the states
Federal gov’t would abuse
power
Gov’t should be close to
home
Bill of Rights
Only way states
would agree
12 Amendments
sent around to
states for
ratification
10 were approved
What are they?
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofri
ghts/
Political Beginnings
1st President – G. Washington
2 party system
– Originally Federalists and DemocraticRepublicans
Bank of the United States
Creation of Washington D.C.
Washington Accomplishments
America felt an obligation to help French
Revolution
– Washington chose neutrality – not choosing
sides
Created cabinet
Warned us of future issues in “Farewell
Address”
2 terms is enough
Original Provisions (FYI)
The President and Vice President are
chosen by presidential electors.
This group is known as the Electoral
College
Originally, these electors each cast two
electoral votes, each for a different
candidate. The candidate with the most
votes would become President, and the
candidate with the second highest total
would become Vice President.
The Rise of Parties
With the rise of
political parties in
1796, flaws began
to be seen in the
system.
Adams beat
Jefferson by 3
votes
Jefferson became
his VP (rival party)
John Adams Accomplishments
XYZ Affair
Alien and Sedition Act
Appoints people on his way out of office to
sabotage Jefferson
– Leads to case of Marbury v. Madison
Creates Judicial Review
Election of 1800
Tie went to the
House of Reps
Took 36 ballots
to select
Jefferson
Led to a
Constitutional
change-12th
Amendment
Presidency of Thomas Jefferson
Elected in 1800
Average guy – simplified presidency
Louisiana Purchase – from France
– $18 per square mile
Lewis and Clark
– Explore the west, find a northwest passage
Presidents and Parties before 1850
James Monroe-Monroe Doctrine
Andrew Jackson suffers defeat in 1824.
– Calls it a “Corrupt Bargain”
– Why? What happened?
Andrew Jackson elected in 1828 as 1st
Democrat
Andrew Jackson
Shuts down the National bank
Indian Removal Act
– Ignores the Supreme Court
Fights for Federal power
– Nullification issue
Spoils System – cleaning house
– “to the victor goes the spoils”
– Appoints best friends
New Political Parties
Republican – opposed slavery
Democrat – states rights, divided on slavery
Whig – pro business, divided on slavery
Know Nothing – Anti-immigration
Free-Soil – anti-expansion of slavery
Death of a President
William Henry Harrison, Whig, dies after
being president for 32 days.
Vice President John Tyler takes over office
How does this impact the presidency?