Origins of American
Government
The Historical Context of the
Creation of the US Constitution
13 British Colonies
• British traditions of government
– ordered, limited and representative
• 3 Important Documents
•
Magna Carta-1215
•trial by jury
•due process
•private property
Petition of Right 1628
• Parliament
demanded:
– right to a lawful
trial
– no martial law in
times of peace
– no quartering of
soldiers
– taxes approved by
Parliament
English Bill of Rights
1688
•
•
•
•
no cruel punishment
no excessive bail or fines
right to bear arms
right to petition
Judeo-Christian Influence
• All are equal in the eye’s of God
• An individuals can have a direct
connection with God.
Colonial Governments
• Royal Colonies
• Proprietary Colonies
• Charter Colonies
• legislative assemblies
•
subject to London in theory;
self-governing in practice
the Coming of Independence
• Growing attempts by Parliament to
intervene in American affairs
– restrictive trade laws
– direct taxation
• Growing Colonial Unity/Identity
– 1643 New England Confederation
– 1754 Franklin’s Albany Plan
• Stamp Act Congress- 1765
– 1770 “Boston Massacre”
– 1772 Committees of Correspondence
– 1773 “Boston Tea Party”
• 1st Continental Congress- 1774
– response to the “Intolerable Acts”
• petition
• boycott
• prepare to arm
2nd Continental Congress
1775-1781
• Declaration of Independence
• functions as government during the war
– raised army/navy
– borrowed money
– bought supplies
– created a currency
– made treaties
• called on states to create
state constitutions
Characteristics of State
Constitutions
• popular sovereignty- governments are empowered
by/with the
consent of the governed
• limited government- weak executive power, many restrictions on
government action
• civil rights and liberties- governments had to respect
“inalienable rights” of individuals
• separation of power and checks and balancesprevented too much power in the hands of any one or few
Characteristics of State
Constitutions
• generally brief
• legislative branch was the most powerful
– terms were short – 1-2 years
• suffrage was limited
– adult, white men, property-owners
Massachusetts State Constitution 1780-oldest functioning
constitution in the world
1st written national constitution
• Articles of Confederation was approved by the 2nd
Continental Congress and ratified by all 13
states by 1781.
• “a firm league of friendship”
textbook, The Critical Period
pages 44-45
• Read carefully and prepare a graphic
organizer….
textbook, The Critical Period
pages 44-45
The Articles of Confederation
How was the government
to be structured?
What powers were
given to
Congress?
What obligations
did states have?
What were the
weaknesses of the
document?
• Revolutionary War ended 1781
– huge war-time debt
• more than $60,000,000
– excluded from British trade empire
– not recognized by foreign governments
– devalued currency
• inflation
– shipping no longer protected by British navy
• Squabbling States
Squabbling States
• states are independent and competitive
– militias
– currency
– foreign treaties
– trade barriers
– boundary disputes
Shays Rebellion 1786
Calls for Reform
• Mt Vernon meeting encourages Virginia
General Assemble to call for a joint
meeting of all states to discuss trade.
• Annapolis meeting calls for a meeting in
May of 1787 in Philadelphia which will
become the Constitutional Convention
Simulation Scenario
• The Administration and School Board have been
“overthrown”. No central authority exists.
• Teachers have been stripped of their power of
“authority” but are not required to stay.
• All young people under the age of 19 must
remain on campus 8 hours a day.
• At age 19, you are no longer allowed on
campus.
• All jobs require schooling beyond high school
and entrance to such schooling is exceedingly
competitive.
Consider the following:
• Are there rights?
– How will they be
assured? What are the
important values to be
protected?
• How will the
individual’s voice be
heard?
• How will the peace be
kept?
• Who will rule?
• Who will mediate
conflict?
• Who will carry out the
rules?
• What obligations does
the individual have?
• Will educational
services be provided?
– How?
Constitutional Convention
• Your group may send up to 3 delegates.
• Task: Create a document that will serve
as the basis for law and that will establish
the structure of the new government.
– Include:
• Purpose of document; statement of principles
• Structure of the government
• Distribution of power