Evolution of American Governance: From Colonial Policies to the Constitution

1. The Constitution(A Brief History)

2. Colonial Policies • King controls the colonies, Parliament has little control • 2,000 miles away- too hard to govern • Colonies become used to self-governing • Federal relationship • More taxation

3. Colonial Unity • Albany Plan • Ben Franklin’s idea: yearly congress of delegates • Raise defense • Trade • Criminal matters • Stamp Act Congress • Act requires stamps on all paper products • Delegates to New York- draft grievances against King

4. First Continental Congress • Intolerable Acts • Delegates to Philadelphia • Low turnout • Urge boycott and creation of local committees • Call for a second congress the following May

5. The Second Continental Congress • 1775- after Lexington and Concord • Representatives • All colonies send representatives • George Washington attends and is elected to lead the army • Becomes our first national government • Served for 5 years until Articles of Confederation • All powers in a unicameral legislature

6. The Articles of Confederation • Approved in 1777 ratified in 1781 • Government structure: • Unicameral congress • One state-one vote • One member to be the presiding officer • This is a Confederate form of government • Very weak central government

7. Critical Period • States don’t support the federal government • Make agreements with other nations • Form their own militaries • Taxed each others goods • Printed own money • Shays’ Rebellion • Group of debtors lead a force to close the state courts • Attack federal arsenal

8. Independence • Committee of 5 drafts Declaration of independence- largely the work of Jefferson • First state Constitutions • Common features: • ___________________________________ • ___________________________________ • ___________________________________ • ___________________________________

9. The Constitutional Convention • The Framers • 12 states send delegates: not ______________ • Average age: 42, most in their 30s • Procedure • George Washington elected ____________________________________________________________________ • Worked in secrecy • The decision: • ________________________________________________________________________

10. The Virginia Plan • Madison • _________________________________ • _________________________________ • Power of veto • _________________________________ • Considered radical

11. The New Jersey Plan • Unicameral Congress • Each state _________________________________ • _________________________________ • Limited powers for tax and trade

12. Compromises • Connecticut • Two house congress • __________________________________ • __________________________________ • Three-Fifths • ____________________________________________________________________ • A bundle of compromises

13. Ratification • _________________ the Constitution is signed • __________ ratify however they need a key state such as ___________ or __________ • __________- finally ratified and becomes the new national government