Origins of American Government

1. Origins of American Government

2. Bell Work N2K (4 Corners): • Which of the following statements is NOT true of parliamentary government? (4.3) • A. The executive is chosen by the legislature • B. The legislature is subject to the direct control of the executive • C. The prime minister and cabinet are part of the legislative branch • D. The prime minister and cabinet must resign if they lose the support of a majority of the legislature

3. Bell Work N2K (Free response) • Look at the cartoon on page 9. Which types of government might restrict people from ‘having it as good as this’? Why?

4. The Colonial Period • During the 1600s people from many regions came to North America • Most Colonists came from England • British governed the original 13 colonies • They brought with them ideas of gov. that were building in England for centuries.

6. Limited Government • Idea that govt. was not all powerful • First appeared when King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 (limiting the power of the king)!!! • Power of the Monarch was no longer absolute • Parliament was then created

7. The Signing of the Magna Carta

8. England’s Petition of Rights • Without Parliaments approval the King could NOT: • Collect taxes • Imprison people without just cause • House troops in private homes • Declare martial law unless the country was at war

9. The English Bill of Rights Important ancestor to the U.S. Bill of Rights and government structure Goal--to make clear the limits on the English Monarch’s power Limits included: No ignoring of Parliament’s laws No taxes not approved by Parliament Freedom of speech in Parliament Right to petition the king without punishment Freedom from cruel punishments or torture 9

10. Government in the 13 Colonies • The English founded the colonies between 1607-1733 • Each colony had its own government • Democracy grew rapidly

12. Representative Government • Government in which the people elect delegates to make laws & govern • American colonists believed in this idea strongly • The English Parliament had two chambers: House of Lords & House of Commons • House of Commons is the elected chamber

13. Colonists knew they had to have written rules if they were to survive Mayflower Compact (1620): First Example of colonial plans for self government General Fundamentals (1629): First basic system of laws in the colonies Written Constitutions

14. Colonial Governments • Representative assemblies became essential • Virginia House of Burgesses: First legislature in America (1619) • Separation of Powers: Colonists got the idea from England and applied it to their own governments.

15. Exit Ticket • Define representative government in your own words. • Explain the purpose of the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights.

16. Bell Work • Read pages 36-42 • Answer questions 2-5 on page 42 of the textbook.

17. Uniting for Independence • Before American Independence, the colonies were subject to the British Crown & Parliament • Until the mid-1700s the colonists were ok with this as long as there was a large measure of self-rule • After all, England was 3,000 miles away

18. Britain Tightens Control • Two events changed the relationship between the colonists & Britain • French & Indian War (1754-1763) solidified Britain’s control over 1/3 North America (Americans helped the British defeat the French) • George III became King in 1760 & he believed the colonists had too much freedom

19. Taxing the Colonies • When George III took the throne he decided to tax the colonists in order to help pay for the war. • He & Parliament imposed taxes on: • Tea, sugar, glass, paper, etc… • Stamp Act of 1765 was the first direct tax on the colonists. • This act required colonists to pay tax on legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, & even playing cards!

20. Taxing the Colonies (cont.) • Parliament also passed laws to control trade in ways that benefited Great Britain, but NOT the colonies. • Britain’s revenue (the $ they made from colonies) increased, but so did American anger! • Americans began refusing to buy British goods • In 1773—Boston Tea Party • In retaliation, the British closed the Boston Harbor & withdrew the right of Massachusetts to govern itself • Revolution was inevitable

21. Colonial Unity • By 1773, organizations called Committees of Correspondence were urging resistance to the British (Colonists wanting to keep in touch) • Samuel Adams established the first in Boston • More British atrocities prompted Virginia & Mass. to call a general meeting of the colonies • The First Continental Congress met in secret in Philadelphia in Sept 1774 • They imposed an embargo on British goods

22. Colonial Unity (cont.) • King George responded by sending British troops • April 19, 1775--first battles of the American revolution (Lexington & Concord, Mass.) • Later known as Shot heard ‘round the world! • Within 3 weeks the colonies met a 2nd time in Philly • The Second Continental Congress assumed the powers of the central government in America • The notion of independence grew rapidly throughout the colonies

23. Independence • Thomas Paine: Common Sense: influenced many colonists by arguing that the monarchy was a corrupt form of government. • Delegates in the Continental Congress agreed that the next step was to officially declare the colonies as independent • July 4, 1776 Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence • Each colony then declared itself free—answering to no higher authority.

24. Exit Ticket • What series of events led to the problems between the British government and the American colonists?

25. LIBERTY Life, Liberty, Property http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg

26. Declaration Statement, announcement A formal public statement The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to announce to the world that the US was now a free and independent nation.

27. What led to the Declaration of Independence? “No taxation without representation” Sugar Act, Stamp Act: paper products were stamped where tax had been paid Boston Massacre Quartering of soldiers Intolerable Act

28. Intolerable Act

29. Bell Work Pick out the three biggest grievances by the colonists in the Declaration of Independence. A copy of the Declaration of Independence is in the textbook from pages 44-47.

30. Who Wrote It? Benjamin Franklin John Adams Robert R Livingston Roger Sherman Thomas Jefferson Jefferson was entrusted to write it based on John Locke. Took two weeks

32. Rough Draft of The Declaration of Independence

34. Declaration of Independence The intent was to separate from Great Britain Grievances against GB, specifically the King: King George III Appeal for equality, freedom, and to “the opinion of all mankind” Unalienable rights--- the rights to which all people are entitled according to the “laws of nature” and the “creator” Just power: the authority of the govt over its citizens, derived only from the consent of the governed.

35. Grievances against the King He suspended the peoples right to legislative Representatives He swayed the system of justice in his favor He interfered with free trade and immigration laws.

36. Declaration of Independence Officially signed on June 28, 1776 Presented to the Continental Congress Revision and editing occurred on July 2, 1776 Final version was passed on July 4, 1776 56 members signed the embossed version

37. Birth Certificate of United States The vote by 2nd Continental Congress to approved it changed the American colonies into the United States of America.

38. Contains four parts Preamble Statement of rights– “we hold these…” Charges against the king Statement of independence

39. Exit Ticket • Are there any items that should have been included by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence?