Download Roots of American Democracy

PRINCIPLES of AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
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Types of Government
English Government
Enlightenment
Colonial Period
Revolutionary Period
Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
The Constitution
Democratic Governments
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This system is based on the philosophies of John Locke and
Montesquieu. Later, the founding fathers of the United States
extended these principles. Men such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas
Paine.
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(Problem) – For these philosophers, the problem could be explained by
a government, in many cases a monarch having too much power. Most
of these men agreed that individuals had natural rights, and that if
any person had too much power, these rights would not be protected.
The answer was to have elected government, with a system of checks
and balances.
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Many nations are experimenting with these ideas of government. US –
Representative Democracy.
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Types of Democratic Governments – Direct Democracy, Representative
Democracy/Democratic Republic, Constitutional Monarchy
Authoritarian Governments
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Monarchy - These systems have been and are used by nations
throughout the world. In these systems, one person has control of
government. In a monarchy, it is held by a king, queen, or ruling
family (Sultan). This power is passed on through family succession.
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In a dictatorship, power is often seized by force; by a military force
or group. Power is usually passed on to the next in line of people who
share this philosophy.
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(Monarchy) – England, Spain, France – Until 18th and 19th centuries.
Today many of these are constitutional monarchs. Saudi Arabia
today.
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Dictatorship – Nazi Germany under Hitler; Fidel Castro (Cuba)
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Types of Authoritarian Governments – Absolute Monarch,
Dictatorship/Totalitarianism/Autocracy, Aristocracy, Theocracy,
Oligarchy
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is important because it represents
the beginning of a republican form of government in
England. Prior to the Magna Carta, England had an
absolute monarch.
Before the Magna Carta
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The Monarch (King or Queen)
had absolute authority.
Decisions of taxing, use of the
military, making and enforcing
laws all were made by the
monarch.
After the Magna Carta
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A Common Counsel was created
made up of Nobles (large
landowners and church officials)
Changes After the Magna Carta
Taxes (consult common counsel)
Must have witness to crime.
Trial by Jury
English Church free of Monarch
Control
PARLIAMENT
English Legislative Branch (BICAMERAL)
House of Lords & House of Commons
HOUSE OF LORDS
 Made up of Nobles
 Seat is Inherited
HOUSE OF COMMONS
 Members are Elected
 Come from Towns &
Cities throughout
England
 Representative
Democracy
ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS (1689)
Between 1215 & the 1600’s the Common Counsel became a much
more formal Parliament. The English Bill of Rights followed the
English Civil War. This document transformed English Government
even further than the Magna Carta.
Parliament has following powers in English Government
1.
2.
3.
Power to Tax
Make Laws
Control of the Nation’s Army
COMMON LAW
 A system of law based on precedents.
 A precedent is an earlier decision made by a judge
that serves as a model for future cases.
 Over time common law creates a system of
consistent rulings.
 English Common Law has been used in the
development of contracts, marriages, etc… in the
United States.
ENLIGHTENMENT
 During the Enlightenment Period many ideas
that influenced the Framers of the United
States Government developed. These ideas
are seen in the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution.
Enlightenment Philosophers
 John Locke – natural rights, purpose of government
 Montesquieu – separation of power, checks & balances
Thomas Hobbes
 Hobbes was an English philosopher. He was older
than Locke, but they lived at the same time. Hobbes
described life in a “state of nature” as “nasty,
brutish, and short”.
 He felt that people entered into a social contract
for fear of a violent death. Hobbes unlike Locke
believed in the divine right of kings. This meant that
the ruler obtained absolute power, and the people
had no right to question his/her rule or revolt.
John Locke
 Locke was an English philosopher who lived during the
English Civil War. He believed that God granted man
3 natural rights (life, liberty, property).
 Locke said that people entered into a social contract
with their government. People agreed to pay taxes
and follow reasonable laws. The government in
exchange must protect these natural rights.
 Locke believed if government did not protect these
natural rights, the government had broken the
contract. In this case, the people had the right to
overthrow the government.
Montesquieu
 Montesquieu was an important philosopher in the
development of the American democracy.
Montesquieu came up with the idea of a separation
of power.
 He felt that if one person obtained all power, there
could be no liberty. He felt that there should be a
separation between the legislative, executive, and
judicial. Power should be a check on power. “Power
corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Mercantilism & Colonial Period
Mercantilism
 Economic Policy that a
country should sell more
goods to other countries
than it buys.
 EXPORT > IMPORT
 Salutary Neglect – England
will allow colonies to rule
themselves. Need raw
materials.
Colonial Period
 Colony – A group of people in
one place ruled by a
government in another.
 European Nations began to
colonize the Americas.
 Colonies provided mother
country with a cheap source
of raw materials, could then
produce finished products to
export to colonies, and other
parts of the world.
