AP Government

1
AP Government

• In review
• Part 1

2
CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES

• Constitution written in 1789 at 1st
  Constitutional Convention
• James Madison co.
• Many ideas much older

3
Elements of Constitution

• Limited Government
• Magna Carta (1215 CE)
• Jury trial
• Voice in taxation
• English BoR (1689 CE)
• Speedy trial
• cruel unusual punishment
• Petition the govt

4
Representative Govt

• Types of non-rep govt
• autocracy
• oligarchy
• aristocracy
• US Rep. govt
• Bicameral legislature (Parliament)
• House of Burgesses (VA 1619)
• Colonial govnr appointed leg elected

5
Enlightenment / aka Age of Reason

• John Locke
• Two Treatises on Civil Government
• Natural rights (life, liberty, propty)
• Govt to protect rights of ppl
• Montesquieu divided govt
• Beccaria no torture / rights of accused
• Voltaire freedom speech religion

6
Historical background

• French Indian War (1756-1763)
• Proclamation of 1763 settlement west of
  Appalachians
• Sugar Act (1764) Stamp Act (1765)
• Townshend Acts (1767) tax imports for goods from
  Britain
• Boston Massacre (1770)

7
Historical background (cont)

• Boston Tea Party (1772)
• Coercive Acts close Boston Harbor
• 1st Continental Congress (1774) to address
  grievances limit Parliament
• Battles of Lexington Concord (1775)
• 2nd Cont Cong (1775) prep for war
• Common Sense (1776) published
• Declaration of Independence (1776)

8
Articles of Confederation

• Written 1777, ratified 1781
• Characteristics
• Unicameral legislature
• One state, one vote 2/3 needed to pass laws
  unanimous to ammend
• Power lies with states
• Natl govt could borrow money, declare war,
  oversee military

9
Arts. of Confed. (cont.)

• Accomplishments
• Land Ordinance of 1785 Ohio Valley settlement
• NW Ordinance 1787 statehood regulations
• Weaknesses
• No separation of powers (exec.)
• No taxation, trade regulation, money

10
Constitutional Convention

• Called in 1787 to fix Arts. of Confed.
• Madison pushed for new document
• Key Issues
• Representation
• Va. Plan v. NJ Plan
• Great Compromise
• Slavery / Three-Fifths Compromise
• Tariffs / imports but no exports

11
Ratification Debate

• Constitution passed C. Convention sent to state
  legislatures
• Key states Massachusetts, Va, NY
• Debated between federalists (favor)
  Anti-federalists (opposed)
• Federalist Papers (Hamilton, Madison Jay) to
  sway NY voters
• Anti-federalists wanted a BoR
• Promised in 1788 added in 1791