American Government

Chp. 2--Basic Principles of American Government

Section 1:
Early Influences

Objectives:

  1. What political ideals did English colonists bring with them to North America?
  2. How were the ideals of limited and representative government evident in colonial governments?
  3. How did European philosophy influence American government?

Political ideals of English colonists:

English Colonial Governments:

Intellectual Influences:

Section 2:
Independence

Objectives:

  1. What were two early attempts at unity among the colonies?
  2. What British policies pushed the colonies to cooperate with one another?
  3. What were some of the ideals that influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence?
  4. How were the governments of the newly independent states similar?

Attempts at unity:

British policies that brought the colonies together:

The Continental Congresses:

Ideals that go into the Declaration of Independence:

Similarities among the governments of the newly independent states:

Section 3:
The First National Government

Objectives:

  1. What were the powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?
  2. How did limits on its power weaken the national government under the Articles?
  3. How did the states continue to struggle with unity after independence?
  4. How did Shays’s Rebellion highlight the need for a stronger national government?

Powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation:

Weaknesses of the national government under the Articles:

Obstacles to the states’ unity after independence:

Shays' Rebellion proved the need for a stronger national government:

Section 4:
The Constitutional Convention

Objectives:

  1. Why were the delegates to the Constitutional Convention forced to draft a new government?
  2. What major competing plans of government did the convention delegates debate?
  3. What were some of the compromises reached by the delegates?

 

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention (The Framers):

Rival plans of government debated by the convention delegates:

Great Compromise:

3/5 Compromise:

The Electoral College:

Section 5:
Ratifying the Constitution

Objectives:

  1. What were the main arguments in the debate over ratification of the Constitution?

  2. What role did a bill of rights play in the debate?

  3. Which key states were among the last to ratify the Constitution?

Debate over ratification of the Constitution:

Role of the bill of rights in the debate:

Last key states to ratify the Constitution:

The Federalist Papers:

  1. Promised the addition...

  2. Explained the Federal...