Consider: What were some of the major reasons (real or perceived) for the American Revolution?

Homework: Assignment 4 for Thursday

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

AND

THE FRAMERS’ DILEMMA

A P G O V E R N M E N T A N D P O L I T I C S :C H A P T E R 2

Independence, Confederation, Convention

Steps to the Constitution

Declaration of Independence Preceded by Lee’s Resolution in June of 1776

The Articles of Confederation

Meetings of delegates At Mt. Vernon The Annapolis Convention – and another Lee

Resolution

Lee’s Resolution for Independence

At the 2nd Continental Congress By Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, at the behest of that

state’s legislature May of 1776

3 sections: Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to

be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

Tabled for a few weeks, DoI was written in this “off period” Once approved in early July, DoI was officially approved

The Declaration of Independence

Drafted mainly by Jefferson, with minor edits from Committee of 5 (mostly Franklin and Adams)

Officially adopted by Continental Congress on morning of July 4th, but not engrossed and signed until August Lee Resolution for Independence adopted on July 2nd

The Declaration of Independence is made up of several distinct parts: the introduction; the preamble; the body, which can be divided into two sections; and a conclusion. Think of it as a “break up note”…

At the National Archives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9ovu0a6pL8&safe=active

Consider: What elements of Locke’s philosophy are found in the DoI?

Homework: Assignment 4 for tomorrow

Parts of the DoI

Not everyone agrees on how many different, distinct “parts” there are, but we can break it down

Introduction BuN – Why you are writing the note “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind…”

Preamble BuN – What you believe in “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”

List of Grievances BuN – What you did to me “To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.”

Statement of Separation BuN – We are done “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free

and independent states…”

Questions about the DoI

Who were the various audiences? Which portions may have addressed those audiences?

Why do you think Jefferson maintains that independence, and not reconciliation, is necessary?

Locke’s philosophy…

SECTION 2 : DECLARATION OF NATURAL RIGHTS

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that

among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just

powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it

is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their

safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not

be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are

sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide

new guards for their future security. –

WHAT ELEMENTS OF LOCKE’S PHILOSOPHY ARE EVIDENT IN THIS SECTION?

The Declaration of Independence

How Influential was the DoI?

Consider: How did the experiences of the colonists under the King influence the Articles of Confederation?

Homework: Assignment 5 for Mon; Quiz tomorrow

The Articles of Confederation

What was the structure of gov. created by the AoC. Branches of government?

Section II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and

every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.

Section III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of

friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever.

-A plan for national government drafted in 1777 to bring order to the nation and govern during and after the revolution.

- Fully went into effect in 1781

Analyzing the AoC

What were some of the aspects of the AoC which proved to be problematic?

Consider: Why would ANYONE want to go back to the Articles of Confederation government?

Homework: Assignment 5 for Monday

A Return to the Articles?

It is widely-accepted that because of its weaknesses, the Articles of Confederation failed, and led to the adoption of a constitution which created a stronger central government… But some today contend that a return to this document

might solve some of our current problems…

Consider: What 2 perspectives on the motives of the Framers were offered by the authors of

your readings?

Homework: Assignment 6 for tomorrow; skip Federalist 16/17

"Everyone's still talking about Donald Trump. Even Tom Brady. In an interview yesterday, Brady said that Donald Trump occasionally calls him up to give 'motivational speeches.' I think we know the REAL reason Tom Brady destroyed his cellphone." –Jimmy Fallon

"In a recent interview, Sarah Palin supported Donald Trump's immigration policies and said that when immigrants are in the U.S., they should 'speak American.' Then immigrants were like, 'You first.'" –Jimmy Fallon

"A new report found that the U.S. economy created 173,000 jobs last month. The most common job created this summer was a teacher. The second most common? Republican presidential candidate." –Jimmy Fallon

"Bernie Sanders has a great coffee mug that says 'Feel the Bern.' Which Senator Sanders was specifically told by H.R. not to say to his interns." –Stephen Colbert

What did Shays’ Rebellion make clear to many state governments? 2.2

Mindset of the Framers

What was the mandate given to the delegates by their states when sent to Philadelphia in 1787?

Why did they choose to exceed that mandate? Was this necessary? How might we have responded to the nature of

the convention in today’s society?

Motives of the Framers Historians speculate about the motivations of the men who wrote the

Constitution What were the two basic perspectives offered by your readings?

Pragmatic/Political Motives The art of what is possible – “A Reform Caucus…”

Economic/Social Order motives Maintain property rights which benefited them Charles Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution

(“Framing the Constitution”, in Woll) Maintain the social order which benefited them

“A Reform Caucus In Action”

“The Constitution, then, was not an apotheosis of ‘constitutionalism’, a triumph of architectonic genius; it was a patch-work sewn together under the pressure of both time and events by a group of extremely talented democratic politicians.”

“Yet, while the shades of Locke and Montesquieu may have been hovering in the background…the careful observer of the day-to-day work of the convention finds no overarching principles. The ‘separation of powers’ to him seems to be a by-product of suspicion, and ‘federalism’ he views as a [last resort], as the farthest point the delegates thought they could go in the destruction of state power without themselves inviting [rejection].