Early English Colonies
JAMESTOWN COLONY
 Representative Democracy
 House of Burgesses
 22 Members - House of
Burgesses were elected by
colonists
PLYMOUTH COLONY
 Colonists on the
Mayflower signed a
document called the
Mayflower Compact.
 The Mayflower Compact
created a direct
democracy.
 Members of the colony
would come together
periodically, and vote on
the direction the colony
would take.
The 13 Colonies
Colonies
Motivations
New
England
Colonies
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Mainly religious
dissenters –
Puritans did
not believe in
toleration
Middle
Colonies
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Mainly religious Farming –
dissenters –
wheat & other
Quakers (Penn) cash crops;
industry –
mines, etc…
Maryland
Virginia
NC, SC
Georgia
Economic
Reasons –
indentured
servants &
slavery
Southern
Colonies
Economy
Small scale
farming; small
business &
shipbuilding
Agriculture –
large scale
plantation
farming
COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS
COLONIAL
GOVERNMENTS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• Governor
• Appointed by
King or Elected
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
• Many were Bicameral
• Elected Members
• Representative
Democracy
JUDICIAL BRANCH
• Judges were appointed
by King
• Trial by Jury
FRENCH & INDIAN WAR
 The French & Indian War resulted from a land dispute
between the French & the English. Fought in the mid
1750’s, the British came out of the war having gained
territory in the Americas.
 This war however had disastrous effects on the
relationship between the British and the colonies.
 Due to fighting with the French in the Americas and in
Europe, England was in debt. The English felt that the
colonies should pay for the French & Indian War.
 The Colonists felt that protection was a part of the
relationship between the British & The Colonies.
Map of the Americas
 The following map shows
European Countries and
where each set up colonies
in the New World.
FRENCH & INDIAN WAR MAPS
BEFORE
AFTER
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
Period in the Americas between the late 1750’s and the mid
1770’s. This period led to the Declaration of Independence and
the Revolutionary War.
CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN
COLONIAL OPPOSITION
REVOLUTION
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Navigation Acts (1660)
Sugar Act (1764)
Stamp Act (1765)
Quartering Act (1765)
Townshend Acts (1767)
Writs of Assistance
Proclamation Act (1767)
Boston Massacre (1770)
Tea Act (1773)
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774)
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Battles of Lexington & Concord
(Massachusetts)
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Albany Plan of Union (1754)
Sons of Liberty – Stamp Act
Stamp Act Congress
Committees of Correspondence
Boston Tea Party
Thomas Paine – Common Sense
COLONIAL SOLUTUIONS
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1st Continental Congress – drafted
letter to King and Parliament
demanding rights be restored.
2nd Continental Congress –
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
13 Colonies in 1776
United States in 1783
2nd Continental Congress
 Declaration of Independence (1776)
 Revolutionary War (1776-1783)
 Articles of Confederation (1781)
 Treaty of Paris (1783)
Treaty of Paris (1783)
 United States gains Independence
 British troops to leave US soil
 United States gains land to the
Mississippi River
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
GOVERNMENT
 Congress – Each State had one Vote.
Powers of Congress
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Make Laws
Declare War & Make Peace
Make Treaties & Alliances
Borrow Money
Maintain Army & Navy
Other Less Important Matters
Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
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Congress – Limited Powers (most needed 9 of 13
states to agree)
No Executive Branch – Enforce Laws
No Judicial Branch – Settle State Disputes
No Power to Tax
No Money = No Military
Amendments – Needed Approval of all 13 States
Major Issues under the Articles
of Confederation
 British troops have not left US soil.
 French/Spanish will not allow use of
Mississippi River.
 Debts contracted during the
Revolutionary War have not been paid.
 Shay’s Rebellion.
 Economy is very poor.
The Constitutional Convention
VIRGINIA PLAN
 3 Separate Branches
(legislative will elect other 2)
 Bicameral Legislature
(based on population & $
contributions)
 Authority to cancel
conflicting state laws
NEW JERSEY PLAN
 Unicameral Legislature (1
vote)
 Plural Executive – selected
by Congress
 Supreme Court – appointed
for life by the executive
GREAT COMPROMISE
(AKA – Sherman or Connecticut)
1) Congress – Bicameral
 House of Representatives –
based on population, directly
elected by the people
 Senate – 2 Representatives per
state – chosen by state
legislatures
2) 3/5 Compromise – Every 5
Slaves would count as 3 persons
for population & taxing
3) Economics
 President enters into treaties
 Slave trade not prohibited (20
years)
 Congress cannot tax exports
 Treaties – 2/3 Senate approval
FEDERALISTS
People who supported the Ratification
(Approval) of the Constitution
 Wrote a collection of essays in support of the new Constitution.
 The purpose of the essays was to show how the new
Constitution would solve many of the problems that existed
under the Articles of Confederation.
 Three men combined to write 85 of the essays.
ANTI-FEDERALISTS
People who opposed the ratification of the new
Constitution.
 Criticized the adoption of the Constitution of 1787.
 Opposition to slavery – continue to exist under the new
Constitution.
