Building a New Society:

Government and US History

The Enlightenment

Reason replacing ignorance, superstition, and tyranny.

Scientific Method-Test all assumptions or hypotheses

New Technologies Market Economics-Capitalism The people of the nation are sovereign.Possibly, the creation of the United States

was the culminating event of the Enlightenment!

An introduction to the enlightenment.

A British Heritage

Limited governmentSelf-governmentRepresentative government: Two-chambered- (1) House of Lords & House of Commons (2)The system of “common law”The Rights of the Englishmen

King John &

The Magna Carta: 1215

Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan. Did he have much faith in man?

Absolute Monarch?

The ideas of thinkers such as…John Locke: “natural rights” to “life,

liberty, and property”. took Hobbes Social Contract theory

a step further… man had the “right” to overthrow his

govt. when his rights were no longer being upheld. (contract!)

Taking it one step further…

Whom else influenced our founding fathers?

*Primary Source Reading

Whom else influenced our founding fathers?Rousseau:All men being equalNeither bad…Nor good…Corrupted by society

What did the contributors promote?

How far should one bend if the social contract is being broken?

What original plan for self-government is being signed here?

Compare and contrast Locke and Hobbes

Colonial Foundations (the economy)

The AtlanticThe Atlantic Slave TradeSlave Trade

A Nation's Prosperity = the supply of gold bullion.

Export more toobtain more

gold

Import less to avoid losing

gold

Colonial Foundations (the economy)Mercantilism

Trade Trade RestrictionRestriction

ss

The Road to Revolution The Burdens of the New Empire

The British government decides to dominate They end “salutary neglect” The effect of French Indian War They try to take greater control over North

America to minimize costs to increase revenue

The Road to Revolution The Stamp Act Crisis of 1765

A tax on Legal documents Permits Contracts Newspapers Wills Pamphlets Playing cards

In addition, a Sugar Act was passed: smugglers no longer tried in colonial courts!

Did the colonists really want to break away from England? Should they?

Go to clip, “Reluctant Revolutionaries” and

The Stamp Act readings (sheg)

The Boston Massacre (1770)& The Boston Tea Party (1773)

Response to Boston is to tighten control…

Cartoon of America being raped by the British following the 1774 Coercive, or “Intolerable Acts”. It stripped Mass. of self government!

Where was this all going?“No taxation without

representation” Townshend Acts, Quartering ActFirst Continental CongressCommon Sense by Thomas Paine

Carpenters’ Hall

Thomas Paine and Common Sense

Second Continental Congress (1775) Though fighting had broken out… Recognized the Continental Army George Washington as Commander

The Story of Us: Rebels min.22-37

“Yankee Doodle”

FYI…The penalty for treason:

“The penalty for treason was to be hanged, cut down while still alive, disemboweled and forced to watch your organs burned before your eyes, then beheaded and quartered. The widows of such traitors would be deprived of their estates and their children subject to a life of opprobrium.”

Ideas especially from LockeWas a call to revolution, but became

the basis for our Constitution

1) Statement of purp.2) Greivences3) Resolution

USH Go to Matrix of Excerpts Activity

What went into the Declaration?

A declaration is made…

The Articles of Confederation

first govt. of U.S.VERY weak federal gov“League of friendship”Characteristics:Unicameral CongressNo executiveNo federal courtsOne delegate EACH

Did the Articles of Confederation succeed?

Why did the Articles fail?Weaknesses:Too weak of a national govt.Congress had no power to tax!No regulation of tradeNine states to pass lawsChanging the Articles required ALLMain issue: No money, no powerLeads to: Shays’s Rebellion

What two groups began to emerge?

The FederalistsThey included Madison, Hamilton,

Jay, (from VA)Wealthy, aristocraticbankers, had propertyAfraid of “tyranny of

the majority”Strong central govt.

How did this influence our govt?They wanted a “Republic”

promoting the public good (not the same as democracy).

Protection of minority rights (themselves!).

Authority through chosen representatives

The Roman Republic as a basis

Opposing Group:Anti-FederalistsIncluded Jefferson,Patrick Henry, MasonNewly emerging Middle-class, small farmers, shopkeepers“the common man”Feared a strong national govt.

How were our founders influenced by Ancient Rome?

Activity:

CP Civics: Federalist vs. Antifederalist slogans US History: Compromises of the Constitution AP US Government: Three-Step Interview.

Question: Who were right on opinions of the Constitution? Federalists, Antifederalists, or neither? Why?

(Each partner plays interviewer and interviewee)