Chapter 2 Origins of American Government. Section 1—Our Political Beginnings Identify the three basic concepts of government that influenced government

Chapter 2Chapter 2Origins of American Origins of American

GovernmentGovernment

Section 1—Our Political Section 1—Our Political BeginningsBeginnings

• Identify the three basic concepts of Identify the three basic concepts of government that influenced government government that influenced government in the English colonies.in the English colonies.

• Explain the significance of the following Explain the significance of the following English documents: the Magna Carta, English documents: the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, the English Bill of the Petition of Right, the English Bill of Rights.Rights.

• Describe the three types of colonies that Describe the three types of colonies that the English established in North America.the English established in North America.


• Why it Matters:Why it Matters:– Our system of government has its Our system of government has its

origins in the concepts and political origins in the concepts and political ideas that English colonists brought with ideas that English colonists brought with them when they settled North America. them when they settled North America. The colonies served as a school for The colonies served as a school for learning about government.learning about government.


• Political Dictionary:Political Dictionary:– Limited governmentLimited government– Representative governmentRepresentative government– Magna CartaMagna Carta– Petition of RightPetition of Right– English Bill of RightsEnglish Bill of Rights– CharterCharter– BicameralBicameral– ProprietaryProprietary– UnicameralUnicameral


• Basic Concepts of Government (cont)Basic Concepts of Government (cont)– Ordered GovernmentOrdered Government

•Words=sheriff, coroner, assessor, justice of the Words=sheriff, coroner, assessor, justice of the peace, the grand jury, counties, townships, etc.peace, the grand jury, counties, townships, etc.

– Limited Government—restraint on actions Limited Government—restraint on actions of government.of government.

– Representative GovernmentRepresentative Government—”government of, by, and for the people.”—”government of, by, and for the people.”


• Landmark English DocumentsLandmark English Documents– The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta

•Runnymede in 1215—to restrain King JohnRunnymede in 1215—to restrain King John– Trial by juryTrial by jury– Due process of lawDue process of law– Protection against arbitrary taking of life, liberty, Protection against arbitrary taking of life, liberty,

or property.or property.– First intended only for the privileged classes.First intended only for the privileged classes.– Established the principle that the power of the Established the principle that the power of the

monarch is NOT “absolute.”monarch is NOT “absolute.”


• Landmark English Documents (cont).Landmark English Documents (cont).– The Petition of Right—1628, to limit the The Petition of Right—1628, to limit the

power of King Charles I when he asked power of King Charles I when he asked Parliament for more taxes.Parliament for more taxes.•Limited the power of the kingLimited the power of the king

•Could not imprison or punish without judgment Could not imprison or punish without judgment of peers or law of the land.of peers or law of the land.

•Could not impose martial law.Could not impose martial law.

•Require housing of the king’s troops in homes.Require housing of the king’s troops in homes.


• Landmark English Documents (cont).Landmark English Documents (cont).– The Bill of Rights—1688The Bill of Rights—1688

•Restored monarchy with William and Mary in Restored monarchy with William and Mary in the Glorious Revolution.the Glorious Revolution.

•Prohibited a standing army in peacetime.Prohibited a standing army in peacetime.•That parliamentary elections be free.That parliamentary elections be free.•That taxation without the approval of That taxation without the approval of

Parliament was prohibited.Parliament was prohibited.•Guaranteed right to a fair trial, freedom from Guaranteed right to a fair trial, freedom from

excessive bail, and no cruel and inhuman excessive bail, and no cruel and inhuman punishment.punishment.


• The English ColoniesThe English Colonies– Came about over a 125 year period—Came about over a 125 year period—

Virginia first in 1607, Georgia last in 1733.Virginia first in 1607, Georgia last in 1733.– Created by “charters” which were later Created by “charters” which were later

withdrawn.withdrawn.– Royal Colonies (8)Royal Colonies (8)

•New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.and Georgia.

•Evolved the “bicameral” or two-house Evolved the “bicameral” or two-house legislature.legislature.

– Governor + governor’s council + lower houseGovernor + governor’s council + lower house


• The English ColoniesThe English Colonies– Proprietary (3) A grant to a person—Proprietary (3) A grant to a person—

Lord Baltimore in Maryland, William Lord Baltimore in Maryland, William Penn in Pennsylvania and Delaware.Penn in Pennsylvania and Delaware.•Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

•Pennsylvania had a “unicameral” or one-Pennsylvania had a “unicameral” or one-house legislature.house legislature.

– The Charter Colonies (2)—quite liberalThe Charter Colonies (2)—quite liberal•Connecticut and Rhode IslandConnecticut and Rhode Island

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• Explain how Britain’s colonial policies Explain how Britain’s colonial policies

contributed to the growth of self-contributed to the growth of self-government in the colonies.government in the colonies.

