U.S. Government

Need for Government

Needed a government because the states had been royal colonies with royal governors and royal charters Individual states wrote a constitution- some were good, some weren’t Learned what would be helpful for later when writing a constitution

Leaders worried about power- they didn’t want anything in America like a too-powerful king or parliament Drafted state constitutions that that divided power between a state congress, a governor, and a law courts- they called it separation of powers

legislative branch (assembly)executive branch (governor) judicial (courts)

They didn’t want one branch to hold all of the power

Massachusetts’ Constitution

Elected people to a constitutional convention All citizens of the state voted on it

Common Arguments freedom of speech and press the right of the majority to change government freedom of religion free education voting rights slavery

Problems with State Constitutions

13 states weren’t united Each state was printing its own money and making its own rules States had their own navies States were taxing on their own States squabbling over boundary lines States were jealous of one another

Articles of Confederation:1781-1789

First constitution of the United States Purpose: to provide government Didn’t work well at all:

Too weak Americans were afraid of political power- congress did not have much power, no presidentNo army, no court system Congress went into debt- no power to collect taxes, couldn’t settle disputes among states

Shay’s Rebellion MA farmers had a hard year in 1786 and couldn’t pay their taxes Judges ordered them to sell their land to get the tax money which angered farmers Daniel Shays led an armed rebellion Shay’s rebellion was crushed by the state militia, but the national government had no army and could not stop a small group of angry farmers Why it led to the Constitutional Convention: It scared people that the National Government had no power

Westward Bound Northwest Ordinance- A law passed by government that provided a fair way for new territories to become states Virginia gave up land which would eventually become Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Colonists were on their way west of the Appalachian mountains

Native Americans pushed from land- killed by guns, diseases, fled west, or joined white society

Northwest Ordinance

People who settled into the Northwest Territory were guaranteed freedom of religion, habeas corpus, no slavery, land for public schools, and trial by jury- they had bill of rights

Constitutional Convention-May 1787

Those in attendance: George WashingtonJames Madison- “Father of the Constitution” convinced others that a whole new constitution needed to be written, not just revise the Articles of Confederation. Also took notes Benjamin Franklin- oldest delegate Alexander Hamilton- wanted a strong central government, like Englands

Constitutional Convention Conditions

Some people say 1787 was the hottest summer in Philadelphia’s historyBig, biting flies and mosquitoesSanitation not important- showers, hygiene Young deaths

Arguments Virginia Plan had been a starting point for the Constitution- written by James Madison

The number of congressmen each state would have should be decided by population (favored the states with the most people)

New Jersey plan said each state should have an equal number of representatives in Congress

The Great Compromise

Roger Sherman, Georgia’s delegate: One house of the legislature should reflect a state’s population (House of Representatives) One house should have an equal number of representatives from each state (the Senate)

Checks and Balances Since the delegates were afraid of power, the three branches were designed to check and balance one another

Check: To stop them from going too far and overstepping the limits of their authority Balance: No branch was supposed to be stronger than the other

Example: The president is commander in chief of the army and navy, but cannot declare war. Only ongress can declare war

Individual RightsThe states of MA, VA, ad NY supported the Constitution- but only with the expectation that individual rights would be added Ex. Freedom of:

Speech Religion Press Speedy trial

Slavery The Constitution recognized and protected slavery because it was the only way southern states would ratify it

Slaves counted as 3/5 persons for purposes of population (Congress) Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808Prevented free states from making laws which would protect free slaves

Rights of States

How power should be divided between federal government and states *How strong should the federal government be?

Federalists- strong federal government Anti-Federalists- balanced federal and state government

Compromise- Federalists agreed to propose a bill of rights which would limit the powers of the new federal government National government controls foreign affairs, business between states States control schools, roads, and local government

More Arguments …Three to act as president… …legislature with one house……the president=“Your Mightiness?”However, almost all delegates had done a lot of reading and studying and most had helped write their state constitutions

We agree! Guarantee basic human rights and freedom (what Jefferson called “unalienable rights”)Provide government by consent of the people- expected people to govern themselves through their representatives Made the Constitution more powerful than any president, congress, court, or stateMade the Constitution the supreme law of the land

Amendments The Constitution can be changed by amendmentsMust be approved by Congress 2/3 of the members of the members of Congress and 3/4 of the state legislatures must ratify it10,000 amendments have been suggested- only 27 have been approved

Preamble We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Gouverneur Morris’s words

Bill of Rights The Constitution did not have a Bill of Rights, and many states, including MA, VA, RI, NC wouldn’t ratify the Constitution without these rightsA good bill of rights guarantees individual rights like freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press James Madison wrote the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which are called the Bill of Rights

First Amendment

Guarantees freedom of religion freedom of speech freedom of the press freedom to assemble (to protest when there are problems to solve)

Second Amendment

The right to bear arms

Third Amendment Housing of soldiers

When the colonies were ruled by England, people were forced to house soldiers in their homes. They would have to give them a place to sleep and feed them meals. This amendment made it unlawful for a government to make a private citizen house its soldiers.

Fourth Amendment

Searches, Seizure and Warrants Police can’t come and search your house unless they have proper legal papers

Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Amendment

Fair trials A person cannot be tried more than once for that same crimeReceive a speedy public trial by a jury. This did not happen in England during this time. People were held in jail for years before their trial and often the trial was held in secret.Unfair bail or fines

Ninth and Tenth Amendments

Any rights that the Constitution does not give to the federal government belong to the states or to the people **You can find the Bill of Rights on page 199 in History of Us **Constitution on pages 194-198

President Barack Obama

Role of President •Chief of State (inspiring example for the American People)

•Chief Executive (decides how the laws are to be enforced and chooses officials and

advisors to run the Executive Branch)

•Chief Diplomat (decides what American diplomats and ambassadors shall say to

foreign governments, makes the foreign policy)

•Commander-in-Chief (in charge of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. All

military generals and admirals take their orders from the President)

•Chief Legislature (urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills)

•Chief of Party (helps members of his party get elected)

•Chief Guardian of the Economy (in charge of unemployment, taxes, prosperity of

US)

Chief Justice of Supreme Court

John G. Roberts Jr.

Chief Justice of Supreme Court

•Check the actions of the President and Congress

•Tell a President his actions are not allowed

•Tell Congress a law is unconstitutional

•Final judge in all cases involving laws of Congress

MA Governor

Deval Patrick

MA Governor

to execute, enforce, and administer the state’s laws

MA Senators Elizabeth Warren (D)

MA SenatorEd Markey (D)

US Senate • Controls federal taxing and spending policies• Coining money.• Maintaining a military.• Declaring war on other countries.• Investigate the executive branch • Impeach an official and amend the Constitution • Agree to treaties • Confirm federal officials like Supreme Court Justices.

House of Representatives(MA has 9)

•Decide if a government official should be put on trial if

•he/she commits a crime against the country

•introduce bills and resolutions

•offer amendments

•serve on committees.