Chapter 2
THE REVOLUTION AND THE
CONSTITUTION
American Political Development (APD) Focus
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United States Constitution
• The basis of U.S. government was a
culmination of religious covenants, local
compacts, and regional differences.
• Along with a developing American
character, the Founding Fathers
transformed a confederacy of colonies into
a republic composed of independent states
with written constitutions.
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Theoretical Basis
• The theoretical basis for the American system of
government must be understood through
examining
• the historical events,
• theoretical reasoning,
• political documents that influenced the principles of the U.S.
Constitution.
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American Constitutionalism
• The origin of American constitutionalism was based upon
religious convictions enumerated within church charters
or covenants.
• These covenants contained both individual rights and
duties as well as promoting community norms.
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Early Agreements
• The Mayflower Compact of 1620 was the first document
to create a government based upon the approval of the
governed.
• The Plymouth Agreement created a representative
government based upon established political institutions
through consent of the community.
• The Providence Agreement of 1637, under the direction
of Roger Williams, further defined the common good as
contingent on popular sovereignty.
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Early Agreements
• The Settlers Upon the Piscataqua (1641)
• Offered a secular as opposed to a spiritual basis for political
covenants.
• Advanced a notion of governing according to compact.
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Settlers Upon the Piscataqua (1641)
• Document was significant to the development of
the Constitution for several reasons:
• Signified a mutual agreement to establish a
secular basis for government.
• Demonstrated that popular sovereignty was
the basis for government.
• The momentum of American constitutionalism
promoted the idea of representation in
government.
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Emerging Constitutionalism
• The Laws and Liberties of Massachusetts—
evolution from communitarian to legalistic
perspective of politics
• The Pilgrim Code of Law in 1681
• codified administrative practices
• legislative requirements and duties of the
General Court
• election cycles
• the operations of political institutions.
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Regional Political Cultures
• Colonial constitutionalism was influenced by
regional traditions
Three predominant colonial political subcultures
were present with diverse views on the role of
government and the composition of the governing
group:
• Traditionalist
• Individualistic
• Moralistic
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Traditionalist Political Culture
• Associated with more homogenous Southern colonies
• Viewed government as paternalistic
• Simplified rural based politics promoting limited
government.
• Instituted to support the aristocracy, i.e. landed gentry
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Individualistic Political Culture
• In the mid-Atlantic states
• Valued competition
• Largely advocated minimal government intervention in
economic matters and advanced the notion of
utilitarianism
• Complex urban-based politics built around pluralistic
interests producing a mix of limited and big government
perspectives.
• Political participation was concentrated among men of
commerce but there were also property requirements to
hold public office
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Moralistic Political Culture
• The New England colonies
• A strong communitarian belief that the role of
government should be to advance the needs of the
community over personal self-interest.
• Mix of mercantile and small farm agrarianism causing a
statist based politics that promoted high government
intervention in economy and society.
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State Constitutions
• The state constitutions represented the various regional
differences regarding the scope and composition of
government.
• However, there were similarities among the state
constitutions:
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bicameral legislature
popular elections of the lower house
enfranchisement of white adult males
popular elections for the office of governor,
an elimination of religious provisions from politics
recognition of inalienable rights
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