 States would lose power under the Constitution.
 Federal Government would be too powerful. People still fear a
strong central government.
 #1 opposition – NO BILL of RIGHTS!
 Anti-Federalists (Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, John Hancock,
Richard Henry Lee, George Mason)
THE CONSTITUTION
 PREAMBLE
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A preamble is an introduction. The introduction to the Constitution
lists the goals of the Constitution.
The goals of the Constitution refer to problems under the Articles of
Confederation.
GOALS OF THE CONSTITUTION
Form a More Perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity
STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION
7 ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION
Article I
Legislative Branch
Article II
Executive Branch
Article III Judicial Branch
Article IV
States and the Federal Government
Article V
Amendment Process
Article VI
Supremacy of National Law
Article VII Ratification
ARTICLE I: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
CONGRESS (BICAMERAL) – PURPOSE = MAKE LAWS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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Based on State Population
Directly Elected by People
MAJOR POWERS OF
CONGRESS
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Tax
Declare War
Raise/Maintain and Army
Regulate Interstate Trade
Tax Imports
Create Postal System
Coin Money
Create Lower Federal Courts
SENATE
 2 Per State
 Originally selected by State
Legislatures
 Today Directly Elected
POWERS DENIED CONGRESS
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Suspend Writ of Habeas
Corpus
Pass Bills of Attainder
Ex Post Facto Law
Tax Exports
ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE BRANCH
PRESIDENT: PURPOSE – ENFORCE THE LAW
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ROLES OF THE
PRESIDENT
Chief Executive
Commander-in-Chief
Legislative Leader
Judicial Leader
Chief of State
Foreign Policy Maker
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
 Enforce laws passed by
Congress
 Send troops into battle
 Enter into Treaties
 Appoint Federal Judges
 Appoint Ambassadors
 Grant Pardons - Reprieves
ARTICLE III: JUDICIAL BRANCH
SUPREME COURT – PURPOSE – INTERPRET THE LAW
SUPREME COURT
 9 Justices – Appointed by the President
 Justices serve life terms.
 Supreme Court oversees actions of Congress and the President.
Court uses the Constitution to make sure government actions
are Constitutional.
ARTICLE IV: RELATIONS AMONG THE STATES
This article establishes what the states agree to do for one
another, and what the federal government will provide to each
state.
STATE to STATE
FEDERAL to STATE
 Respect laws, contracts,
etc.. Full Faith & Credit
 Extradition – send criminal to
stand trial in other states.
 Rules for admitting new
states to the Union
 Republican form of
Government
 Protect against invasion
ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS
PROCESS BY WHICH CHANGES CAN BE MADE TO THE
CONSTITUTION
PROPOSAL
 Amendments to the
Constitution must be
approved by 2/3 of both
houses of Congress to be
proposed
(or)
 2/3 of the states call for a
national convention for the
proposal of an amendment
RATIFICATION
 Amendments must be ratified
by ¾ of the State
Legislatures
ARTICLE VI: SUPREMACY OF
NATIONAL LAW
1. All debts contracted under the Articles of
Confederation will be honored by US Government
2. US Constitution, Federal Law, and Treaties are the
Supreme Law of the Land (Supremacy Clause)
3. All Federal Public Officials will take an oath to
protect and support the Constitution
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ARTICLE VII: RATIFICATION
 For the Constitution to go into effect, it had to be
ratified, approved by 9 of 13 states.
RATIFICATION
9 of 13 STATES
Principles of the Constitution
 These are major concepts embedded in the Constitution. Each
of these concepts are important ideas that deal with limiting
the power of government, and ensuring that the people retain
power and rights.
1. Popular Sovereignty – The people rule.
2. Limited Government – The people retain certain rights that
cannot be denied by the government.
3. Federalism – The states and the federal government share
power.
4. Separation of Power – 3 Branches + Checks & Balances.
5. Rule of Law – Everyone must follow the law.
The Bill of Rights
 Amendment
Assembly
 Amendment
 Amendment
 Amendment
 Amendment
 Amendment
 Amendment
 Amendment
 Amendment
 Amendment
1 – Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion, Petition, &
2 – Right to Bear Arms
3 – Quartering of Soldiers
4 – Search & Seizure
5 – Rights of the Accused
6 – Requirements for a Jury Trial
7 – Rules of Common Law
8 – Limits on Criminal Punishment
9 – Rights Kept by the People
10 – Powers of the States and the People
Amendments 11-19
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Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
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Suits Against States
Presidential Election Method
Slavery Abolished
Civil Rights Guaranteed
Black voting Rights
Income Tax
Direct Election of Senators
Prohibition
Women’s Voting Rights
Amendments 20-27
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Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
Amendment
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
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Terms of Office and Presidential Succession
Repeal of Prohibition
Limits on Presidential Terms
Electors for the District of Columbia
Abolition of Poll Tax
Presidential Disability
Voting Age
Congressional Pay