FOUNDATIONS OF
AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT
HOW DID WE END UP HERE?
Earliest Attempts
• 1643 – NEW ENGLAND CONFEDERATION
• Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Haven, & Connecticut
settlements
• Defense against Native Americans
• As the danger passed, the Confederation dissolved in 1684
• 1754 – ALBANY PLAN OF UNION
• Proposed by Benjamin Franklin
• Formation of an annual congress of delegates from all 13
colonies
• Protection of all, raise military and naval forces, make war and
peace, regulate trade and customs, levy taxes
Earliest Attempts
• STAMP ACT CONGRESS –
• October 1765 – nine colonies sent delegates to New York
for a conference to protest the British Stamp Act
• Sent “DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCES”
to King George
• First ever joint statement of displeasure by the colonies
• Caused Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act, but higher
tension levels
• New, stricter laws passed
• Colonies protested with a boycott of British goods.
• British troops responded to the protests (BOSTON
MASSACRE)
• Organized protests by COMMITTEES OF CORRESPONDENCE
(Boston Tea Party – December 16, 1773)
FIRST CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS
• September 5 – October 26, 1774 – Philadelphia
• Protesting the “INTOLERABLE ACTS” of Great
Britain
• Delegates sent a “DECLARATION OF RIGHTS”
protesting the acts of Parliament to King George
• Called for a boycott of all trade until all taxes and
regulations were repealed
• Local committees formed to enforce the boycott
• Call for a second Congress to support the actions of
the first.
SECOND CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS
• May 10, 1775 – Philadelphia
• Reaction to the First Congress in Britain produced
harsher measures in the colonies
• Revolutionary War had begun at Lexington &
Concord (April 19, 1775)
• Each of the 13 colonies sent reps.
• John Hancock of Massachusetts chosen President
• Army created – George Washington named
commander
• Replaced as a delegate by a scholar and inventor named
Thomas Jefferson
SECOND CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS
• The Congress would act as our first
“government” for the first 5 years – no
constitutional basis.
• Unicameral – legislative and executive powers
• Would ultimately be responsible for the
country surviving the Revolutionary War or
being called a “den of traitors.”
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
• Drafted by Thomas Jefferson
• Dissolved our allegiance to
Great Britain forever
• Accepted July 4, 1776
• Signed into law August 2, 1776
• 56 men signed it
• Idea was from a proposed
resolution from Richard Henry
Lee (VA)
• Jefferson was one of a
committee of five who drafted
it, but he did the most work
•
Ben Franklin, John Adams,
Robert Livingston, Roger
Sherman
STATE CONSTITUTIONS
• Instead of colonies, we were now “states”
• Many replaced their original charters (land grants
from the King) with their own Constitution.
• Common features of the new state governments
•
•
•
•
•
Popular sovereignty
Limited Government
Civil Rights & Liberties
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
• Passed on November 15, 1777
• A “firm league of friendship”
• Each state kept its “sovereignty, freedom,
independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and
right…not…expressly delegated to the United
States in Congress assembled.”
• Did not go into effect until ratification by all 13
states (March 1, 1781 – Maryland)
ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
• Congress would be unicameral
• Delegates chosen yearly
• Each state had one vote
• No judicial or executive branch
• Congress would choose the President (“Presiding
Officer”) of Congress.
• Congress made all appointments
• Congress has all powers we see todays Congress
having
ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
• State obligations
• Obey acts of Congress
• Provide $$$ and troops requested by
Congress
• Treat citizens of other states fairly and
equally
• Full faith and credit
• Surrender fugitives when needed
• Submit disputed to Congress for settlement
• Allow open travel and trade among the states
ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
• WEAKNESSES –
• One vote for each state regardless of size
• Congress could not lay or collect taxes/duties
• Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate
commerce
• No executive to enforce acts of Congress
• No national court system
• Amendment only on consent of all states
• 9/13 majority to pass a law
• ONLY a “firm league of friendship”
• Would prove to be the biggest problem
NEED FOR A STRONGER
GOVERNMENT
• 1785 – Maryland & Virginia called a conference
on their own, held at Mt. Vernon, to discuss trade
problems
• Very successful – January 21, 1786 Virginia
legislature calls for a joint meeting of all states to
regulate commerce
• September 11, 1786 – five states meet in
Annapolis, MD. Called for another meeting.
• May 25, 1787 – 12 of the 13 states (all but Rhode
Island) meet in Philadelphia for a meeting to
regulate trade. That purpose would change
quickly…