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Foundations of Government

Foundations of Government. Change in British Policy Toward American Colonies. Introduced new taxes on colonists to pay debt from Seven Years War (1756 – 1763) Quartering Act - made colonists shelter troops in their homes

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Foundations of Government

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  1. Foundations of Government

  2. Change in British Policy Toward American Colonies • Introduced new taxes on colonists to pay debt from Seven Years War (1756 – 1763) • Quartering Act - made colonists shelter troops in their homes • Proclamation of 1763 – colonists couldn’t settle on Indian lands west of Appalachian Mountains

  3. Writs of assistance – authorized officials to search and seize colonists’ property • Colonists charged w/crimes were sent to England for delayed trials

  4. Declaration of Independence • Background Information • Drafted by Thomas Jefferson • Passed on July 4, 1776 • Rejected the sovereignty – authority – of Britain • Purpose: To justify their actions to other nations

  5. Main Ideas • People have natural, “unalienable” rights • Humans are politically equal • A compact between colonists and Britain once existed by consent of the people • Britain violated that compact giving colonists the right to rebel

  6. Articles of Confederation • Drafted between 1776 – 1780 • Major concerns addressed • Fear of a strong central government • Fear of domination by some states

  7. Failure of the Articles • Gave Congress no power to • Tax • Force states to honor treaties w/foreign countries • Make laws regulating interstate trade • Make laws directly regulating citizen behavior

  8. Shay’s Rebellion • A group of farmers rebelled against the government • Showed need for more powerful government

  9. Drafting the Constitution • Delegates 12 colonies met in Philadelphia to draft a new Constitution • Rhode Island didn’t attend

  10. Conflicting ideas: • Virginia Plan: • Congress would have 2 houses based on proportional representation: states w/larger population would have more representation than states w/smaller populations

  11. New Jersey Plan • One-house Congress w/equal representation for each state • The Great Compromise • Established 2 houses of Congress • Senate = equal representation for each state • House = representation based on population

  12. The Three-Fifths Compromise • State’s population (to determine representation) would be equal to its entire population of free persons plus 3/5 of all other persons (slaves)

  13. Three Branches of Government • Created the idea of separated powers – powers are divided among three branches of government ot provide checks and balances

  14. Executive Branch • Single executive who served a four-year term with no term limit • Elected by the electoral college • Electors selected by each state • Each state would have the same number of electors as senators and representatives combined

  15. Legislative Branch • The House • Elected by the people on basis of proportional representation • Given power to develop all taxation or government spending bills

  16. The Senate • Elected by state legislators • Equal representation (2) for each state

  17. The Judicial Branch • Evaluate the constitutionality of laws • Justices appointed by the president and approved by the Senate

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