Section1OurPoliticalBeginnings(pp.

3540)

EuropeansbegancomingtoNorthAmericainthemid1500swiththeEnglishemerging
asthedominantforce.

Americancolonistsbasedtheirgovernmentsonthedevelopingtraditionofordered,
limited,andrepresentativegovernment.

An English Political Heritage:

o Limited Government Magna Carta The Great Charter: provided the basis for
the principal of limited government, in which the power of the monarch, or
government, was limited, not absolute.
o Petition of Right (1628) limited the kings power. The monarch cannot collect
taxes without Parliaments consent, imprison people without just cause, house
troops in private homes without permission of the owner, or declare martial law
unless the country is at war.
o English Bill of Rights (1688) Occurred after the Glorious Revolution (when
William and Mary ascended to the throne). This document set clear limits on what
a ruler could and couldnt do. Also

Monarch do not have absolute authority

The monarch must have Parliaments consent to tax the people

The monarch cant interfere with Parliament

The people can petition their government, have fair and speedy trials, trial
by jury of peers

No cruel and unusual punishment, or excessive fines & bails

Government in the colonies

o Mayflower Compact Pilgrims signed it in 1620 before getting off the
Mayflower, agreement on how to live, 1st example of self-government in the US
o The Great Fundamentals (1636) 1st basic systems of laws in English colonies
o Fundamental Orders of Connecticut laid out the plan for government that gave
people the right to elect the governor, judges, and representatives to make laws

Section2TheComingofIndependence(pp.4047)

GreatBritainbegantakingamoreactiveroleinitscoloniesinthe1760s.

ThecolonistsresentedmanyofGreatBritianspoliciesand12ofthe13coloniesformed
theFirstContinentalCongresstoopposetheBritishpolicies.

TheSecondContinentalCongressformedinMay1775,producedtheDeclarationof
Independence,andbecamethegovernmentoftheUnitedStates.

ThenewlyformedStatesbegantowritetheirownconstitutionswhichlaterinfluenced
theConstitutionoftheUnitedStates.

TheStateconstitutionspurposelydividedpoweramongthreebranches,executive,
legislativeandjudicial,andestablishedasystemofchecksandbalances.

Section3TheCriticalPeriod(pp.4852)

TheSecondContinentalCongresscreatedtheArticlesofConfederationwhich
establishedafirmleagueoffriendshipamongtheStates.

TheArticlesofConfederationgavesomepowertotheCongress,butdenieditseveral
importantpowers.

Limitsonthecentralgovernmentmadeitdifficultforthegovernmenttodealwiththe
countrysproblems.

DiscussionsamongtheStatesregardinghowtomeettheneedsofthenewnationledto
theConstitutionalConventioninPhiladelphiain1787.

Section4CreatingtheConstitution(pp.5356)

DelegatesfromeveryStateexceptRhodeIslandwerepresenttodiscussthenew
governmentandthereweremanydisagreements.

TheStatescompromisedandwereabletoresolvedifficultquestionsaboutslavery,the
selectionofthePresident,theconfigurationofCongress,andotherimportantissues.

Section5RatifyingtheConstitution(pp.5658)

Stateshadtoaccept(ratify)orrejecttheConstitutionbeforeitcouldbeadopted.

TheFederalistswereproConstitution.AntiFederalistsfearedtheplansstrongcentral
governmentandlackofabillofrights.

TheConstitutionwasfinallyratifiedandthenewCongressconvenedinNewYork,the
nationscapital,withGeorgeWashingtonasthefirstPresident.