• Identify some of the steps that led to Identify some of the steps that led to growing feelings of colonial unity.growing feelings of colonial unity.

• Compare the outcomes of the First and Compare the outcomes of the First and Second Continental Congresses.Second Continental Congresses.

• Analyze the ideas in the Declaration of Analyze the ideas in the Declaration of Independence.Independence.

• Describe the drafting of the first State Describe the drafting of the first State constitutions and summarize the constitutions and summarize the constitutions’ common features.constitutions’ common features.

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• Why It Matters:Why It Matters:

– Changes in British colonial policies led to Changes in British colonial policies led to resentment in the colonies and resentment in the colonies and eventually to the American Revolution. eventually to the American Revolution. Ideas expressed in the early State Ideas expressed in the early State constitutions influenced the constitutions influenced the development of the governmental development of the governmental system under which we live today.system under which we live today.

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• Political Dictionary:Political Dictionary:

– ConfederationConfederation– Albany Plan of UnionAlbany Plan of Union– DelegateDelegate– BoycottBoycott– RepealRepeal– Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• ““We must all hang together, or We must all hang together, or

assuredly we shall all hang assuredly we shall all hang separately.”—Benjamin Franklin, July 4, separately.”—Benjamin Franklin, July 4, 1776.1776.

• Britain’s Colonial PoliciesBritain’s Colonial Policies– Controlled separately by Privy Council and Controlled separately by Privy Council and

the Board of Trade under the King—the Board of Trade under the King—•Parliament not much involved.Parliament not much involved.

– London was 3,000 miles awayLondon was 3,000 miles away– Almost “federal”—allowed a lot of self-ruleAlmost “federal”—allowed a lot of self-rule

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• Britain’s Colonial Policies (cont.)Britain’s Colonial Policies (cont.)

– King George III in 1760King George III in 1760•More restrictiveMore restrictive•Additional taxesAdditional taxes

– Taxation without representationTaxation without representation– To support troops stationed in North America To support troops stationed in North America

after French and Indian War of 1754-1763after French and Indian War of 1754-1763

•King’s ministers were poorly informed and King’s ministers were poorly informed and stubborn.stubborn.

•Choice was to submit or revolt.Choice was to submit or revolt.

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• Growing Colonial UnityGrowing Colonial Unity

– Early AttemptsEarly Attempts•New England Confederation in 1643New England Confederation in 1643•1696—William Penn’s plan1696—William Penn’s plan

– The Albany PlanThe Albany Plan•Offered by Benjamin FranklinOffered by Benjamin Franklin

– The Stamp Act CongressThe Stamp Act Congress•1765—stamps on all legal documents1765—stamps on all legal documents•Later repealedLater repealed

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• Growing Colonial Unity (cont.)Growing Colonial Unity (cont.)

– The Stamp Act Congress (cont.)The Stamp Act Congress (cont.)•New laws stimulated a “boycott.”New laws stimulated a “boycott.”

– March 5, 1770, Boston MassacreMarch 5, 1770, Boston Massacre

•Committees of Correspondence led by Committees of Correspondence led by Samuel Adams organized resistance (1772).Samuel Adams organized resistance (1772).

•December 16, 1773—Boston Tea PartyDecember 16, 1773—Boston Tea Party

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• The First Continental CongressThe First Continental Congress

– Parliament passed more laws to Parliament passed more laws to “punish” the colonies in 1774“punish” the colonies in 1774• Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts

– Met on September 5, 1774 in Met on September 5, 1774 in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia•For 2 monthsFor 2 months• Issued a Declaration of Rights-a protestIssued a Declaration of Rights-a protest•Adjourned on October 26 calling for a Adjourned on October 26 calling for a

second meeting.second meeting.

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• The Second Continental CongressThe Second Continental Congress

– May 10, 1775, in PhiladelphiaMay 10, 1775, in Philadelphia•Battles of Lexington and Concord—”the Shot Battles of Lexington and Concord—”the Shot

Heard Round the World”—April 19Heard Round the World”—April 19

– Representatives from all 13 colonies—Representatives from all 13 colonies—John Hancock as president.John Hancock as president.

– Our First National GovernmentOur First National Government•From July 1776-March 1, 1781From July 1776-March 1, 1781

Section 2—The Coming of Section 2—The Coming of IndependenceIndependence• The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

– July 4, 1776, adopted.July 4, 1776, adopted.•““We hold these truths . . .”We hold these truths . . .”

•““. . .our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred . . .our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”Honor.”