Roots of American Democracy

1. Roots of American Democracy Independence in the Making…

2. The Colonies On Their Own • The Colonies existed for economic benefit to the British • The colonies basically governed themselves due to the distance of the colonies and England

3. Royal Control • King George III had more control over the colonies • King George raised taxes to pay for Fr & Indian War • Colonists angry – no taxation without representation

4. Simple Timeline of Events • 1754-63 French and Indian War • 1765 Stamp Tax • 1765 Stamp Congress, colonists banning together • Boycotts caused hardship, Parliament lifted taxes except for tax on tea; • 1770 Boston Massacre—5 died; people were agitated by presence of troops in colonies • 1773—Boston Tea Party; colonists only allowed to buy tea from East India Company; they thought that people would then have to pay the tax and show their obedience; 342 chests of tea dumped into Boston Harbor • Intoloerable Acts/Coercive Acts (1773) Closed port of Boston; replaced governor with military gov.., Elected leaders replaced; Redcoats could be housed in private homes

5. BOSTON TEA PARTY

7. Intolerable Acts • In retaliation of the Boston Tea Party. • Closed the Boston Harbor • Withdrew right of Massachusetts colony to govern themselves

8. First Continental Congress • Colonists met b/c of Intolerable Acts (1774) • Sent list of grievances to king

9. First Continental Congress • Delegates from all colonies except Georgia met on Sept. 5, 1774 • The colonist imposed an Embargo, an agreement prohibiting trade, on Britain, and agreed not to use British goods. • April 19, 1775 – “ Shot heard round the world.” Lexington and Concord

10. Second Continental Congress • Revolution started so formed army • Acted as gov’t w/ unicameral leg

11. Second Continental Congress • Delegates from all 13 colonies gathered at Philadelphia • Congress assumed the powers of central govt. • John Hancock was President of Congress • Organize Army & Navy • Issue Money • George Washington – Commander in chief of Army

13. Declaration of Independence • Thomas Jefferson was asked to write the draft • The colonies had officially broken with Great Britain and war was over • July 4, 1776 Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration of In dependence • John Hancock—first to sign as President of Congress

14. July 4, 1776: • Thomas Jefferson • Announces independence & lists reasons why revolted

15. Recognition as states • Declaration recognized colonies into states (countries) ; subject to no higher authority • Within a few years all states had written constitutions • 7 of the new state constitutions had bill of rights • All had limited government and people as source of government authority

16. August 27, 2009 Quote one of the grievances against King George III in the Declaration of Independence, and draw a picture to illustrate that quote. Write quote at the top of the page.

17. Articles of Confederation

18. Continued the structure of government as under the Second Continental Congress

19. Government Under The Articles • Unicameral Congress • No Executive Branch = No President • No federal court system • Each state had one vote in Congress, no matter the size or population. • Congress only had powers expressed in the Articles (Lawmaking Powers)

20. Weaknesses of the Articles • Weak national government • Each state had no intention of giving up sovereignty to central government. • Congress did not have power to levy or collect taxes. • Congress did not have power to regulate trade. ( Economic disputes with other states & countries resulted)

21. Why was Congress’s Powers Limited?

22. Weaknesses of the Articles • Congress could not force anyone to obey laws. • Laws need approval of 9/ 13states. • Amending the Articles required the consent of all states. • The central govt. did not have a executive branch. • No national court system.

23. Achievements of the Confederation • Land Ordinances • Peace Treaty with Great Britain (1783) • American Independence

24. Need for a Stronger Government • States began to quarrel • Nation had money problems; couldn’t maintain an army • Shays’ Rebellion—Daniel Shays led a rebellion of farmers; (jailed because they couldn’t pay their mortgages) • To force the state to pass laws to help them, they rebelled

25. Shays Rebellion

26. Views on Shays Rebellion: • Others in the political elite held the same opinion -- even Massachusetts' onetime Revolutionary agitator, Samuel Adams: • "Rebellion against a king may be pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death." • Only the young Thomas Jefferson -- reflecting more philosophically and from a safe distance in Europe -- disagreed: • "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion."

27. The Constitutional Convention

28. The Convention Begins • George Washington--chosen to preside over the meetings. • Each state would have one vote on all ?s • No meetings would be held unless 7/13 states were present. • Agreed to abandon the Articles and to start over with a new form of govt. • Strengthen the national govt. ( 3 Ways )

29. Constitutional Convention • May 25, 1787 • Leaders of the Convention Ben Franklin,

30. Decisions & Compromises

31. The Virginia Plan • Favored by the Larger States. • Strong national legislature with 2 chambers • Lower one to be chosen by the people • Upper one to be chosen by the lower • Strong national executive to be chosen by the national legislature • National judiciary to be appointed by the legislature

32. The New Jersey Plan • Favored by the Smaller States. • Unicameral Legislature • One Vote for each State • Power to Impose Taxes • Power to Regulate Trade • Weak Executive Branch • National Judiciary

33. What document was the New Jersey Plan similar to?

34. The Connecticut Compromise • Legislative Branch w/ two parts • House of Representatives – state representation based on population. All revenue laws. • Senate – two members from each state. • The Larger states would have an advantage in the HOR • Smaller states would have an advantage in the in the Senate

35. The Three-Fifths Compromise • Settled a disagreement over how to determine how many representatives each state would have in the House. • Almost 1/3 of of the southern states were enslaved Africans. • Three-fifths of the enslaved people were to be counted for both tax purposes and for representation.

36. Compromise on Commerce and the Slave Trade • Congress did not ban slave trade until 1808 • Congress was given the power to regulate both interstate commerce and foreign commerce.

37. The Slavery Question • The word slave does not appear in the constitution. • Founders chose not with the issue of slavery b/c they knew the Southern states would never accept the Constitution. • Founders left this issue for future generations to deal with.

38. Ratifying the Constitution Federalists– favored the Constitution • Favored by merchants and others in the cities • Strong National Govt. Anti-Federalists– criticized the Constitution • Inland farmers & laborers • Feared a strong national govt. • Wanted a Bill of Rights

39. What is the difference in a Federalist and Anti-Federalist?

40. Launching a New State • New York City– nation’s temporary capital • George Washington– President • John Adams– Vice President • 22 Senators • 59 Representatives